Best time to visit

JAPAN

Drag to explore Japan

Choose a region first. Spring brings blossoms to much of Honshu. November suits autumn colour there; summer suits Hokkaido.

Weather scores use Tokyo as a reference. They are not forecasts or measures of snow, prices or crowds. How to use these ratings

Tokyo weather by month

AvoidFairGoodGreatIdeal

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

A 0 to 100 comfort rating from daytime heat, overnight chill, rainfall and storm risk, for Tokyo. Higher is better. Some booking links earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Tokyo: higher scores

Mar to Apr, Nov to Dec

Weather comfort only. Check your region and activity.

Tokyo: other months

Feb, May to Jul

Check local weather, holidays and rates.

Tokyo: lower scores

Aug to Oct, Jan

A low Tokyo score can still suit trips elsewhere.

The year at a glance

Tokyo’s score above cannot rate all of Japan. Hokkaido has cooler summers. Okinawa stays warm through winter. Compare cities below before choosing a month.

Rainy-season dates differ by region. Typhoons are most frequent near Japan from July to October. They can disrupt a trip, especially in the south.

Sources for Japan’s seasons

Nov

Tokyo top score

31°C

Warmest, Aug

210mm

Wettest, Sep

2°C

Coldest, Jan

Japan month by month

Highs, lows, rainfall and the rating, for Tokyo.

JanuaryCool and dry.Good 54

Daytime high: 10°C / 50°F
Overnight low: 2°C / 36°F
Rainfall: 52 mm

Cool and dry.

FebruaryCool with a little rain.Great 58

Daytime high: 11°C / 52°F
Overnight low: 2°C / 36°F
Rainfall: 56 mm

Cool with a little rain.

MarchCool with a little rain.Great 65

Daytime high: 14°C / 57°F
Overnight low: 5°C / 41°F
Rainfall: 118 mm

Cool with a little rain.

AprilMild and wetGreat 67

Daytime high: 19°C / 66°F
Overnight low: 10°C / 50°F
Rainfall: 125 mm

Mild and wet.

MayWarm and wet.Great 63

Daytime high: 23°C / 73°F
Overnight low: 15°C / 59°F
Rainfall: 138 mm

Warm and wet.

JuneWarm and wet.Good 56

Daytime high: 26°C / 79°F
Overnight low: 19°C / 66°F
Rainfall: 168 mm

Warm and wet.

JulyHot and wet.Good 56

Daytime high: 30°C / 86°F
Overnight low: 23°C / 73°F
Rainfall: 154 mm

Hot and wet.

AugustHot and wet, storm season.Fair 31

Daytime high: 31°C / 88°F
Overnight low: 24°C / 75°F
Rainfall: 168 mm

Hot and wet, storm season.

SeptemberWarm and wet, storm season.Avoid 28

Daytime high: 27°C / 81°F
Overnight low: 20°C / 68°F
Rainfall: 210 mm

Warm and wet, storm season.

OctoberMild and wet, storm season.Fair 30

Daytime high: 22°C / 72°F
Overnight low: 15°C / 59°F
Rainfall: 198 mm

Mild and wet, storm season.

NovemberMild with a little rainIdeal 78

Daytime high: 17°C / 63°F
Overnight low: 9°C / 48°F
Rainfall: 93 mm

Mild with a little rain.

DecemberCool and dryGreat 66

Daytime high: 12°C / 54°F
Overnight low: 4°C / 39°F
Rainfall: 51 mm

Cool and dry.

Which city, which month

The strip above rates Tokyo. Pick a month to see how 10 cities compare.

Off the frame: Naha (Okinawa). It is in the grid below.

November

City	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Tokyo Kanto	54	58	65	67	63	56	56	53	50	52	78	66
Sapporo Hokkaido	12	13	17	62	87	94	82	68	62	70	36	11
Sendai Tohoku	28	32	52	75	74	61	54	34	31	69	73	44
Kanazawa Sea of Japan coast	28	35	49	59	63	56	45	51	47	55	40	26
Takayama Japanese Alps	12	12	33	57	57	49	42	49	46	59	60	23
Kyoto Kansai	48	53	62	68	58	51	43	54	31	48	85	60
Osaka Kansai	56	55	70	77	60	53	52	66	34	42	88	66
Hiroshima Chugoku	54	57	65	62	56	48	37	61	34	53	86	66
Fukuoka Kyushu	56	61	71	71	65	44	35	23	32	59	80	65
Naha Okinawa	77	72	61	57	45	38	28	20	16	32	71	74

Same 0 to 100 rating as the strip above, from each city's own long-run normals.

