Best time to visit Tokyo
The best time to visit Tokyo is March–May and October–November, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.4 °C / 49 °F | 1.1 °C / 34 °F | 53 mm / 2.1 in | good month |
| February | 10.3 °C / 51 °F | 2 °C / 36 °F | 70 mm / 2.8 in | good month |
| March | 14 °C / 57 °F | 5.6 °C / 42 °F | 110 mm / 4.3 in | best month, for Cherry blossom season (hanami). The weather alone makes it good. |
| April | 18.3 °C / 65 °F | 10.4 °C / 51 °F | 128 mm / 5.1 in | best month |
| May | 23 °C / 73 °F | 15.7 °C / 60 °F | 133 mm / 5.3 in | best month |
| June | 25.9 °C / 79 °F | 19.7 °C / 67 °F | 159 mm / 6.3 in | good month |
| July | 29.9 °C / 86 °F | 23.9 °C / 75 °F | 152 mm / 6 in | neither best nor good |
| August | 31.6 °C / 89 °F | 25.3 °C / 78 °F | 106 mm / 4.2 in | neither best nor good |
| September | 27.5 °C / 82 °F | 21.6 °C / 71 °F | 172 mm / 6.8 in | neither best nor good |
| October | 21.8 °C / 71 °F | 15.5 °C / 60 °F | 199 mm / 7.8 in | best month, for Fall foliage (kōyō). The weather alone makes it good. |
| November | 16.8 °C / 62 °F | 9.3 °C / 49 °F | 94 mm / 3.7 in | best month |
| December | 11.8 °C / 53 °F | 3.8 °C / 39 °F | 69 mm / 2.7 in | good month |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: good
- FFebruary: good
- MMarch: best
- AApril: best
- MMay: best
- JJune: good
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: good
- Best
- March–May, October–November
- Good
- June, December–February
Spring (March-May) is the standout for exploring Tokyo on foot, mild and bright with cherry blossoms lifting March-April to best; June is still workable despite the rains starting; July-September turn hot, humid and heavy with rain (typhoon season in September) and drop out entirely; October cools again into an excellent, foliage-lit autumn through November; winter (December-February) stays dry and sunny but cool.
Why these months
January · good
In its favour: precipitation 53 mm / 2.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, wet days 6 days, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, relative humidity 64%.
Against: average daily high 9.4 °C / 49 °F, average daily low 1.1 °C / 34 °F, feels like (high) 5.3 °C / 42 °F.
Also on: Shōgatsu (Japanese New Year) temple visits, Winter illuminations.
Watch out for: New Year closures and travel congestion.
February · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 75%, precipitation 70 mm / 2.8 in, wet days 8 days, days with heavy rain 2.2 days, relative humidity 64%.
Against: average daily high 10.3 °C / 51 °F, average daily low 2 °C / 36 °F, feels like (high) 6.3 °C / 43 °F.
Also on: Plum blossom viewing, Valentine's Day, Winter illuminations.
March · best
Good weather, made best by Cherry blossom season (hanami).
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 71%, average daily high 14 °C / 57 °F, relative humidity 66%.
Against: precipitation 110 mm / 4.3 in, wet days 11.3 days, days with heavy rain 3.8 days, average daily low 5.6 °C / 42 °F, feels like (high) 11 °C / 52 °F.
Also on: Hina Matsuri (Girls' Day), St Patrick's Day Parade, Tokyo Marathon, White Day.
April · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.5 °C / 62 °F, average daily high 18.3 °C / 65 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 68%, average daily low 10.4 °C / 51 °F, relative humidity 69%.
Against: precipitation 128 mm / 5.1 in, wet days 11.7 days, days with heavy rain 4 days.
Also on: Cherry blossom season (hanami).
Watch out for: Golden Week crowds.
May · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 22.8 °C / 73 °F, average daily high 23 °C / 73 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 64%, average daily low 15.7 °C / 60 °F.
Against: precipitation 133 mm / 5.3 in, wet days 11.7 days, days with heavy rain 4.2 days, relative humidity 71%.
Also on: Children's Day free admission, Greenery Day free admission, Kanda Matsuri, Sanja Matsuri.
Watch out for: Golden Week crowds.
June · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 27.8 °C / 82 °F, average daily high 25.9 °C / 79 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 56%, average daily low 19.7 °C / 67 °F.
Against: precipitation 159 mm / 6.3 in, wet days 13.1 days, days with heavy rain 4.7 days, relative humidity 77%.
Also on: BeerFes Tokyo, Sannō Matsuri.
October · best
Good weather, made best by Fall foliage (kōyō).
