When to visit Japan

Pick a month

• JanuaryTokyo 10°/1°C · 60 mm
• FebruaryTokyo 11°/2°C · 56 mm
• MarchTokyo 14°/5°C · 116 mm
• AprilTokyo 19°/10°C · 134 mm
• MayTokyo 24°/15°C · 140 mm
• JuneTokyo 26°/18°C · 168 mm
• JulyTokyo 30°/22°C · 156 mm
• AugustTokyo 31°/24°C · 155 mm
• SeptemberTokyo 28°/20°C · 225 mm
• OctoberTokyo 22°/15°C · 235 mm
• NovemberTokyo 17°/9°C · 96 mm
• DecemberTokyo 12°/4°C · 58 mm

Tokyo through the year

Tokyo is where most trips start and end, so its normals are the quickest way to compare months. Hokkaido runs roughly 8–10°C cooler and Okinawa 6–8°C warmer; the city-by-city tables are on each month page.

Source: Japan Meteorological Agency, climatological normals (1991–2020) (station page). Snowfall is the monthly total of fresh snow.

The four seasons in one paragraph each

Spring (March–May). Cherry blossoms move north from late March in Tokyo and Kyoto to early May in Hokkaido. It is the most popular season with overseas visitors and the busiest for hotels; Golden Week (late April to early May) adds domestic travellers on top.

Summer (June–August). The rainy season (tsuyu) covers most of the country from early June to mid-July, except Hokkaido. July and August are hot and humid with the big summer festivals and fireworks; Obon in mid-August is a domestic travel peak.

Autumn (September–November). Typhoons are most likely in September; October and November bring dry, clear weather and autumn colours, again moving from north (Hokkaido in October) to south (Kyoto late November). Many people rate November the best all-round month.

Winter (December–February). Cold and dry on the Pacific side, heavy snow on the Sea of Japan side and in Hokkaido. Skiing, snow festivals and hot springs are the draw; the New Year holiday (roughly December 29 to January 3) closes many businesses.

Public holidays 2026 and 2027

Japanese public holidays matter to visitors mainly because of crowds and prices: trains, hotels and popular sights fill up with domestic travellers, especially during the three big breaks — New Year, Golden Week and Obon (mid-August, not a public holiday but treated like one).

2026

Long weekends in 2026:

• January 10–12 — 3 days off in a row (Coming of Age Day)
• February 21–23 — 3 days off in a row (The Emperor's Birthday)
• March 20–22 — 3 days off in a row (Vernal Equinox Day)
• May 2–6 — 5 days off in a row (Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, Children's Day)
• July 18–20 — 3 days off in a row (Marine Day)
• September 19–23 — 5 days off in a row (Respect for the Aged Day, Autumnal Equinox Day)
• October 10–12 — 3 days off in a row (Sports Day)
• November 21–23 — 3 days off in a row (Labor Thanksgiving Day)

2027

Long weekends in 2027:

• January 1–3 — 3 days off in a row (New Year's Day)
• January 9–11 — 3 days off in a row (Coming of Age Day)
• March 20–22 — 3 days off in a row (Vernal Equinox Day)
• May 1–5 — 5 days off in a row (Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, Children's Day)
• July 17–19 — 3 days off in a row (Marine Day)
• September 18–20 — 3 days off in a row (Respect for the Aged Day)
• October 9–11 — 3 days off in a row (Sports Day)

To cite or link to this page: When to visit Japan — Japan Pocket Guide, https://japanpocketguide.com/when-to-visit/ Copy