Best Time to Visit Tokyo

Quick answer

The best times to visit Tokyo are late March to early April for cherry blossoms and late October to November for mild, clear days and autumn leaves.
With children, aim for November or the second half of May: comfortable temperatures, no rainy season and no Japanese school holidays.
Plan around the three big holiday rushes: Golden Week (29 April to 5 May), Obon (mid-August) and New Year (29 December to 3 January).
The rainy season usually runs from about 7 June to 19 July, August averages a high of 31°C (88°F), and September and October are the wettest months because of typhoons and autumn rain.
January and February are the quietest and cheapest months outside New Year, with the clearest views of Mt. Fuji.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Tokyo?

The best time to visit Tokyo is late March to early April, when the cherry trees flower, or late October to November, when the days are mild and dry and the parks turn gold and red. Both are popular, so book hotels early. If you want fewer people and lower prices, come in January or February and pack a warm coat.

There is no bad month to visit, only months that need a different plan. Summer is hot and humid, the rainy season is grey rather than stormy, and the real problem dates are the Japanese holiday weeks, when the whole country travels at once.

I plan private days in Tokyo for families from overseas, and the season decides more of the day than people expect: what time we start, how much is outdoors, and where we stop to rest. This guide is how I would choose your dates.

Tokyo Weather by Month

Tokyo has four clear seasons. The figures below are the Japan Meteorological Agency's official averages for central Tokyo (1991 to 2020). Highs and lows are the averages of each day's maximum and minimum.

Month	Average high / low	Rain	What it is like
January	10 / 1°C (50 / 34°F)	60 mm	Cold, dry and sunny; New Year at shrines
February	11 / 2°C (52 / 36°F)	57 mm	Coldest feel, plum blossoms, clear Fuji views
March	14 / 5°C (58 / 41°F)	116 mm	Cool; cherry blossoms from late March
April	19 / 10°C (67 / 50°F)	134 mm	Mild; blossoms early, Golden Week at the end
May	24 / 15°C (74 / 58°F)	140 mm	Warm and fresh; festivals
June	26 / 19°C (79 / 65°F)	168 mm	Rainy season starts; humid
July	30 / 22°C (86 / 72°F)	156 mm	Rain until mid-month, then hot
August	31 / 24°C (88 / 74°F)	155 mm	Hottest and most humid; typhoons
September	28 / 20°C (82 / 69°F)	225 mm	Still hot; typhoons; heavy rain
October	22 / 15°C (72 / 59°F)	235 mm	Wettest month on average; dry spells later
November	17 / 9°C (62 / 48°F)	96 mm	Crisp and clear; autumn leaves
December	12 / 4°C (54 / 39°F)	58 mm	Cool and sunny; leaves early in the month

Two things surprise most visitors. First, September and October get more rain than June, the official rainy season. Second, summer nights stay warm: GO TOKYO, the city's official travel site, notes that the temperature seldom falls below 25°C after sunset in high summer.

Tokyo by Season

Spring and autumn are the easiest seasons for families; summer is hot and wet, and winter is cold but clear and quiet.

Spring (March to May)

Spring is the most popular season. Late March and early April bring the cherry blossoms; April and May are mild, with highs around 19 to 24°C. Mornings can be chilly, so bring layers. The catch is crowds: the cherry blossom weeks and Golden Week are the busiest times of the year. The second half of May is quieter and still comfortable.

Rows of tulips in purple, white and orange under trees — In April, the tulips at Showa Memorial Park follow the cherry blossoms

Summer (June to August)

The rainy season usually starts around 7 June and ends around 19 July in the Tokyo region. It is mostly drizzle and grey skies rather than storms. Then the heat arrives: August averages a high of 31°C, and days above 35°C happen. Summer is the season of fireworks and neighbourhood festivals, and of long afternoons indoors.

Autumn (September to November)

September is still summer in all but name, with heat and typhoons. October cools down but is rainy on average. November is the reward: clear skies, highs around 17°C and the autumn leaves, which in central Tokyo peak from late November into early December.