In its favour: feels like (high) 21.8 °C / 71 °F, average daily high 21.8 °C / 71 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 64%, average daily low 15.5 °C / 60 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Against: precipitation 199 mm / 7.8 in, wet days 13.2 days, days with heavy rain 5 days.
Also on: Halloween, Tokyo International Film Festival.
November · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 15 °C / 59 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 70%, average daily high 16.8 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 9.3 °C / 49 °F, relative humidity 73%.
Against: wet days 10.2 days, precipitation 94 mm / 3.7 in, days with heavy rain 2.7 days.
Also on: Fall foliage (kōyō), Culture Day free admission, Labor Thanksgiving Day free admission, Shichi-Go-San, Tori-no-ichi fairs at O-tori shrines.
December · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 77%, precipitation 69 mm / 2.7 in, wet days 7.3 days, days with heavy rain 2.1 days, relative humidity 68%.
Against: average daily high 11.8 °C / 53 °F, average daily low 3.8 °C / 39 °F, feels like (high) 8.6 °C / 47 °F.
Also on: Christmas seasonal markets, Shōgatsu (Japanese New Year) temple visits, Winter illuminations.
Watch out for: New Year closures and travel congestion.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is シャトレーゼスキーバレー小海, Chateraise Ski Valley Koumi, 122 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 5.3 °C | 6.3 °C | 11 °C | 16.5 °C | 22.8 °C | 27.8 °C | 33.7 °C | 35.9 °C | 30 °C | 21.8 °C | 15 °C | 8.6 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 1.6 days | 2.2 days | 3.8 days | 4 days | 4.2 days | 4.7 days | 4.5 days | 3 days | 5.2 days | 5 days | 2.7 days | 2.1 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 3 pm | 8 am | 11 am | 11 pm | 6 am | 8 am | 12 pm | 10 am | 2 am | 2 pm | 6 am | 8 am |
| Sunshine per day | 8.3 h | 8.2 h | 8.5 h | 8.9 h | 8.9 h | 8.1 h | 8.7 h | 10.1 h | 8.1 h | 7.2 h | 7.2 h | 7.6 h |
| Relative humidity | 64% | 64% | 66% | 69% | 71% | 77% | 79% | 76% | 78% | 76% | 73% | 68% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 28.1 µg/m³ | 22.6 µg/m³ | 26.1 µg/m³ | 26.6 µg/m³ | 23.2 µg/m³ | 26.5 µg/m³ | 27.9 µg/m³ | 18.7 µg/m³ | 19.4 µg/m³ | 23.1 µg/m³ | 29.8 µg/m³ | 31 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 60.6 µg/m³ | 48.3 µg/m³ | 51.1 µg/m³ | 48 µg/m³ | 41.2 µg/m³ | 44.9 µg/m³ | 47.8 µg/m³ | 30.2 µg/m³ | 35.2 µg/m³ | 45.4 µg/m³ | 62.4 µg/m³ | 66.9 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Cherry blossom season (hanami) Major
20 March–10 April, dates vary from year to year
- Fall foliage (kōyō) Major
October and November, dates vary from year to year
- Winter illuminations
January, February and December
- Shōgatsu (Japanese New Year) temple visits
30 December–3 January
- Plum blossom viewing
15–28 February, dates vary from year to year
- Valentine's Day
14 February
- Tokyo Marathon
March
- St Patrick's Day Parade
March
- Hina Matsuri (Girls' Day)
3 March
- White Day
14 March
- Greenery Day free admission
4 May
- Children's Day free admission
5 May
- Sanja Matsuri
15–21 May, dates vary from year to year
- Kanda Matsuri
10–20 May, dates vary from year to year
- BeerFes Tokyo
1–7 June, dates vary from year to year
- Sannō Matsuri
11–21 June, dates vary from year to year
- Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival
24–31 July, dates vary from year to year
- Comiket (Comic Market)
August
- Asagaya Tanabata festival
1–7 August, dates vary from year to year
- Respect-for-the-Aged Day free admission
15–21 September, dates vary from year to year
- Tokyo International Film Festival
21–31 October, dates vary from year to year
- Halloween
25–31 October
- Shichi-Go-San
15 November
- Culture Day free admission
3 November
- Labor Thanksgiving Day free admission
23 November
- Tori-no-ichi fairs at O-tori shrines
November
- Christmas seasonal markets
1–25 December
Worth knowing before you go
- New Year closures and travel congestion
30 December–3 January
- Golden Week crowds
29 April–5 May
- Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival crowds
24–31 July, dates vary from year to year
- O-Bon crowds and accommodation prices
11–20 August, dates vary from year to year