Will 2027 be a bad year for pollen in Tokyo?

The Japan Weather Association's first forecast expects 50 to 70% of the usual amount in the Kanto region. Even so, March will still have some very high days.

Do I have to wear a mask in Japan?

No. Since March 2023, masks have been a personal choice. They are still recommended when visiting hospitals or care homes and on very crowded rush-hour trains.

Can I buy hay fever medicine in Japan?

Yes. Drugstores sell antihistamine tablets, eye drops and nasal sprays without a prescription. Show the pharmacist the active ingredient of the medicine you use at home.

Can I bring allergy medicine into Japan?

Up to a 2-month supply of over-the-counter medicine and a 1-month supply of prescription medicine are allowed without paperwork. Some decongestant ingredients are restricted, so check the Ministry of Health's guidance first.

Can you get hay fever in Japan if you don't have it at home?

Some visitors do. Japanese cedar is a different pollen from most at home, and counts can be very high. Pack a few masks or buy them on arrival in case.

Hay Fever in Japan: Pollen Season, Masks and Tips for Families

03/07/202610/10/2026

Commuters wearing face masks on a Tokyo train during pollen season

Quick answer

Japan's hay fever season runs from about mid-February to May, with cedar pollen peaking in Tokyo in March.
The first forecast for spring 2027 expects 50 to 70% of the usual pollen in the Kanto region, including Tokyo.
Masks are a personal choice in Japan.

Contents

When Is Hay Fever Season in Japan?

Hay fever season in Japan runs from about mid-February to May. Japanese cedar (sugi) pollen comes first, from February to April, and Japanese cypress (hinoki) follows from about late March to May.

In Tokyo, the worst weeks are usually in March, which overlaps with the plum blossom and the start of the cherry blossom season.

In 2026, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government recorded the first cedar pollen on 13 February, one day earlier than the 10-year average. The season then built quickly.

The total for spring 2026 was about 1.5 times the average of the previous 10 years.

Pollen	Tokyo season	Notes
Cedar (sugi)	Mid-February to April	The main cause, peaks in March
Cypress (hinoki)	Late March to May	Follows cedar, many people react to both
Grasses	May to autumn	Lighter, mostly in parks and riverbanks

The start moves with the weather. Warm, dry, windy days after rain are the worst, and southern Japan starts earlier than Tokyo, while Hokkaido has little cedar and a later birch season instead.

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The 2027 Pollen Forecast for Tokyo

The Japan Weather Association's first forecast for spring 2027, published on 30 September 2026, expects 50 to 70% of the usual amount in the Kanto-Koshin region, which includes Tokyo, and a lighter season from Kanto north to Hokkaido. For Tokyo itself it expects a little less than usual.

West of Tokyo the picture is different. From Kyushu to the Tokai region, the forecast is 110 to 130% of normal, so a family travelling on to Kyoto, Osaka or Hiroshima in March should expect more pollen there than in Tokyo.

"Less than usual" is not the same as none. The forecast is an average over the season, and even in a light year there are days in March when the count is very high.

The Ministry of the Environment publishes its own outlook each winter, after surveying cedar flower buds in November and December, and updated forecasts follow from January.

A pair of glasses and a pollen mask in front of cedar trees — Japanese cedar is the main source of spring pollen

Why So Many People in Japan Wear Masks

People in Japan wear masks mainly for two practical reasons, to avoid passing on a cold and to keep pollen out during hay fever season. It is a habit of consideration and of self-protection, not a sign that something is wrong.

Hay fever is one reason the habit is so strong. After the Second World War, large areas of Japan were planted with fast-growing cedar and cypress for timber.

Those forests are now mature and release huge amounts of pollen every spring, and a large share of the population has hay fever. A mask cuts the amount of pollen you breathe in through the nose and mouth.

A woman blowing her nose into a tissue — A large share of people in Japan have hay fever

Since 13 March 2023, the government's position has been that wearing a mask is a matter of personal choice. The Ministry of Health still recommends a mask when visiting a hospital or clinic, when visiting care homes, and on very crowded trains and buses at rush hour.

Outside those situations, nobody expects a visitor to wear one.

Mask Etiquette for Visitors

You do not need a mask in Japan, and nobody will think it odd if you do not wear one. A few habits help if you do.

Hospitals and clinics. Wear one, as many clinics ask patients to.
If you have a cold or a cough. A mask on trains and in shops is the polite thing in Japan, and it is what local people do.
Children. There is no expectation for children to wear masks. Children's sizes are sold everywhere if your child has hay fever.
Eating and photos. Pull the mask down, not off onto the table, and put it in a pocket or a small bag.
Throwing it away. Public bins are rare in Japan. Fold a used mask, put it in a small bag and throw it away at your hotel or a convenience store bin.

Where to Buy Masks and Hay Fever Goods in Japan

You do not need to bring masks from home. Every convenience store and drugstore sells them, in packs of a few up to boxes of 50, for adults, women and children.

