Home › Japan › Best time to visit
Best time to visit Japan: month by month
Short answer
Late March to mid-April (cherry blossom) and November (autumn leaves) are the most beautiful times, with Tokyo highs of about 16-22°C, but also the most crowded and expensive. May and October are excellent too. June is the rainy season, and July and August are hot (31-32°C in the data) and humid.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9°C | -1°C | 5 | low |
| Feb | 11°C | 1°C | 6 | low |
| Mar | 16°C | 7°C | 12 | high |
| Apr | 19°C | 10°C | 10 | very high |
| May | 23°C | 15°C | 15 | high |
| Jun | 27°C | 19°C | 16 | medium |
| Jul | 31°C | 24°C | 16 | high |
| Aug | 32°C | 24°C | 16 | high |
| Sep | 28°C | 21°C | 14 | medium |
| Oct | 22°C | 13°C | 11 | high |
| Nov | 18°C | 9°C | 8 | very high |
| Dec | 12°C | 2°C | 8 | medium |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
About 16°C in March rising to 23°C in May; cherry blossom in late March to early April, then Golden Week crowds.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Rainy season in June, then hot and humid at 31-32°C by day and 24°C at night; festivals and fireworks, typhoons possible.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
About 28°C in September falling to 18°C in November; autumn leaves peak in mid to late November in Kyoto.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cool and mostly dry, about 9-12°C by day and near freezing at night in Tokyo; clear Fuji views and the cheapest months.
Events worth planning around
- Cherry blossom (hanami), late March to mid-April
- Gion Matsuri in Kyoto, throughout July
- Sapporo Snow Festival, early February
- Sumida River fireworks in Tokyo, late July
- Obon, mid-August
When to avoid
Golden Week (about 29 April to 5 May) and Obon (mid-August), when Japanese families travel and trains and hotels fill. July and August are very hot and humid.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Common questions
What is the best month to visit Japan?
April or November for blossom or autumn colour, or May and October for good weather with fewer crowds.
When is cherry blossom season in Japan?
Usually late March to early April in Tokyo and Kyoto, earlier in the south and later in the north.
When is the rainy season in Japan?
Roughly June to mid-July on Honshu, with typhoons possible from summer to October.