Tall golden ginkgo trees under a blue sky — Ginkgo trees at Jingu Gaien in late November

Winter (December to February)

Winter is cold but bright. Tokyo rarely gets snow that settles, and most days are dry and sunny. GO TOKYO notes that it gets dark around 16:30, so plan outdoor sights for the morning. Outside the New Year week, this is the quietest and cheapest season, and the best for seeing Mt. Fuji.

Cherry Blossom Season in Tokyo

Tokyo's cherry trees usually open in the last week of March and are at their best around the end of March and the first days of April. The official average flowering date for Tokyo is 24 March and full bloom is 31 March. In 2026 the trees opened on 19 March and reached full bloom on 28 March, so the season can come a week early.

Full bloom lasts only about a week before the petals fall, and rain or wind can shorten it. If the blossoms are the reason for your trip, plan at least a week in Tokyo around the end of March and follow the cherry blossom forecasts that Japanese weather companies publish from early spring.

Good places for families:

Imperial Palace: the moat at Chidorigafuchi and the trees inside the East Gardens, which are free but closed on Mondays and Fridays.
Ueno Park: the busiest and most festive, with the zoo next door. See our Ueno guide.
Shinjuku Gyoen: an entry fee keeps it calmer, and there are wide lawns for picnics. See Shinjuku Gyoen.
Showa Memorial Park: about 1,500 cherry trees and room to run, 30 minutes west of Shinjuku. See Showa Memorial Park.

Japanese schools are on spring break at the same time, so weekends at the famous parks are very crowded. Go early on a weekday morning.

Autumn Leaves in Tokyo

In central Tokyo the autumn colour comes late: late November to early December. The official average date for Tokyo's ginkgo trees to turn yellow is around 23 November, and for the maples to turn red, around 28 November. In 2025 the ginkgo trees turned on 22 November and the maples on 23 November, a little earlier than usual.

Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue: 146 ginkgo trees in four rows, free and open at all hours. See our guide to Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue.
Showa Memorial Park: ginkgo avenues in mid to late November, with an evening light-up from 29 October to 29 November 2026.
Mount Takao: an hour from Shinjuku, with leaves in mid to late November and long weekend queues for the cable car. See Mount Takao.

For the rest of the country, see our list of autumn leaves in Japan.

When Tokyo Is Most Crowded and Expensive

Tokyo is busiest when Japanese people are on holiday. Three weeks stand out, and hotel prices and train crowds peak with them.

Period	Dates	What happens
Golden Week	29 April to 5 May	Four national holidays in a week; trains, theme parks and hotels are full
Obon	Around 13 to 16 August	Not a public holiday, but many people take the week off; trains and expressways are packed
New Year	29 December to 3 January	Shrines are crowded; many shops, restaurants and museums close
School holidays	Late July to 31 August; late March to early April; late December to early January	Family places such as zoos, aquariums and Tokyo Disney are busiest

Golden Week. In 2027 the holidays are 29 April and 3, 4 and 5 May. Avoid travelling between cities on those days, and expect queues at every family attraction.

New Year. The first days of January are a lovely time to see Tokyo's shrines and temples, but many places close. The Imperial Palace East Gardens, for example, are closed from 28 December to 3 January. See our guides to hatsumode in Tokyo and New Year at shrines and temples.

School holidays. Tokyo public schools broke up for summer on 21 July and went back on 31 August in 2026, and the winter break ran from 26 December to 7 January. That is when Japanese families fill the places your children want to see.

Cheapest times. January and February (after the first week), June, and the first half of December are usually the best value. Tokyo Disney and many attractions now use date-based prices, so the same ticket costs more on weekends and in holidays. Our guide to Tokyo with kids has current child prices.

Rainy Season, Heat and Typhoons

None of these should stop a trip, but each changes the plan.

Rainy season (about 7 June to 19 July). In 2026 it started on 2 June and ended on 19 July. Expect several grey, drizzly days a week rather than all-day downpours. Umbrellas cost a few hundred yen at any convenience store.

Heat (July to early September). Japan's Ministry of the Environment issues a Heatstroke Alert the evening before and the morning of any day when the heat index is forecast to reach 33 or more. It is in use from late April to late October. On alert days, keep children out of the midday sun, carry water, and plan the afternoon indoors.

