TravPa

Best time to visit Japan

The best months are March, April, May, October, and November. Here is what every month is like, and what flights cost lately.

Month by month

Cherry blossoms usually peak in late March to early April in Tokyo and Kyoto. Autumn leaves peak from mid to late November.

  1. JanuaryGo with a plan: ColdTypically 10°C by day, 1°C at night, rain on about 5 days a month
  2. FebruaryGo with a plan: ColdTypically 11°C by day, 2°C at night, rain on about 7 days a month
  3. MarchBestTypically 14°C by day, 5°C at night, rain on about 12 days a month
  4. AprilBestTypically 19°C by day, 10°C at night, rain on about 12 days a month
  5. MayBestTypically 23°C by day, 15°C at night, rain on about 13 days a month
  6. JuneGo with a plan: RainyTypically 26°C by day, 19°C at night, rain on about 16 days a month
  7. JulyGo with a plan: HotTypically 30°C by day, 23°C at night, rain on about 17 days a month
  8. AugustGo with a plan: HotTypically 32°C by day, 25°C at night, rain on about 17 days a month
  9. SeptemberGo with a plan: TyphoonsTypically 28°C by day, 22°C at night, rain on about 18 days a month
  10. OctoberBestTypically 22°C by day, 15°C at night, rain on about 15 days a month
  11. NovemberBestTypically 17°C by day, 9°C at night, rain on about 10 days a month
  12. DecemberGo with a plan: ColdTypically 12°C by day, 4°C at night, rain on about 6 days a month

Typical weather is for Tokyo: averages of NASA POWER daily data, 2016 to 2025, on a grid of about 50 km. Mountains and coasts can differ.

Plan the days

Rows of vermilion torii gates follow a stone path through a wooded hillside.
A wooded path beneath rows of vermilion torii gates.
Kyoto in 2 daysFushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, Gion, Pontochō, Arashiyama, Ryōan-ji, Kinkaku-ji, Nishiki Market, Nijō Castle2 days, JapanPacked pace
A cook turns steaming takoyaki with picks in a cast-iron street-stall pan.
Takoyaki cooking in a street-stall pan.
Osaka in 3 daysOsaka Castle, Kuromon Market, Dotonbori, Nara, Sumiyoshi Taisha, Shinsekai, Umeda Sky Building, Tenma3 days, JapanBalanced pace
A wide gravel path leads through tall trees toward a Shinto shrine gate.
A quiet approach to a shrine through tall trees.
Tokyo in 3 daysAsakusa, Ueno, Skytree, Meiji Jingu, Shimokitazawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Tsukiji, teamLab3 days, JapanBalanced pace
A wide gravel path leads through tall trees toward a Shinto shrine gate.
A quiet approach to a shrine through tall trees.
Tokyo in 5 daysAsakusa, Ueno, Shibuya, Tsukiji, Hama-rikyu, Kamakura, Enoshima, Toyosu, Odaiba5 days, JapanBalanced pace
A white high-speed train passes green rice fields with forested mountains behind.
A high-speed train crosses the countryside beside rice fields.
Japan in 7 daysTokyo, Asakusa, Shibuya, Kyoto, Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, Osaka, Dotonbori7 days, JapanBalanced pace
A white high-speed train passes green rice fields with forested mountains behind.
A high-speed train crosses the countryside beside rice fields.
Japan in 10 daysTokyo, Kamakura, Enoshima, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka10 days, JapanBalanced pace