Best Time to Visit Japan: Month by Month, Rainy Season, Typhoons and Winter

In this guide

• The seasons at a glance
• Month by month
• Temperature and rain by city
• Cherry blossom timing
• The rainy season (tsuyu)
• Summer heat
• Typhoon season
• Autumn leaves
• Winter in Japan
• Holidays and crowds
• Festivals worth timing a trip around
• The best time for your kind of trip
• Frequently asked questions
• Plan the rest of your trip

The seasons at a glance

Japan stretches from snowy Hokkaido in the north to subtropical Okinawa in the south, so “the best time” depends on where you go. For the classic first trip of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, the seasons look like this:

Month by month

Temperatures and rainfall below are the official 1991–2020 monthly normals from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) for central Tokyo and Kyoto. Visitor numbers come from JNTO.

January

Tokyo averages 5.4°C and only 59.7 mm of rain, with about 190 hours of sunshine, making January one of its sunniest months. Kyoto is a little colder (4.8°C). The first three days of the year are Japan’s biggest holiday: shrines are packed for hatsumode (the first visit of the year) and many businesses close. Hokkaido is deep in snow (Sapporo averages −3.2°C and 137 cm of snowfall in January). Shirakawa-go’s winter light-up runs on four evenings in January 2027, by reservation only. In Okinawa the early hikanzakura cherry trees normally open around January 16. January 2025 had 3.78 million visitors, one of the busiest months.

February

Still cold and dry: Tokyo averages 6.1°C, Kyoto 5.4°C. The Sapporo Snow Festival runs from February 4 to 11, 2027. Plum blossoms appear in gardens and temple grounds before the cherries. February was the quietest month for visitors in 2025 (3.26 million), which means easier bookings and lower prices for many hotels outside the snow resorts. National holidays fall on February 11 and February 23.

March

Spring arrives: Tokyo averages 9.4°C with 116 mm of rain. Cherry blossoms normally open around March 22 in Fukuoka, March 24 in Tokyo, March 26 in Kyoto and March 27 in Osaka, and the second half of the month is when many trips are timed. In 2026 Tokyo’s trees opened on March 19, five days early. The Vernal Equinox holiday falls on March 21 (with March 22 as a substitute holiday in 2027).

April

Tokyo averages 14.3°C. Full bloom normally comes around March 31 in Tokyo and April 4 in Kyoto and Osaka, then the blossom front moves north: Kanazawa opens around April 3, Sendai around April 8, Aomori around April 22 and Hakodate around April 28. Takayama’s Spring Festival is held on April 14 and 15. April was the busiest month for visitors in 2025 (3.91 million) and again in 2026, so book early. Showa Day on April 29 starts the run-up to Golden Week.

May

Warm and fresh: Tokyo averages 18.8°C, Kyoto 19.5°C. Golden Week, a cluster of national holidays, falls on April 29 and May 1–5 in 2027; trains and hotels are packed and prices rise, so travel either side of it if you can. Sapporo’s cherry blossoms normally open around May 1. Okinawa’s rainy season normally starts around May 10.

June

The rainy season normally starts around June 6 in Kinki (Kyoto and Osaka) and June 7 in Kanto-Koshin (Tokyo). Tokyo averages 21.9°C and 167.8 mm of rain; Kyoto 199.7 mm. Hokkaido has no official rainy season, and Sapporo averages a comfortable 17.0°C with 60.4 mm of rain. June was the quietest month for visitors so far in 2026 (3.15 million). Gardens are lush and hydrangeas bloom, so with flexible plans and a good umbrella, June can be rewarding.

July

The rainy season normally ends around July 19 in Kinki and Kanto, and then the heat arrives: Tokyo averages 25.7°C and Kyoto 27.3°C. Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri fills the whole month, with the great float processions on July 17 and 24. Tokyo’s Sumida River Fireworks were held on July 25 in 2026. The Mount Fuji climbing season begins in July (see our Mount Fuji guide). Marine Day is on July 19, 2027.

August

The hottest month: Tokyo averages 26.9°C, Kyoto 28.5°C and Osaka 29.0°C. Aomori’s Nebuta festival runs August 2–7 and Tokushima’s Awa Odori August 12–15. Obon, the mid-August period around August 13–16 when many Japanese return to their hometowns, is not a national holiday but brings very busy trains and roads. Mountain Day falls on August 11. Typhoons approach Japan most often in August and September. Hokkaido is the cool escape, with Sapporo averaging 22.3°C.