Look for the word kafun (pollen) on the packet, or "PM2.5" for finer filters.

A stack of white disposable masks — Disposable masks are sold in every convenience store

Convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson). They sell small packs and are open 24 hours, which helps on the first day.
Drugstores. They have a larger choice, including children's sizes, pollen masks with a nose wire, and other hay fever goods.
Pollen glasses. These close-fitting glasses with side shields are sold in drugstores, glasses shops and some 100-yen shops. They help with itchy eyes.
Eye drops and nasal sprays. Drugstores sell many for hay fever. Ask the pharmacist, and point to your symptoms if you do not share a language.

Should You Bring Hay Fever Medicine or Buy It in Japan?

If anyone in your family takes hay fever medicine at home, bring your usual medicine so you start the trip on something you know works. As of October 2026, Japan's Ministry of Health allows travellers to bring in up to a 2-month supply of over-the-counter medicine and up to a 1-month supply of prescription medicine for personal use without extra paperwork.

Anything above that needs an import confirmation in advance. The rules can change, so check the Ministry's page before you travel.

Some cold and allergy medicines sold abroad contain ingredients that Japan controls strictly, including certain stimulant-type decongestants. Check each medicine's ingredients against the Ministry of Health's guidance before you pack, keep it in its original packaging, and carry a copy of any prescription.

A pharmacist talking to a customer in a Japanese drugstore — Pharmacists in larger drugstores can help you choose

Japanese drugstores sell many antihistamine tablets, eye drops and nasal sprays without a prescription. Labels are in Japanese, so photograph your home medicine's active ingredient and show it to the pharmacist.

For children's doses, ask in a drugstore with a pharmacist on duty rather than choosing from the shelf. If symptoms are severe, or a child has asthma, see a doctor.

Our Japan travel tips cover what else to sort out before you fly.

How to Check the Daily Pollen Forecast

Check the pollen forecast each morning the way you would check for rain, and plan the day around it. Japanese TV weather reports show it in spring, and several free websites forecast it by area.

tenki.jp. The Japan Weather Association's site shows a daily pollen forecast for each area, in five levels from very low to very high. The map is easy to read even in Japanese, because the redder the area, the worse the pollen.
Ministry of the Environment. It publishes the national outlook and observed pollen counts during the season.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government. It announces when cedar pollen starts in Tokyo and publishes daily counts for its observation points.

High-pollen days are usually sunny, warm and windy, especially the day after rain. Rainy days are the easiest. Pollen counts in Tokyo tend to rise around midday and again in the early evening.

Planning a Family Trip in Pollen Season

Plan the outdoor parts of the day for the morning and save museums and indoor stops for the windy afternoons. With a little care, pollen season is a good time to visit, because late March and early April bring the cherry blossom, mild weather and spring festivals.

ONO

I have never had to change a plan because of hay fever. In my experience, guests from overseas rarely suffer from it here.

Rinse when you come in. Brush coats and hats before entering the hotel, wash faces and hands, and keep windows closed.
Cotton and smooth fabrics collect less pollen than wool and fleece.
Keep a rainy-day plan ready for very high days. Aquariums, museums and the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno work well with children.
Book cherry blossom hotels early. The best weeks are among the busiest of the year. Our guide to the best time to visit Tokyo has the details.

If you would like a private day in Tokyo planned with indoor options ready, see our Tokyo private tour with kids. In early March, the Hinamatsuri doll displays in Tokyo's museums make a good indoor stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is hay fever season in Japan?: From about mid-February to May. Cedar pollen comes first and peaks in Tokyo in March. Cypress pollen follows from late March to May.
Will 2027 be a bad year for pollen in Tokyo?: The Japan Weather Association's first forecast expects 50 to 70% of the usual amount in the Kanto region. Even so, March will still have some very high days.
Do I have to wear a mask in Japan?: No. Since March 2023, masks have been a personal choice. They are still recommended when visiting hospitals or care homes and on very crowded rush-hour trains.
Can I buy hay fever medicine in Japan?: Yes. Drugstores sell antihistamine tablets, eye drops and nasal sprays without a prescription. Show the pharmacist the active ingredient of the medicine you use at home.
Can I bring allergy medicine into Japan?: Up to a 2-month supply of over-the-counter medicine and a 1-month supply of prescription medicine are allowed without paperwork. Some decongestant ingredients are restricted, so check the Ministry of Health's guidance first.
Can you get hay fever in Japan if you don't have it at home?: Some visitors do. Japanese cedar is a different pollen from most at home, and counts can be very high. Pack a few masks or buy them on arrival in case.

Sources

https://weather-jwa.jp/?p=16147
https://tenki.jp/pollen/
https://www.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/information/press/2026/02/2026021710
https://www.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/information/press/2026/05/2026052616
https://www.env.go.jp/chemi/anzen/kafun/
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kansentaisaku_00001.html
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/iyakuhin/kojinyunyu/topics/tp010401-1_00001.html

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