When is the best time to visit Tokyo?

Quick answer by priority

• Best weather: April, May, October and November.

• Cherry blossoms: late March to early April. Average full bloom in Tokyo is 31 March; it was 28 March in 2026.

• Autumn colour: late November to early December for the ginkgo avenues and park maples.

• Fewest crowds and cheapest: January and February (outside New Year), and June.

• Avoid: Golden Week (29 April to 5 May 2027), Obon in mid-August, and July to August if you dislike heat and humidity.

Tokyo month by month

Typical Tokyo averages from long-term normals; each year varies.

• January and February: about 2 to 11°C (36 to 52°F), roughly 55 to 60 mm of rain, mostly sunny. Cheapest hotels outside the New Year week, clear views of Mount Fuji from observation decks. See our Japan in winter guide.

• March: about 5 to 14°C (41 to 57°F), around 115 mm. Plum blossom early, cherry blossom at month's end; prices climb from the third week. Our first Tokyo stop fell on 18 to 22 March.

• April: about 10 to 19°C (50 to 66°F), around 135 mm. Blossoms in the first week, fresh green after. Busy and expensive until Golden Week ends. Our second Tokyo stay ran 15 to 20 April.

• May: about 15 to 23°C (59 to 73°F). One of the most comfortable months once Golden Week is over.

• June: about 19 to 26°C (66 to 79°F), around 170 mm. The rainy season (tsuyu) usually runs from early June to mid or late July in the Kanto region: frequent drizzle rather than storms. Hydrangeas at Kamakura and Hakone, fewer tourists.

• July and August: about 23 to 31°C (73 to 88°F) and very humid, with heat warnings common. Fireworks festivals and summer matsuri; Obon in mid-August (Mountain Day is 11 August 2027) is a busy domestic travel week.

• September and October: about 15 to 28°C (59 to 82°F), but the wettest stretch, with about 225 to 235 mm a month. Typhoon season peaks from August to early October; most pass with a day of disruption.

• November and December: about 5 to 17°C (41 to 63°F), dry and sunny. Autumn leaves late November into early December, then winter illuminations through December. New Year from 29 December closes many offices and some sights.

Tokyo as part of a wider Japan trip

Tokyo is rarely the only stop, and the right month depends on where else you go. In spring the blossom front moves north and uphill: Kyoto and Osaka reach full bloom on average around 4 April, Kanazawa around 8 April and Takayama in mid to late April. That is why our route went Tokyo in mid-March, then Hakone, Matsumoto, Takayama and Kanazawa, reaching Kyoto on 2 April. See our 33-day Japan route and 10-day Tokyo, Alps, Kyoto and Osaka itinerary.

In winter Tokyo is dry while the Japan Alps and the Sea of Japan coast are under snow: Takayama and Shirakawa-go are at their most photogenic, but some mountain roads and routes close. In summer, the Alps are the escape from Tokyo's humidity. Autumn colour reaches Tokyo and Kyoto later than most people expect, usually late November, while Nikko and the Alps peak in October.

For a Mount Fuji view, winter mornings are clearest; in summer it hides behind haze for days at a time. Our Mount Fuji day trip guide covers the options.

Festivals, holidays and closures in 2027

• Cherry blossom season: late March to early April. The first 2027 forecasts usually appear in mid-December; see our cherry blossom 2027 forecast.

• Golden Week: Shōwa Day on Thursday 29 April, then 3 to 5 May 2027, with Friday 30 April a normal working day. Expect the busiest travel days around 1 to 5 May, with Shinkansen seats and hotels selling out.

• Obon: mid-August, starting around Mountain Day on 11 August 2027. Not a public holiday itself, but trains out of Tokyo are packed.

• Public holidays in September: Respect for the Aged Day (20 September) and Autumnal Equinox Day (23 September 2027).

• New Year: government offices close 29 December to 3 January; many museums, shops and restaurants close for part of 31 December to 3 January. Temples such as Sensō-ji are packed for hatsumōde on the first days of January.

Prices and crowds

Hotel rates in Tokyo peak in the cherry blossom fortnight, Golden Week, and around Christmas and New Year, and are high through November. The cheapest stretches are mid-January to February and June. Late May and early December are good shoulder weeks: pleasant weather, much lower demand than the peaks either side.

Book cherry blossom hotels months ahead, because the bloom date can shift by a week. For where to base yourself, see where to stay in Tokyo and how many days in Tokyo. From 2026, the departure tax rose to 3,000 yen; see our departure tax guide.

When not to go, honestly

Late July and August are the toughest: average highs about 31°C with high humidity, and recent summers have brought frequent heat warnings above 35°C. Sightseeing outdoors in the middle of the day is draining. Indoor sights like teamLab, museums and department stores help.

Golden Week and New Year are about crowds and closures, not weather. If your dates are fixed to these weeks, stay in one base and book everything ahead.

June's rainy season is overrated as a reason to avoid Tokyo. It is mostly grey and drizzly, the city runs normally, and prices are low. Typhoons in September are more disruptive but usually last a day. For food planning in any season, see what to eat in Tokyo and our Tokyo guide.

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