The best time to visit Tokyo, judged purely on weather, is late October to November: sunny days rise from 43% to 55%, rain falls on only a fifth to a third of days, and the highs of 17 to 22°C (63 to 72°F) are ideal for a city you explore on foot. The other great window is late March to mid May, which adds cherry blossoms (peak around 31 March) and fresh green at the cost of a few more rainy days and, at the end of April, Golden Week crowds.
The months to think twice about are June (rainy season, sunny days down to 27%) and July to August (30°C on 53 to 73% of days, tropical nights, typhoon risk). Winter is underrated: December and January are Tokyo’s sunniest months, cold but dry, with illuminations and low prices. Everything below is built on 58 years of Japan Meteorological Agency observations at the Tokyo station.
- Best months for weather: December, January and November (our comfort score); avoid: June (rainy season) and the second half of July through August (heat, Obon crowds, typhoons)
- Hottest: August (high 31.3°C (88°F)); coldest: January (low 1.2°C (34°F))
- Wettest: June (rain on 39% of days); sunniest: January (70% of days)
- Data: Tokyo station, 1991 to 2020 normals and 58 years of daily records
Check the odds for your dates in Tokyo (58 years of records)
Pick the dates of your trip and the tool counts what happened on those days every year since 1968: sunny, rainy, hot, snowy, and the actual weather of the last dozen years.
Tokyo weather month by month
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunny days | 30°C+ days | Snow days | Sunshine | What is happening |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10 / 1°C 50°F / 34°F | 14% | 70% | 0% | 6% | 193h | Coldest and among the sunniest; New Year closures 1 to 3 Jan |
| February | 11 / 2°C 52°F / 36°F | 20% | 61% | 0% | 10% | 170h | Cold, dry, highest snow chance (10% of days); plum blossoms late |
| March | 14 / 5°C 58°F / 41°F | 29% | 51% | 0% | 3% | 175h | Warms fast; cherry blossoms open around 24 March |
| April | 19 / 10°C 67°F / 50°F | 33% | 48% | 0% | 0% | 179h | Peak bloom first week; mild; Golden Week from 29 April |
| May | 24 / 15°C 74°F / 58°F | 32% | 43% | 1% | 0% | 180h | Warm and dry after 6 May; the low-humidity month |
| June | 26 / 18°C 79°F / 65°F | 39% | 27% | 11% | 0% | 124h | Rainy season from 7 June; fewest sunny days of the year |
| July | 30 / 22°C 86°F / 72°F | 33% | 34% | 53% | 0% | 151h | Rainy season ends 19 July; heat and humidity; fireworks |
| August | 31 / 24°C 88°F / 74°F | 27% | 46% | 73% | 0% | 174h | Hottest month; Obon crowds; typhoon peak; fireworks |
| September | 28 / 20°C 82°F / 69°F | 37% | 35% | 27% | 0% | 127h | Wettest month; typhoons; pleasant after the equinox |
| October | 22 / 15°C 72°F / 59°F | 32% | 43% | 1% | 0% | 129h | Comfortable and mostly dry after mid month; leaves in Hakone |
| November | 17 / 9°C 62°F / 48°F | 22% | 55% | 0% | 0% | 150h | Driest comfortable month; leaves peak late November |
| December | 12 / 4°C 54°F / 39°F | 15% | 67% | 0% | 1% | 174h | Sunniest month; cold; illuminations; year-end closures |
Our comfort score (highs near 22 to 26°C, few rainy days, many sunny days, no extreme heat) ranks the months in this order for Tokyo: December, January, November, May, October, February (then April, March, June, September, July, August). It ignores prices, crowds and events, which the sections below add back in.
Best time to visit Tokyo by what you want to do
For sightseeing on foot: late October to November, then April
November is the sweet spot: 55% sunny days, rain on 22%, highs of 16.7°C and autumn colour at Rikugien and the Gaien ginkgo avenue in the last week. October is a touch warmer (22°C) with slightly more rain early in the month. April gives you 19°C days and the blossom afterglow; May is warmer, drier and less crowded once Golden Week ends on 5 May.
