Tokyo Weather Guide
Month by month temperatures, humidity, the rainy season, and what to actually pack.
Tokyo has four distinct seasons, a humid early-summer rainy period and a late-summer-to-autumn risk of tropical weather. There is no universally “best” month: spring and autumn are generally comfortable, summer heat changes how you should pace outdoor sightseeing, and winter can be crisp and clear. Use the month-by-month notes as climate context, not a forecast for your exact travel dates.
Current weather alert — 8 September 2026: GO TOKYO is warning of heavy rain and high waves as a typhoon approaches Kanto. If you are travelling today, check the live warning and transport status before sea/river plans or long transfers. Read today's traveller alert →
Month by month
January
Tokyo's coldest month. Days are often crisp and clear with excellent visibility — good conditions for seeing Mt Fuji from elevated spots in the city. Rain is infrequent but cold. Crowds are thinner than any other month except February.
February
Very similar to January and equally quiet. Plum blossoms (ume) appear toward the end of the month — a less celebrated but genuinely pretty preview of the cherry blossom season ahead.
March
The start of the shoulder season. Cherry blossoms typically appear in late March (exact timing varies year to year and is closely tracked), which rapidly drives up hotel prices and visitor numbers for the final week or two.
April
Peak cherry blossom season through mid-April, then Golden Week starts at the end of the month — the busiest domestic travel period of the year. Excellent weather, but this is Tokyo at its most crowded and most expensive.
May
Often the best month to visit overall: warm, comfortable, low humidity, and crowds ease off once Golden Week ends. A genuine sweet spot before summer heat arrives.
June
This is the core Baiu rainy-season period. JMA’s 1991–2020 climatology places the Kanto/Koshin onset around 7 June and withdrawal around 19 July, but the dates vary each year. Expect humidity, cloud and periods of rain rather than assuming every day will be a washout.
July
Hot and humid once rainy season breaks, usually mid-July. Outdoor sightseeing is genuinely uncomfortable in the middle of the day. Fireworks festivals (hanabi) run through the month. Stay hydrated and use the subway more than usual.
August
Typically the hottest part of the year, with high humidity and significant heat stress during long outdoor days. Tropical cyclones can affect the Kanto region in summer and autumn, but their timing and track cannot be predicted months ahead. Monitor JMA forecasts and warnings during your trip rather than planning around a supposed “typhoon schedule”.
September
Still warm and somewhat humid, with the tail end of typhoon season. Crowds are lighter than spring or October. By late September the heat starts easing into something more comfortable.
October
Excellent weather — arguably the most comfortable month in Tokyo. Warm days, cool evenings, low humidity. Crowds build through the month as it's widely considered peak season. Book early.
November
Autumn foliage peaks in mid-to-late November — Rikugien, Shinjuku Gyoen, and Meiji Jingu Gaien are popular spots. Pleasantly cool but not cold, with much lower humidity than summer. Still a busy month.
December
Cold but dry, with the city well-lit for Christmas illuminations through December. A solid underrated travel month — it is genuinely cold, but Japan's excellent indoor infrastructure (heated trains, shopping complexes) makes it manageable. The city quiets significantly around December 29–31 as locals prepare for New Year.
What to pack, by season
A proper winter coat, layers, and a scarf. Tokyo rarely gets below freezing but wind chill is real. Boots with grip if January or February — light frost is possible.
Layers that can be removed — mornings and evenings in March are cool while afternoons can be warm. Light jacket suffices for April and May.
Carry a compact umbrella when rain is in the forecast, and consider one as a default during the wetter early-summer period. Breathable fabrics. Waterproof shoes or quick-dry footwear. Most visitors who get soaked just didn't have an umbrella.
Lightweight, breathable clothing. Sunscreen, a small towel, and a hand fan (uchiwa) — locals carry them and convenience stores sell them cheap. Accept that you will sweat. Schedule the most active outdoor sightseeing for morning or evening.
A light jacket for evenings in November. October is T-shirt weather during the day. The most flexible packing of any Tokyo season.
Specific events to plan around
Rainy season (tsuyu)
Typically early June to mid-July. Not a continuous downpour but persistent grey and heavy periodic rain. If avoiding it is a priority, May or late July onwards is the answer. If you visit during tsuyu, pack for it and don't let it deter you — indoor Tokyo is excellent.
