Translation guide
The period when a particular activity, sport, or tourism is not at its peak. Japanese uses different terms depending on whether you mean a seasonal lull, a sports off-season, or a tourist off-season.
To refer to a time of year when something is not in its main or busy season, such as tourism, farming, or business.
Common term for a slow or slack period in business, tourism, etc. Literally 'quiet/sparse period'.
このホテルは閑散期に料金が安くなります。
This hotel has lower rates in the off-season.
Loanword from English, widely understood. Often used for sports, tourism, and fashion.
オフシーズンは航空券が安いです。
Airfares are cheap in the off-season.
Literally 'between-seasons period'. Used for agricultural produce or transitional times between peak seasons. Somewhat formal.
端境期の野菜は値段が高い。
Vegetables are expensive in the off-season.
The period when a sport is not being played professionally, or when athletes are not in competition.
Standard term for sports off-season. Also used for training or transfer periods.
選手たちはオフシーズンにトレーニングを続けます。
The players continue training during the off-season.
The time of year when a tourist destination has fewer visitors, often due to weather or holidays.
Explicitly 'tourism off-season'. Clear and natural.
観光オフシーズンは静かでいいですね。
The tourist off-season is nice and quiet, isn't it?
Works for tourism as well, emphasizing low business activity.
この島の閑散期は夏です。
The off-season for this island is summer.
オフシーズン is a direct loanword and feels modern/casual. 閑散期 is a native compound and sounds more businesslike or formal. Both are common, but 閑散期 is preferred in economic or commercial contexts.
オフシーズン is a set phrase. You cannot use オフ alone to mean 'off' in other expressions like 'off day' or 'off switch'. Those require different words.
Reversed word order, also common. Slightly more casual feel.
シーズンオフに海外でプレーする選手もいる。
Some players play overseas during the off-season.