September

Still hot at the start, cooling by the end. Tokyo averages 23.3°C but has 224.9 mm of rain, and typhoon landfalls peak in September (an average of 1.0 per September). Crowds are lower: September was one of the two quietest months for visitors in 2025. In 2027 there are holidays on September 20 and 23, but no long “Silver Week”. Hokkaido and the mountains begin to turn red late in the month.

October

Often the most comfortable month: Tokyo averages 18.0°C. JMA notes October brings frequent sunny, crisp days in Kanto, although the early part of the month can be wet (Tokyo’s normal October rainfall is 234.8 mm, its highest of the year). Autumn colors reach the mountains: in 2026 Nikko’s Irohazaka road was forecast to peak from about October 23. Festivals include Nagasaki Kunchi (October 7–9), Takayama’s autumn festival (October 9–10) and Kyoto’s Jidai Matsuri (October 22). October was the second-busiest month for visitors in 2025 (3.90 million).

November

Cool and mostly dry: Tokyo averages 12.5°C with 96.3 mm of rain. This is autumn-leaf season in the cities. Tokyo’s ginkgo trees normally turn yellow around November 23, and Kyoto’s famous spots such as Eikando usually peak in mid to late November. Winter illuminations begin, and Niseko’s ski areas plan to open on November 28, 2026. Holidays: Culture Day (November 3) and Labour Thanksgiving Day (November 23).

December

Tokyo averages 7.7°C and is dry and sunny. Kyoto’s maples normally turn around December 5, so early December can still be beautiful there. Illuminations run until Christmas, ski resorts open, and Sapporo averages 113 cm of snowfall. From December 29, government offices and many businesses close for New Year, and big museums close for a few days.

Temperature and rain by city

Mean monthly temperature (°C), JMA normals 1991–2020:

Monthly precipitation (mm), JMA normals 1991–2020:

Three patterns stand out. Winter is the driest season in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Western Japan (Fukuoka, Matsuyama) gets most of its rain in June and July. And Tokyo’s wettest months are September and October, when typhoons and the autumn rain front pass. Okinawa is different again: Naha’s monthly mean ranges only from about 17°C in January to 29°C in July, with rain concentrated in the rainy season (May–June) and the typhoon months.

Cherry blossom timing

JMA records two dates for each city’s sample tree: the flowering date, when at least five or six blossoms are open, and full bloom, when about 80% of the buds are open. Most cities use the Somei-yoshino variety.

Recent years have run early, especially in the north: Sapporo’s trees opened 13 days ahead of normal in 2026. If you are booking months ahead, aim for the last week of March and the first week of April for Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, and accept that the exact peak may shift by a week either way.

2027 forecasts: none had been published as of October 2026. Japan Meteorological Corporation issued its first forecasts on December 18, 2025 (for 2026) and January 9, 2025 (for 2025), so expect the first 2027 forecasts between mid-December 2026 and January 2027. Weathernews says its next season’s information will appear in February 2027. Our cherry blossom guide covers the best spots.

The rainy season (tsuyu)

Most of Japan has a rainy season in early summer, when a stationary front brings frequent rain. JMA’s normal dates (1991–2020):

Two things to know. First, JMA announces “preliminary” dates on the day and publishes “confirmed” dates in September, and they can differ by weeks: in 2025, Kanto-Koshin’s start was announced as about June 10 but later confirmed as about May 22. Second, the season varies a lot: in 2025 it ended very early, in late June across western and eastern Japan, while in 2026 Tokyo had its third-wettest June on record (436.5 mm).

Hokkaido has no official rainy season, which makes it a good choice for June. If you travel in the rainy season elsewhere, plan indoor options (museums, food halls, onsen), carry a compact umbrella (konbini sell them), and remember that gardens and moss temples look their best in the rain.

Summer heat

Japanese summers have become dangerously hot. Summer 2025 (June–August) was the hottest since records began in 1898, at 2.36°C above normal, and Japan set a national record of 41.8°C at Isesaki in Gunma on August 5, 2025. In Tokyo, August 2025 averaged 29.6°C, the hottest August since 1875. In 2026 JMA recorded the first-ever run of five consecutive days at 40°C or more in one region (Tokai, July 21–25).

JMA’s words for hot days are worth knowing because they appear in forecasts and news: 夏日 (natsubi) is 25°C or more, 真夏日 (manatsubi) 30°C or more, 猛暑日 (mōshobi) 35°C or more, and since April 2026 酷暑日 (kokushobi) is 40°C or more. A 熱帯夜 (nettaiya) is a night that stays at 25°C or above.