Typhoon season
Peak risk is August and September, with meaningful activity through to mid-October. Tokyo is well-prepared — most typhoons track quickly and services resume within a day — but trains shut down preemptively during severe warnings. Check forecasts in the week before you travel during this window.
Golden Week
Late April to early May. Excellent weather, but domestic travel peaks sharply — trains between Tokyo and Kyoto book out weeks ahead and popular attractions are genuinely crowded. If you can travel just after Golden Week ends (roughly May 7 onwards), you get the same weather with significantly thinner crowds.
Cherry blossom (sakura) timing
The bloom window varies by up to two weeks year to year based on winter temperatures. Forecasts issued by Japan Meteorological Corp typically become reliable in February for the upcoming spring. Targeting late March gives you the best odds of catching peak bloom, but booking flexible cancellation accommodation is sensible if sakura is the specific goal.
Climate normals: what the averages actually mean
Japan Meteorological Agency climate normals are 30-year averages, not promises for a particular week. For Tokyo, JMA’s 1991–2020 monthly mean temperature runs from 5.4°C in January to 26.9°C in August. Monthly precipitation is not confined to June: the same normals show September and October are, on average, among the wetter months by total rainfall. That is why “rainy season” should not be read as “the only rainy time of year”.
Use averages for packing and broad trip timing, then switch to forecasts in the final week. A monthly average cannot tell you whether one afternoon will be 35°C, whether a spring cold snap will arrive, or where a tropical cyclone will track.
Summer heat: plan the day differently
Tokyo summer is not just “warm sightseeing weather”. Heat and humidity can make the same walking itinerary substantially harder than it looks on a map. Put long outdoor walks, gardens and exposed viewpoints earlier in the morning where possible; use museums, department stores and other indoor stops through the hottest part of the day; and allow more breaks than you would in spring or autumn.
- Carry water and drink regularly rather than waiting until you feel thirsty.
- Use shade and air-conditioned indoor stops as part of the route, not as an afterthought.
- Choose breathable clothing, sun protection and footwear that can handle both heat and sudden rain.
- If you feel unwell, stop pushing the itinerary. A missed attraction is cheaper than a medical emergency.
The Tokyo safety and emergency guide covers heat illness and emergency contacts in more detail.
Rain, Baiu and tropical weather
JMA describes Baiu as the cloudy and rainy period of early summer. For Kanto/Koshin, which includes Tokyo, the climatological centre dates are around 7 June for onset and 19 July for withdrawal. Those are averages: JMA identifies the actual transition each year, and it can be earlier, later or less distinct.
For ordinary rain, Tokyo is easy to adapt: compact umbrellas are widely available, many stations and commercial buildings connect under cover, and you can swap a garden for a museum. For severe weather, do not rely on social-media impressions or a generic weather app alone. Follow official JMA warnings and transport-operator notices. A tropical cyclone can affect flights and trains even if central Tokyo itself is not in the storm’s strongest winds.
A better packing system
Pack for a range, not one forecast icon. In spring and autumn, layers are more useful than one heavy item because mornings, afternoons and evenings can feel different. In summer, prioritise quick-drying, breathable clothing and a light rain layer or umbrella. In winter, a warm outer layer plus removable indoor layers works better than assuming every building will feel cold.
Shoes matter in every season. Tokyo involves a lot of walking and station stairs. Choose a pair you already know you can wear for a full day, and if your trip overlaps a wetter period, consider how quickly they dry. Carrying a second lightweight pair can be more useful than packing extra formal clothes you never wear.
Cherry blossoms and autumn leaves are not fixed dates
Seasonal colour is weather-sensitive. Cherry blossom opening and full bloom shift from year to year, and individual parks can progress differently. The same is true of autumn colour. If blossoms or foliage are the main reason for your trip, treat historical timing as a planning window and check current official or venue updates closer to arrival.
If your travel dates are fixed, build an itinerary that still works without perfect bloom timing. Tokyo has enough gardens, museums, food districts and neighbourhood walks that a “late” or “early” season does not need to spoil the trip.
Official weather sources checked
Climate context was reviewed on 30 August 2026 against the Japan Meteorological Agency 1991–2020 climatological normals and JMA’s Baiu climatology. Use JMA for current forecasts, warnings and tropical-cyclone information near your travel dates.