When to go · Tokyo, Japan
Best time to visit Tokyo
The sweet spot is May, June and October — averages 20°C, 12 rainy days, moderate crowds.
March – April (cherry blossoms), October – November (autumn foliage)
Humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. March–April is sakura season — the most beautiful time but also the most crowded and expensive. October–November brings spectacular koyo (autumn foliage) with fewer crowds. June–July is rainy season (tsuyu). July–August is hot and humid (35°C+). January–February is cold but clear, and the city is at its least crowded.
The short answer
20°C · 12 rainy days · mid season
23°C · 14 rainy days · low season
19°C · 11 rainy days · high season
Hardest months: January and March. averages a raw 6°C, 5 rainy days, few other visitors.
Month by month
| Month | Avg temp | Rain days | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6°C | 5d | low | Cold |
| February | 7°C | 6d | low | Cold |
| March | 10°C | 10d | mid | Chilly |
| April | 15°C | 11d | high | Mild |
| May | 20°C | 12d | mid | Wet |
| June | 23°C | 14d | low | Wet |
| July | 27°C | 12d | mid | Wet |
| August | 29°C | 9d | mid | Hot |
| September | 25°C | 13d | mid | Wet |
| October | 19°C | 11d | high | Comfortable but damp |
| November | 13°C | 8d | mid | Mild |
| December | 8°C | 5d | low | Chilly |
Verdicts are read off the three columns to their left — temperature distance from 21°C first, then rainfall, with crowds breaking ties. Averages, so any given week can differ.
If you'd rather go cheap than perfect
January, February, June and December are low season in Tokyo — thinner crowds, and the months where accommodation is easiest to book late. Budget travellers already work to about $35–60 a day here; low season is where the accommodation share of that goes furthest.
Book the month you picked
Fares move with the same seasons as the crowds — the quiet months above are usually the cheap ones to fly.