Heatstroke alerts

• A Heat Stroke Alert is issued jointly by the Ministry of the Environment and JMA when the forecast heat index (WBGT) reaches 33 anywhere in a forecast region, the evening before and early on the day. In 2026 the alert season ran from April 22 to October 21, with 1,236 alerts.
• A Special Heat Stroke Alert exists for even more extreme conditions, with cooling shelters opening when it is issued; it has never been issued so far.
• The ministry’s heat site has alert maps and WBGT forecasts in English, Chinese and Korean, and advises avoiding going out, using air conditioning and drinking before you feel thirsty.

How to travel in the heat

• Sightsee early in the morning and in the evening; spend the afternoon in museums, department stores or your hotel.
• Drink regularly and add salt: konbini sell sports drinks and salt candies.
• Many temples, castles and gardens have no air conditioning. Plan them for the morning.
• Go north or up: Hokkaido, the Japanese Alps and highland resorts are far cooler in July and August.

Typhoon season

Typhoons are tropical storms from the Pacific. Most Japan trips in late summer and autumn are never affected, but it pays to understand how they work. JMA’s normals (1991–2020):

“Approaching” means the center passes within 300 km of a weather station in Japan; “landfall” means it reaches the coast of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku or Kyushu. So in a normal year about 12 typhoons come near Japan and three make landfall, mostly in August and September. Okinawa and Amami see the most (7.9 approaches a year), and regions such as Kanto, Kinki and Shikoku about 3.3 to 3.4 each.

Recent seasons have been busy. In 2025, 27 typhoons formed and 13 approached Japan, with three landfalls. In 2026, 30 had formed by October 16, already above a normal full year, with three landfalls: in southern Wakayama and near Tateyama in Chiba in June, and in southern Ibaraki in August.

What happens when a typhoon comes

• Planned suspensions: railways announce “planned suspensions” (計画運休, keikaku unkyū) the day before. For example, on June 2, 2026 JR Central announced that several conventional lines would stop from the first train until about 16:00 the next day, and warned that plans could change suddenly.
• Quick recovery: service often returns fast. The day after a typhoon landed in Ibaraki in August 2026, the transport ministry listed no suspended shinkansen or conventional lines and no cancelled flights.
• Flights: ANA lets domestic passengers on flights flagged as likely to be affected change once or get a refund without a fee, before a cancellation is confirmed. Hotel and transport costs from weather disruption are the passenger’s own.

Train refunds

• JR Central: if a train is cancelled before you ride, the fare and charges are refunded in full; if it is cancelled mid-trip, you get the unused section back or a free return to your starting point with a full refund. If you arrive two or more hours late, limited-express and shinkansen charges are refunded (not the base fare). JR does not pay for hotels or taxis.
• Japan Rail Pass: the official conditions say there is no extension or refund once the pass is in use, even if trains are suspended or delayed for any reason, including natural disasters.

Where to get information in English

• JMA’s English weather portal and typhoon map, and its multilingual disaster information page in 15 languages.
• The free NHK WORLD-JAPAN app, with push alerts for earthquakes, tsunami and weather emergency warnings in 11 languages.
• The free Safety tips app from the Japan Tourism Agency, with alerts in 15 languages.
• The Japan Visitor Hotline, 050-3816-2787, 24 hours, which covers natural disasters.

JMA’s weather warnings now carry level numbers under a revised law in force since May 29, 2026, with Level 5 the most serious. Take any Level 4 or 5 warning seriously and follow local instructions.

A 48-hour typhoon plan

1. Two days before: if a typhoon is forecast for your area, move between cities before it arrives, not on the day.
2. The day before: check railway and airline notices for planned suspensions, buy food and water (konbini shelves can empty the evening before), charge devices and download offline maps.
3. Storm day: stay in your hotel. Most storms pass in less than a day.
4. The day after: check service updates before heading to the station; the first trains can be crowded.

Three things protect your budget in typhoon months: hotels with free cancellation (filter for them on Agoda), point-to-point train tickets that can be refunded, and travel insurance that covers delays and extra nights, such as SafetyWing; read the policy to see what it covers for your trip.

Autumn leaves

Autumn colors start in Hokkaido and the high mountains in September and reach the cities of Honshu in late November. There are two kinds of date: JMA’s “coloring date” for one sample tree per city, and the “best viewing” dates forecasters give for named spots, which often start earlier.

