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'.
This hotel has lower rates in the off-season.
Loanword from English, widely understood. Often used for sports, tourism, and fashion.
Airfares are cheap in the off-season.
Literally 'between-seasons period'. Used for agricultural produce or transitional times between peak seasons. Somewhat formal.
Vegetables are expensive in the off-season.
The period when a sport is not being played professionally, or when athletes are not in competition.
The time of year when a tourist destination has fewer visitors, often due to weather or holidays.
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.
Some players play overseas during the off-season.
この島の閑散期は夏です。
The off-season for this island is summer.