Best (and Worst) Times to Visit Tokyo: Weather, Experiences, and Travel Tips

Tokyo is the capital city and it perfectly combines modernity and history. You shouldn't miss it when you travel to Japan. Tokyo has a climate with four distinct seasons. Spring is mild to warm, summer is hot and humid, autumn is warm and wet, and winter is cool and drier, sometimes with snow.

The best times to visit Tokyo are in spring (March to May) to enjoy the best scenery of cherry blossoms and in autumn (September to November) to appreciate the charming colorful foliage.

August is the hottest month in Tokyo with an average daily high of about 31°C (88°F). The coldest month is January, with an average daily high of 10°C (50°F).

The "plum rainy season" extends from June to mid-July and brings persistent light rain. Typhoons hit in September and October, when there is the most rainfall but in concentrated storms between drier periods.

Weather in Tokyo Every Month

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Spring in Tokyo (March to May): Comfortable Weather and Japan's Best Scenery — Cherry Blossom

Taking a boat ride to enjoy the cherry blossoms in Tokyo

March to May, especially March and April, is the most popular travel season in Tokyo — and even in the whole of Japan — as you would experience comfortable weather with cherry blossoms blooming nearly everywhere. Temperatures range from 10–19°C (50–67°F) on average in April and there's an average rainfall of about 130 mm (5 in).

Visiting Japan during the Easter vacation could be a good option for your family. It takes about 7–10 days to enjoy the main highlights in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka as well as to take in some unique experiences. These could include enjoying a boat ride to immerse yourself in the beauty of the pink cherry blossoms along the riverside while avoiding the crowds in the park, and taking a family photo while wearing kimonos under the cherry trees.

Wearing a sweater and a light coat is adequate to cope with the weather, but also pack shirts to wear in the daytime when it gets warmer.

Insider tips: Prices during the cherry blossom season are about two or three times higher than usual. Many traditional ryokans and excellent guides are also fully booked in advance, so we highly recommend that you book hotels and flights at least 3-6 months in advance.

Check more details about Plan Your First Trip to Tokyo>>>

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Summer in Tokyo (June to August): Hot, Humid, and Big Fireworks Celebrations

Summer (June to August) is the hottest and most humid time in Tokyo. Temperatures range from 26–30°C (79–86°F) on the average summer day, and the average rainfall is about 160 mm (6 in) per month.

When traveling in Tokyo in summer, the heat is not a big problem to worry about. You could enjoy plenty of indoor activities inside air-conditioned buildings and travel to the attractions in a private air-conditioned car, which is also helpful to minimize the inconvenience of any rainfall.

It does not rain every day (12 days a month on average) and you can travel around easily. Although it is the rainy season, many family groups still visit Japan to celebrate their kids' graduations, anniversaries, birthdays, or just for an annual vacation.

Big fireworks celebrations are popular and lively activities in Tokyo during the summer. Imagine wearing a yukata (summer kimono) and enjoying the colorful fireworks in the cool summer breeze. It is not only a visual feast but also provides you with an opportunity to soak up the traditional cultural atmosphere.

July to early September is the only time you would be allowed climb Mount Fuji. You could enjoy cooler temperatures, fresh air, and sea of clouds there.

It's suitable to wear summer clothes, such as shirts, shorts, sunglasses, and hats. You are recommended to take an umbrella in case of sudden rain.

Insider tips: June is an ideal time for a summer vacation in Japan as a family with teenagers. You could enjoy slightly cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and cheaper costs.

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Autumn in Tokyo (September to November): Cool Temperatures and Colorful Fall Foliage to Appreciate

The cool weather and colorful fall foliage make autumn (September to November) another popular time to visit Tokyo and other areas of Japan. Temperatures during this period have a pleasantly mild average range of 15–22°C (59–72°F).

September and October (the typhoon season) are characterized by a high average rainfall of about 230 mm (9 in) per month, while November tends to be much drier with a moderate average rainfall of 96 mm (4 in).

You could appreciate the fall foliage almost everywhere in November, take a leisurely stroll or enjoy a cup of steaming tea in a tranquil Japanese courtyard teahouse to admire the colorful foliage and enrich your experience in Japan.

The weather changes frequently in Tokyo in fall, but making sure that you have a shirt, a mid-layer, and a rain coat should be enough to cope with it. If you travel during the typhoon season, don't forget to take an umbrella.

Winter in Tokyo (December to February): Cold but Good for an Onsen Experience

Snow Monkeys are bathing in a hot spring in Tokyo.

Winter (December to February) is the coldest time in Tokyo but it's not too cold for traveling, with an average high temperature of about 11°C (52°F). It's the driest time of the year, with an average rain/snowfall of about 56 mm (2 in).

Hakone, located about 2 hours away via Japan Railways (JR) from Tokyo, is the best place to relax in a traditional Japanese-style ryokan with an onsen (hot spring bath), where you could enjoy the stunning snowy trees and mountains surrounding you.