Where you go changes when you go

Hokkaido, the north

Cooler summers suit outdoor trips. Blossoms reach Hokkaido in May; winter brings snow.

Tokyo and Kansai

Spring blossoms and autumn colour draw visitors. Expect heat and humidity in summer.

Okinawa, the south

Warm winters suit island trips. Check local rain, sea conditions and typhoon alerts before booking.

The Golden Route, Tokyo to Hiroshima

Start in Tokyo, then visit Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Hiroshima. Check each train leg and compare ticket options for your dates.

Lines show the order of stops, not the roads or ferry tracks.

Tokyo
Shibuya, Shinjuku, Asakusa and Akihabara. Day trip to Kamakura or Nikko if you have a spare day.
Hakone
Hot springs, the ropeway and Mount Fuji across Lake Ashi on a clear day.
Takayama
Old merchant streets, morning markets and the thatched villages of Shirakawa-go.
Kanazawa
Kenroku-en garden, the geisha district and the best seafood market outside Tokyo.
Kyoto
Fushimi Inari at dawn, Arashiyama, Gion and more temples than you can fit in.
Nara
The great Buddha at Todai-ji and the deer park. Many do it as a day trip from Kyoto.
Osaka
Dotonbori street food, the castle and the nightlife. Day trip to Himeji castle.
Hiroshima
The Peace Memorial and Miyajima island with its floating torii. Fly out of Osaka or shinkansen back to Tokyo in under 4.5 hours.
Fukuoka
Yatai food stalls, tonkotsu ramen and a day trip to Dazaifu.
Naha, Okinawa off the map
Beaches, Ryukyu castles and the ferry out to the Kerama islands. Fly home from Naha.

Route drawn from Japan National Tourism Organization, Golden Route, Bucketlistly, 2 weeks backpacking Japan, Never Ending Footsteps, two weeks in Japan, Where Are Those Morgans, 14-day Japan itinerary. Check timetables for the month you travel.

Best time to visit Japan for

Cherry blossom

Dates move north through spring. Check the local forecast; Hokkaido often blooms in May.

Autumn leaves

Colour starts in Hokkaido, then moves south. November suits many Honshu trips.

Skiing and snow

Winter brings snow to Hokkaido, the mountains and the Sea of Japan coast. Check resort dates.

Quieter dates

Compare local holidays and room rates. Tokyo weather scores cannot predict crowds or prices.

What is on, and when

Cherry blossom, late Mar to May

The country pauses for hanami, blossom-viewing picnics under the trees in parks and along riversides.

Autumn colour, November

Koyo lights up temple gardens and mountain valleys in red and gold.

Top tours in Tokyo Day trips in Japan

Seasonal travel notes

Rainy-season dates differ by region. Okinawa can start in May; much of Japan gets rain in June and July.

Typhoons are most frequent near Japan from July to October. Check current weather alerts before travel.

Where to stay in Japan

Compare places to stay around Tokyo. Choose your dates on the booking site.

We may earn a commission when you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. Recommendations and weather ratings are independent of commission.

Before you choose a stay

Check the exact location and transport connections.
Compare the full price, including taxes and fees.
Read cancellation terms before you book.

Your travel month helps with planning. Enter your own dates on the booking site.

Ready to book?

Compare actual rates for your travel dates. The weather scores above do not predict accommodation prices or availability.

Find Tokyo hotels Things to do

Prefer to sort flights first? Compare flights

Good to know

What is the best time to visit Japan?

Choose a region and activity first. Spring suits blossoms, November suits colour in much of Honshu, and summer suits Hokkaido.

When is Japan’s rainy season?

It starts at different times by region. Okinawa can see it in May; much of Japan gets it in June and July.

Should I avoid Japan during typhoon season?

Travel is still possible. Typhoons are most frequent near Japan from July to October, so check alerts and allow for delays.

Where else, and when

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