Best Time to Visit Tokyo
Cherry blossoms, weather, crowds & prices by month
⚡ Quick Answer
Best overall: Late October - mid November (autumn colors, perfect weather).Cherry blossoms: Late March - early April (magical but packed).AVOID: Golden Week (Apr 29 - May 6), Obon (mid-Aug), New Year (Dec 31 - Jan 3).
📅 Month by Month
January
2-10°CLow💰Post-New Year quiet (after Jan 3). Cold but crisp. Fukubukuro (lucky bags) sales early January. Great deals after 7th.
February
2-11°CLow💰Cheapest month. Cold but less tourists. Plum blossoms start late Feb. Pre-cherry blossom calm before the storm.
March
5-14°CVery High💰💰💰💰Cherry blossom season begins (late March). Prices spike. Book 6+ months ahead. Magical but packed.
April
10-19°CExtreme💰💰💰💰Peak cherry blossoms (early April). Most crowded month. Golden Week starts late April. Beautiful but expensive.
May
15-23°CExtreme💰💰💰💰Golden Week nightmare (Apr 29 - May 6). AVOID unless you book a year ahead. Late May pleasant if you skip GW.
June
19-26°CLow💰💰Rainy season (tsuyu). Humid but fewer tourists. Good deals. Indoor attractions work well. Hydrangeas bloom.
July
23-30°CMedium💰💰💰Hot and humid. Summer festivals, fireworks. Schools out mid-July brings families. Mt. Fuji climbing season.
August
24-31°CHigh💰💰💰Peak summer heat. Obon week (mid-Aug) is crazy. But Tokyo empties as locals leave. Sweaty sightseeing.
September
20-27°CMedium💰💰Typhoon season risk. Heat easing. Good shoulder season if no storms. Autumn festivals begin.
October
14-22°CMedium-High💰💰💰Perfect weather. Sports Day holiday. Autumn colors begin late month. Halloween events in Shibuya.
November
9-17°CHigh💰💰💰Peak autumn foliage. Gorgeous but busy. 7-5-3 festival for kids. Great photography weather.
December
4-12°CHigh💰💰💰Christmas illuminations. Cold but festive. Avoid Dec 28 - Jan 3 (everything closed). Good early December.
🌸 Cherry Blossom Season
Tokyo's cherry blossoms (sakura) typically bloom late March to early April. Peak viewing lasts only about 1 week. Dates vary by year — check forecasts starting February.
- • 2024 peak: ~April 4 (was early due to warm weather)
- • Best spots: Ueno Park, Meguro River, Shinjuku Gyoen, Chidorigafuchi
- • Book ahead: Hotels sell out 6+ months in advance
- • Prices: 2-3x normal rates during peak bloom
Related Guides
Last updated: December 2024.