To enjoy some winter fun, you could take a JR train to Nagano, which would take about 1½ hours. There, you could witness the unique sight of snow monkeys soaking in warm hot springs to keep themselves warm.

Celebrating Christmas and New Year in Tokyo would allow you to see the dazzling Christmas lights, pray for good luck in the coming year at a shrine, and watch the big fireworks to welcome the New Year. It one of the busiest times to travel, so we recommend that you book flights and hotels at least 3-6 months in advance.

You'd better wear thick clothes to keep warm in Tokyo in winter. We recommend that you take a down jacket, gloves, and waterproof boots.

Contact us if you are thinking about a trip to Japan. Our professional travel advisors are ready to create a wonderful trip based on your needs and interests, whatever the weather.

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Tokyo Travel Guide by Month

Click the sign of each month to check the travel guide information.

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December

Tokyo Weather in January

Enjoy hot spring in Tokyo

• Average high: 10°C (50°F)
• Average low: 2°C (36°F)

January is the coldest month and it's a dry time for Tokyo, with light and infrequent snow or rain. The cold weather also brings the benefits of the lowest prices and the fewest crowds after the New Year holiday.

Tokyo festivals and events in January: New Year is a popular time to travel to Tokyo and you could pray for good luck in the coming year at a shrine.

Suggested reading: How to Plan a Japan Winter Trip>>>

Tokyo Weather in March

Sensoji Temple in Tokyo in spring

• Average high: 14°C (57°F)
• Average low: 4°C (39°F)

The weather starts to get warmer in March in Tokyo, but it still gets cold in the early mornings and evenings.

March sees the start of the cherry blossom season, although most of March in Tokyo is uncrowded. When the cherry blossom comes into full bloom in late March, it tends to get very crowded.

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Tokyo Weather in April

• Average high: 19°C (66°F)
• Average low: 9°C (48°F)

April is a pleasant time to travel to Tokyo, with mild temperatures. The average rainfall increases to about 134 mm (5 in), but it wouldn't significantly affect your trip plans as there is only moderate rainfall.

Tokyo festivals and events in April: The cherry blossoms usually reach full bloom in early April, during time which prices can double and crowds tend to be large.

Tokyo Weather in May

• Average high: 23°C (73°F)
• Average low: 14°C (57°F)

May sees the end of spring blossom season and the rain situation is similar to April's, but there is warmer weather. You could explore the highlights and do some outdoor activities in comfortable weather.

Tokyo Weather in June

• Average high: 26°C (79°F)
• Average low: 18°C (64°F)

June is the beginning of summer and the "plum rain season". It does not rain every day. Sometimes there may be steady light rain, but it would not affect your journey.

June is an ideal time to travel to Tokyo for many families with teenagers as the weather is significantly cooler than the following summer vacation months (July and August), there are fewer crowds, and the cost is cheaper.

Suggested reading: How to Plan a Japan Summer Trip>>>

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Tokyo Weather in July

• Average high: 30°C (86°F)
• Average low: 22°C (72°F)

The plum rainy season continues in July and the weather is hot and humid. But there is no need to worry as Tokyo offers plenty of authentic cultural activities that you could enjoy indoors.

Tokyo festivals and events in July: In July, Tokyo hosts many big fireworks celebrations, when you could immerse yourself in the local cultural atmosphere by wearing traditional Japanese clothing.

Tokyo Weather in August

• Average high: 32°C (90°F)
• Average low: 24°C (75°F)

The heat is not a big problem in August, because you could enjoy plenty of indoor activities inside air-conditioned buildings and travel to the attractions in a private air-conditioned car.

Tokyo festivals and events in August: The Obon Festival is the most important festival in summer in Japan, aimed at worshipping ancestors. A grand celebration takes place in Tokyo during this time and you could observe or participate to experience the cultural atmosphere.

Tokyo Weather in September

• Average high: 28°C (82°F)
• Average low: 20°C (68°F)

Typhoons hit Tokyo in September and you might experience heavy rainfall for a period of a day or two. If you are travelling in September, keep your itinerary flexible in case of flight delays or cancellations.

Tokyo Weather in October

• Average high: 23°C (73°F)
• Average low: 15°C (59°F)

The weather becomes cooler and more pleasant in Tokyo in October. In late October, the leaves turn yellow or red, creating Japan's attractive autumn scenery.

Tokyo Weather in November

A shrine in autumn

• Average high: 17°C (63°F)
• Average low: 9°C (48°F)

November is the best time to travel to Tokyo to enjoy the comfortable weather and appreciate the beautiful scenery of colorful fall foliage.

It's one of the peak seasons in Japan so we recommend that you make reservations at least 3-6 months in advance if you want to have your choice of hotel and the best guides.

Tokyo Weather in December

• Average high: 12°C (54°F)
• Average low: 4°C (39°F)

December is cold and much drier in Tokyo. You could experience classically-Japanese and seasonally-unique activities during this time. Stay in a traditional Japanese ryokan with an onsen to enjoy snow scenery in Hakone and watch snow monkeys soak in the hot springs to keep warm in Nagano.