For cherry blossoms: 24 March to 7 April
Tokyo’s average opening is 24 March and full bloom 31 March, with about a week of viewing after that. Rain falls on 29% of late-March days and 33% of early-April days, so a three-day stay gives you a good chance of at least one clear day. Warm years (2021, 2023) peaked in the third week of March; cold years push it into the second week of April.
For low prices and no crowds: mid January to February, and June
January after the 4th and all of February are the cheapest, quietest weeks, and the driest: rain on 14 to 20% of days and sunshine on 61 to 70%. It is cold (highs of 10 to 11°C) but rarely snowy. June is the other bargain month if you can live with rain on 39% of days and grey skies; hydrangeas and empty museums are the consolation.
For Tokyo Disney, Fuji views and day trips
Disney Resort is best in October, November and March to early April (see the Disney weather guide). Mt Fuji is visible from Tokyo mainly in winter: clear, dry air from November to February gives the best odds. Hakone and Nikko are at their finest in late October and November for leaves.
What to pack for Tokyo, month by month
| Month | Feels like | What to wear | Rain gear | Sun protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Cold | a winter coat or down jacket, scarf and gloves; indoor heating is strong so layer up | rain gear optional | low |
| February | Chilly | a coat and sweater, scarf on windy days | rain gear optional | low |
| March | Chilly | a coat and sweater, scarf on windy days | folding umbrella | low |
| April | Cool | a jacket or light coat, a sweater for mornings and evenings | folding umbrella | moderate |
| May | Mild | long sleeves or a T-shirt with a light jacket; evenings need the jacket | folding umbrella | high |
| June | Early summer | short sleeves by day, a light long sleeve for evenings | umbrella essential | moderate |
| July | Early summer | short sleeves by day, a light long sleeve for evenings | folding umbrella | moderate |
| August | Full summer | light, breathable clothes, a hat, sunscreen and a thin layer for over-chilled trains and shops | folding umbrella | high |
| September | Early summer | short sleeves by day, a light long sleeve for evenings | umbrella essential | moderate |
| October | Mild | long sleeves or a T-shirt with a light jacket; evenings need the jacket | folding umbrella | moderate |
| November | Cool | a jacket or light coat, a sweater for mornings and evenings | folding umbrella | moderate |
| December | Chilly | a coat and sweater, scarf on windy days | rain gear optional | low |
Compare Tokyo with other Japanese cities
Use the tool to put Tokyo next to any other city for all twelve months.
Months to avoid in Tokyo, and why
June (rainy season) and the second half of July through August (heat, Obon crowds, typhoons); the 29 April to 5 May Golden Week and 29 December to 3 January for crowds and closures.
If I had to pick a single fortnight for Tokyo it would be 5 to 20 November: the kogarashi has usually cleared the air, the ginkgo avenues turn gold, and the rain-day share is the lowest of any comfortable month. The second pick is the ten days after Golden Week in May.
Frequently asked questions about Tokyo weather
What is the rainiest month in Tokyo?
October by volume (235mm) and June or September by the share of rainy days (39% and 37%). September and October rain comes from the autumn front and typhoons; June is the rainy season.
Is Tokyo cold in winter?
Cold but dry and sunny: January averages 9.8°C by day and 1.2°C at night, with snow on only 6% of days. A coat, scarf and gloves are enough; the cold is rarely extreme.
When are cherry blossoms in Tokyo?
Average opening 24 March, full bloom 31 March, petals falling by about 7 April. The Japan Meteorological Corporation and Weathernews issue forecasts from late February.
Which month has the best weather in Tokyo?
November on the numbers: the highest sunny-day share of the mild months (55%), rain on only 22% of days, and highs around 17°C. October and April are close behind.
- October to November and late March to May, by the numbers
- Avoid: June (rainy season) and the second half of July through August (heat, Obon crowds, typhoons)
- Hottest August (31.3°C (88°F)), coldest January (1.2°C (34°F)), wettest June (39% of days)
- Check your own dates with the 58-year tool above
Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency climatological normals (1991 to 2020) for temperatures, precipitation and sunshine; JMA daily observations 1968 to 2025 (58 years) compiled by this site for the share of sunny, rainy, snowy, hot and cold days. Written by a certified Japanese weather forecaster (気象予報士). Percentages are the share of days in the month; a 30 percent rain-day figure means roughly 9 days a month.