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Japan · tool

Best time to visit Tokyo

Month-by-month weather, crowds, prices, and festival calendar — so you know exactly when to book.

Photo by jack berry on Unsplash

Best time to visit Tokyo, Japan

Month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, prices, and seasonal highlights.

MonthScoreWeatherCrowdsPricesHighlights
January
1-10°C, crisp and clear with occasional snow flurrieslowlow
  • New Year's shrine visits (Hatsumode)
  • Winter illuminations
Many smaller shops may be closed until Jan 3rd.
February
3-12°C, cold but often sunnylowlow
  • Plum blossom viewing (Ume Matsuri)
  • Setsubun festival
March
6-15°C, warming with increasing sunshinemoderatemoderate
  • Early cherry blossoms (late March)
  • Hinamatsuri (Girls' Day)
April
11-20°C, pleasant and mild, peak cherry blossom seasonpeakpeak
  • Full cherry blossom bloom (Sakura)
  • Hanami picnics
Cherry blossoms are highly weather-dependent and bloom dates vary.
May
16-24°C, warm and sunny, comfortable temperatureshighhigh
  • Koinobori (Children's Day carp streamers)
  • Wisteria blooms
Golden Week (late April-early May) sees peak domestic travel.
June
20-27°C, humid with frequent rain (tsuyu/rainy season)moderatemoderate
  • Hydrangea blooms
  • Early summer festivals
The rainy season can bring persistent, heavy rainfall.
July
24-31°C, hot and humid with intermittent showershighhigh
  • Sumida River Fireworks Festival
  • Beach resorts become popular
Heat and humidity can be intense.
August
26-33°C, very hot, humid, and hazyhighhigh
  • Obon festival (mid-August)
  • Local summer festivals (matsuri)
Typhoon season begins, and the heat can be oppressive.
September
22-29°C, still warm and humid, with typhoon riskmoderatemoderate
  • Autumn foliage begins in mountains
  • Moon viewing (Tsukimi)
High risk of typhoons, which can disrupt travel.
October
17-25°C, crisp, clear, and sunny, ideal autumn weatherhighhigh
  • Vibrant autumn foliage (koyo)
  • Mild temperatures perfect for sightseeing
November
12-20°C, cool and pleasant with lingering autumn colorsmoderatemoderate
  • Peak autumn foliage in city parks
  • Ginkgo trees turn bright yellow
December
5-15°C, cold and dry with clear skieslowmoderate
  • Winter illuminations begin
  • Christmas markets and decorations
Days are short, and temperatures can drop significantly.

Annual events worth timing your trip around

February
Setsubun

Bean-throwing ceremonies to ward off evil spirits and welcome spring.

March
Hinamatsuri (Girls' Day)

Families display ornamental dolls to wish for the health and happiness of young girls.

April
Cherry Blossom Viewing (Sakura)

Nationwide celebration of the ephemeral beauty of cherry blossoms, with picnics and viewing parties.

May
Golden Week

A series of national holidays resulting in a week of heavy domestic travel and crowded attractions.

July
Sumida River Fireworks Festival

One of Tokyo's largest and most famous fireworks displays, drawing massive crowds.

August
Obon Festival

A Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors, often involving travel to ancestral hometowns.

October
Autumn Foliage (Koyo)

Spectacular display of changing leaf colors across parks and mountains surrounding Tokyo.

Insider timing tips

  • Avoid August if sensitive to extreme heat and humidity; typhoons are also a significant risk.
  • While April and May are popular, Golden Week in early May causes extreme domestic travel congestion and price hikes.
  • June's rainy season (tsuyu) brings high humidity and frequent rain, but fewer crowds and lower prices can be a tradeoff.
  • Shoulder seasons (March-April, October-November) offer the best balance of pleasant weather and manageable crowds, though prices can still be high during peak bloom/foliage.
  • Many smaller, family-run businesses, especially in older districts, observe extended New Year holidays, sometimes closing until Jan 5th or later.

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