Typhoons (August to October). Typhoons reach the Tokyo region a few times a year, most often in August and September. A typhoon day can stop trains and close outdoor sights, so keep one flexible day in your plan and check the forecast a few days ahead.

Festivals and Events Through the Year

Tokyo has something on every month. These are dates confirmed by the organisers; check their sites before you go.

Month	Event	Where	Good to know
January	Hatsumode and the January sumo tournament	Shrines; Ryogoku Kokugikan	Sumo: 10 to 24 January 2027
February	Setsubun bean throwing	Shrines and temples	Early February; see Setsubun
March	Hinamatsuri (Girls' Day)	Homes and department stores	3 March; see Hinamatsuri
May	Sanja Matsuri; May sumo; Kanda Matsuri	Asakusa; Ryogoku; Kanda	Sanja Matsuri 14 to 16 May 2027
July	Sumida River Fireworks	Asakusa and the Sumida River	25 July in 2026; 2027 date not yet announced
September	September sumo tournament	Ryogoku Kokugikan	Tickets sell out fast

Sanja Matsuri is Asakusa Shrine's grand festival, with portable shrines carried through the streets around Senso-ji. The crowds are huge, so with small children watch from a side street. Kanda Matsuri holds its full procession in odd-numbered years; 2026 was the quiet year, so the next full festival is in May 2027.

Sumo holds three of its six tournaments a year in Tokyo, in January, May and September. See our guide to sumo wrestling in Japan for tickets and age rules.

Best Time to Visit Tokyo with Kids

For families, November and the second half of May are the easiest months: mild temperatures, little rain, and Japanese children at school. Late March is beautiful but crowded, and you share it with Japanese families on spring break.

Many families can only travel in their own school holidays, which means July and August. That works, with a different shape to the day:

Start early. Be at the first sight when it opens, while it is cooler and quieter.
Go indoors after lunch. Museums, aquariums, department stores and places like the National Museum of Nature and Science are cool and have baby rooms.
Carry water and hats, and use the Heatstroke Alert as your signal to cut the outdoor part short.
Have a rain plan. In June and September, keep an indoor option ready for each day.

On my own family days, when the forecast is hot or wet I build the day around indoor stops and add more breaks than on a mild day.
Mihiro Ono, founder of Japan Trails

If you would like the day planned around the weather and your children's naps, that is what our private Tokyo tour with kids is for. For which sights to choose, start with Things to Do in Tokyo with Kids, and for how to fit them into a trip, see our Tokyo itinerary.

When You Can See Mt. Fuji from Tokyo

Mt. Fuji is clearest from October to February, and in the morning. In summer it hides behind cloud on most days. Fuji City's 2025 records, taken at 8:00 every morning, show the whole mountain visible on 79% of days in February but only 7% in June and 10% in August.

On a clear winter morning you can even see it from high places in Tokyo. For a closer view, see our Mt. Fuji day trip from Tokyo guide. If you would like Tokyo and Mt. Fuji in one trip planned around the best days, we design custom private tours for that.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best month to visit Tokyo?

November. The weather is cool and dry, the autumn leaves are out from late in the month, and there are no major Japanese holidays. Early April is the other favourite, for the cherry blossoms, but it is far more crowded and expensive.

What is the cheapest time to visit Tokyo?

January and February, after the New Year week, are usually the cheapest. June and early December are also good value. Avoid Golden Week, mid-August and the New Year week, when hotel prices peak.

When is the rainy season in Tokyo?

Usually from about 7 June to 19 July. It is mostly light rain and cloud. September and October actually get more rain on average, because of typhoons and autumn rain fronts.

Is Tokyo too hot in summer for kids?

It is hot, with August highs averaging 31°C and warm nights, but it works if you start early, go indoors after lunch, carry water and rest often. Check the Heatstroke Alert each morning.

When is Golden Week in 2027?

The national holidays are 29 April and 3, 4 and 5 May 2027. The busiest days for travel are around those dates, so book trains and hotels early or avoid that week.

Is the best time to visit Tokyo the same as for the rest of Japan?

Mostly. Spring and autumn are the best seasons across Japan, but the dates shift. Cherry blossoms open earlier in the south and later in the north, and autumn leaves start in Hokkaido and the mountains in October, weeks before Tokyo.