Japan travel in Aug end?

Travel Info
I am travelling japan from Aug 18 - Aug 26. Is that a good time to see japan - with respect to weather, hotel fare and crowds ?
I know its summer this time - hot and humid. Also the Obon festival would be over by aug 16. Thanks.

Travel Tips

This is probably the hottest time of the year to go. I lived in Hiroshima and it was quite hot but I also spent a week in Kyoto/Osaka at this time of the year for a holiday. The humidity was 80% and the temperature was over 35 degrees. I was wet through after walking out side for around 10 minutes. I had to constantly drink water to keep my fluids up, I also recommend Lemon Water or a vitamin drink at the convenience store to keep your salt levels up. Take plenty of clothes to change and allow for some to be washed. I had two shirts that I swapped between day and night and they were stained by salt from body because I was sweating so much.

Aside from that, most temples, shrines and castles will be very quiet so it is a good time to get away from crowds if you don't mind the heat. Hotels will be easy to book also as most people do not travel at this time.

For cheap hotels I recommend www.japanhotel.net they also have maps, photos, fares for different types of rooms. Don't get ripped of by generic hotel booking sites. Source(s): http://www.j-culture.blogspot.com... for links
Other Travel Tips

It should be fine as far as crowds and weather goes - you're already aware of the heat/humidity issue, and you know when O-bon ends. Some places will always be crowded, like Tokyo, but there should be lots of hotels available, even there. The weather will be the big issue - have you been to Japan before in the summertime? Because it's oppressively hot - close to 40 degrees Celsius (which is what Japan uses) and extremely humid all day and night long. The temperature doesn't really drop at night - maybe one or two degrees, but that isn't really enough to make a difference.
I lived in Kyoto for three years and near Tokyo for four years.
On the weekend of 18-19 August, transportation will be super crowded because everyone is coming back to Tokyo from their original hometowns. (Tokyo during the week of Obon is quiet and less crowded than usual.) Once that's over, crowd situation goes back to normal, but the hotel fare may still be higher than usual in many places because it:s still summer vacation for kids.

As stiggy says, weather will be a major factor. It's really hot and humid in late August. It:s ok as long as you stay indoors because everything is air-conditioned, but it's really tough to walk outside in the heat, plus it's a typhoon season as well.
Tokyo resident