Forecasts for 2026 pointed to a normal or slightly late season in the cities because October and November were expected to be warm. Examples from tenki.jp and Weathernews in October 2026: Nikko’s Irohazaka from about October 23; Shirakawa-go from about October 31; Mount Takao near Tokyo from about November 19; Miyajima from about November 18–19. In Kyoto, Eikando usually peaks in mid to late November and Kiyomizu-dera in late November to early December. Our autumn foliage guide has the best places.

Winter in Japan

Winter is underrated. The Pacific side, including Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, is cool, dry and often sunny, while the Sea of Japan side and the north get heavy snow. Outside the New Year period, sights are calmer than in spring and autumn.

What winter is like

• Tokyo: January averages 5.4°C with about 60 mm of rain and plenty of sunshine. Cold mornings, bright days.
• Kyoto and Osaka: slightly colder (Kyoto 4.8°C in January), occasionally with a light dusting of snow on the temples.
• Sapporo: January averages −3.2°C, and normal snowfall is 113 cm in December, 137 cm in January and 116 cm in February. January 2026 brought 242 cm, 177% of normal.
• Shikoku: mild. Matsuyama’s normal first snow is December 19, and snow lies on the ground only about 0.3 days a year.

Winter experiences and 2026–27 dates

• Sapporo Snow Festival: February 4–11, 2027, at the Odori, Tsudome and Susukino sites. See our Sapporo guide.
• Shirakawa-go light-up: January 11, 17, 24 and 31, 2027, 17:30–19:30, by advance reservation only; there are no same-day tickets. See our Shirakawa-go guide.
• Skiing: Niseko United’s four areas plan to open on November 28, 2026, and GALA Yuzawa, inside a shinkansen station, on December 19, 2026. Niseko recorded 13.5 m of snowfall in the 2025–26 season. See our ski resorts guide.
• Drift ice: off Abashiri in Hokkaido, drift ice normally first appears around January 22 and reaches the shore around February 4; the icebreaker Aurora runs from January 20 to March 31.
• Snow monsters and snow monkeys: the frost-covered trees of Zao and the bathing monkeys of Jigokudani are winter-only sights. See our Zao guide and snow monkey guide.
• Illuminations: in Tokyo, Roppongi’s Keyakizaka “SNOW & BLUE” runs from November 5 to December 25, 2026, and Yebisu Garden Place’s illumination and Christmas market from November 14 to December 25, 2026.
• Onsen: winter is the best season for hot springs. Read our onsen etiquette guide first.

The New Year caveat

New Year is Japan’s biggest holiday. National government offices close from December 29 to January 3, and many businesses and some museums close for part of that period; the Tokyo National Museum, for example, is closed from December 26 to 31, 2026 and reopens on January 1, 2027. JNTO lists New Year as one of Japan’s three peak travel seasons, and on the Tokaido and Sanyo shinkansen all Nozomi seats become reserved during major peaks, so non-reserved ticket holders may have to stand. Shrines are crowded with hatsumode visitors on January 1–3. If you are in Japan over New Year, book transport early and check opening days for anything you want to see.

Packing for winter

Layers work best, because trains, shops and hotels are well heated. Bring a warm coat, gloves and a hat for the north, and shoes with grip for snowy streets. Konbini sell disposable heat packs (kairo) and thermal underwear. Our Japan packing list covers the rest.

Holidays and crowds

Japan’s own holidays drive prices and crowds more than the weather does. The 2027 national holidays, from the Cabinet Office:

• Golden Week 2027: Showa Day on Thursday April 29, then Saturday May 1 to Wednesday May 5. Expect the heaviest travel around May 1–5. Our Golden Week guide explains how to cope.
• Obon: not a national holiday, but many people travel around August 13–16.
• Silver Week: there is no long September holiday in 2027.
• Three-day weekends in 2027: January 9–11, March 20–22, July 17–19, September 18–20 and October 9–11. Popular places can be busier on these weekends, so book early if your dates overlap.

Visitor numbers

Japan welcomed a record 42.68 million international visitors in 2025, up 15.8%. The busiest months were April (3.91 million), October (3.90 million) and January (3.78 million); the quietest were February and September. From January to September 2026, numbers were 2.9% lower than a year earlier, mainly because visitors from China fell by about 55%, while Korea and Taiwan rose. Popular sights stay busy in peak seasons regardless; arrive at opening time.

Festivals worth timing a trip around

Many smaller local festivals happen every weekend somewhere in Japan, especially in summer and autumn; ask your hotel or check the local tourism site for the town you are visiting. Festival days bring big crowds and higher hotel prices in those cities, so book early. Our Nebuta festival guide explains how to join the parade.

