Tokyo Travel Guide
When to Visit Tokyo
Season by season — cherry-blossom crowds, the rainy season, summer heat and typhoons, crisp autumn and clear winter days with Mount Fuji views — plus the holidays to avoid and how to save money.
There is no bad time to visit Tokyo, but each season brings a different city, and the difference between a dream trip and a sweaty, crowded one can be a few weeks. Here is what to expect month by month, and how to time your visit for the experience — and the budget — you want.
Spring (March to May): cherry blossoms. Spring is Tokyo's most famous season. Cherry blossoms usually open in late March and are at their peak for about a week in late March or early April, depending on the year's weather; forecasts are published weeks in advance. Parks such as Ueno, Shinjuku Gyoen and the Chidorigafuchi moat by the Imperial Palace fill with picnickers under clouds of pink blossom, and the illuminated night blossoms are magical. It is also the busiest and most expensive time of year: hotel prices soar and attractions are crowded, so book months ahead. Late April and May bring pleasant weather and azaleas, but avoid Golden Week, a cluster of national holidays from late April to early May, when the whole country travels.
Early summer (June to mid-July): the rainy season. Tsuyu, the rainy season, usually runs from early June to mid-July. It does not rain all the time, but days are often grey, humid and drizzly. The upside is fewer tourists, lower prices and beautiful hydrangeas and irises in gardens such as the Inner Garden of Meiji Jingu. Indoor attractions — teamLab, museums, Akihabara and the department stores — come into their own.
Summer (mid-July to August): festivals and heat. Tokyo summers are hot and very humid, with temperatures often well above thirty degrees Celsius. It is the season of fireworks festivals, including the famous one on the Sumida River near Asakusa, of summer matsuri with portable shrines and street food, and of yukata cotton robes. Plan sightseeing early and late in the day, spend the afternoon indoors, and carry water. Mid-August brings Obon, a holiday period when many Japanese travel. Typhoons can bring heavy rain and disruption from August through September; keep plans flexible.
Autumn (September to November): the sweet spot. After the heat breaks in late September, October and November are arguably the best months to visit: clear, comfortable weather, fewer crowds than spring, and the autumn foliage, which turns the city's ginkgo avenues golden and maples red, usually peaking in late November and early December. The ginkgo avenue at Meiji Jingu Gaien and the gardens of the Imperial Palace are highlights. Halloween in Shibuya draws crowds, though the city discourages street gatherings. Autumn is also popular, so book hotels ahead.
Winter (December to February): clear skies and Fuji views. Tokyo winters are cold but mostly dry and sunny, with temperatures around freezing at night and pleasant daytime sunshine. This is the best season for clear views of Mount Fuji from SHIBUYA SKY, Tokyo Skytree and the government building's free observation decks. Winter illuminations transform districts such as Marunouchi, Roppongi and Shibuya. Around New Year, from about 29 December to 3 January, many museums and businesses close, while shrines such as Meiji Jingu draw millions for hatsumode, the first prayer of the year. January and February outside of holidays are among the cheapest times to visit.
Holidays to avoid or embrace. The busiest periods are cherry-blossom season, Golden Week, Obon in mid-August and the New Year holidays. Prices peak and trains and attractions are crowded. On the other hand, festivals and seasonal events make these times special if you plan ahead. Tokyo DisneySea and Disneyland use dynamic pricing, with the highest prices on weekends, holidays and school vacations.
Saving money in Tokyo. Choose the shoulder seasons — late May, late September to October outside holidays, and January to February — for the best hotel rates. Many of Tokyo's best sights are free: Senso-ji, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya Crossing, Tsukiji, the Imperial Palace East Gardens, Akihabara and the government building's observation decks. Eat set lunches, convenience-store breakfasts and department-store bento. A 24-, 48- or 72-hour subway pass can save money on heavy sightseeing days. And remember the new costs: the international departure tax rose to 3,000 yen in July 2026, the Japan Rail Pass rose in October 2026, and Tokyo's hotel tax changes to a percentage-based system in April 2027.
Our verdict. For first-timers, late October to late November is hard to beat: comfortable weather, clear skies, autumn color and fewer crowds than cherry-blossom season. If blossoms are your dream, go in spring but book everything months in advance and build in flexibility for the bloom dates. For clear Fuji views and lower prices, choose winter.
Packing for the season. Tokyo involves a lot of walking and a lot of shoe removal, so whatever the month, bring comfortable slip-on shoes and socks without holes. In spring and autumn, layers work best, since mornings and evenings are cool and afternoons warm. In the rainy season, a compact umbrella is essential, though convenience stores sell cheap clear ones everywhere. In summer, pack breathable clothing, a hat, sunscreen and a small towel — Tokyo residents carry handkerchiefs to mop their brows — and consider a portable fan. Winter calls for a warm coat, but buildings and trains are well heated, so layers you can remove are better than one heavy sweater. Leave space in your bag: department stores and Akihabara make it very easy to come home with more than you brought.