The best time for your kind of trip

• First-time visitors: late March to mid-April or mid-October to late November. Book flights and hotels well ahead.
• Budget travelers: January after the New Year holiday, February, June and September tend to be quieter. Avoid Golden Week, Obon and New Year.
• Families: spring and autumn for comfortable sightseeing. If you must travel in summer, base yourself somewhere cooler such as Hokkaido and keep afternoons indoors.
• Photographers: cherry blossoms, autumn leaves and snow. Winter’s dry, clear air often gives the best views of Mount Fuji.
• Skiers and snowboarders: January and February for the deepest snow in Hokkaido and Honshu’s mountains.
• Hikers: June to October in the Alps and Hokkaido; July to early September for climbing Mount Fuji.
• Festival lovers: July and August, accepting the heat.
• Travelers who hate crowds: February, June and early December, and weekdays at any time of year.

Whatever the season, our trip cost calculator helps you budget, and our budget travel guide has ways to save.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best month to visit Japan? For most first-time visitors, April (cherry blossoms) or November (autumn leaves). October is a good alternative with comfortable weather. These are also the busiest months, so book early.

When will the cherry blossoms bloom in 2027? No forecast had been published as of October 2026; the first forecasts usually appear between mid-December and January. Normal full bloom is around March 31 in Tokyo and April 4 in Kyoto and Osaka.

When is the rainy season in Japan? Normally about early June to mid-July in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, and May to late June in Okinawa. Hokkaido has no official rainy season.

When is typhoon season in Japan? Typhoons can come from May to November, but they approach Japan most often in August and September, and landfalls peak in September. A normal year has about three landfalls.

Should I avoid Japan in summer? Not necessarily, but prepare for serious heat: 2025 was the hottest summer on record. Sightsee early and late, drink regularly, and consider cooler regions such as Hokkaido.

Is winter a good time to visit Japan? Yes. Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are dry and often sunny, sights are calmer except at New Year, and the north offers snow festivals, skiing and onsen.

When is Golden Week in 2027? Showa Day is Thursday April 29, and the main run of holidays is Saturday May 1 to Wednesday May 5, 2027.

Are things closed over New Year in Japan? Many are. Government offices close from December 29 to January 3, and some businesses and museums close for a few days. Big shrines stay open for hatsumode and are very crowded on January 1–3; check opening days for shops, restaurants and museums.

Will a typhoon cancel my Japan Rail Pass days? The pass conditions say there is no extension or refund once the pass is in use, even when trains stop for natural disasters. Plan buffer days in typhoon season.

When is the cheapest time to visit Japan? Quieter months such as February, June and September, outside Japanese holidays, usually offer better hotel availability and prices.

Plan the rest of your trip

• Japan cherry blossom guide
• Japan autumn foliage guide
• Golden Week guide
• Japan ski resorts guide
• Mount Fuji guide
• 2 weeks in Japan itinerary
• Japan packing list

Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency (1991–2020 normals from regional office reports for Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Matsuyama and Sapporo; cherry blossom and autumn phenology tables; rainy season confirmed values; typhoon statistics as of October 16, 2026; summer 2025 and 2026 press releases; forecast terms; multilingual disaster information); Ministry of the Environment heatstroke prevention site; tenki.jp, Weathernews and Japan Meteorological Corporation autumn forecasts (October 2026); JR Central (refunds); Japan Rail Pass conditions of use; ANA; Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism disaster reports; NHK WORLD-JAPAN; Cabinet Office (national holidays 2026–2027); JNTO (visitor statistics, October 2026; FAQ); Sapporo Snow Festival; Shirakawa-go Tourist Association; Niseko Promotion Board; GALA Yuzawa; Abashiri Local Meteorological Office; festival organizers (Kyoto Kanko Navi, Aomori Nebuta, Awa Odori, Sumida River Fireworks, Hida Takayama, Nagasaki Kunchi, Kanda Myojin); Tokyo National Museum; Roppongi Hills and Yebisu Garden Place (checked October 2026). Weather varies year to year; please check forecasts before you travel and let us know if you spot something out of date.

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About the Author

Jack

I'm Jack, the writer behind Japan Real Guide. I'm from Ehime Prefecture on Shikoku and live in Osaka. Work takes me around Japan regularly, and I go home to Ehime often, so the guides here come from living in the country, not visiting it. Prices, ticket rules and opening hours are checked against official sources, and every guide shows when it was last updated.