The Climate and Weather in Tokyo - Best Time to Visit

Tokyo has a humid subtropical climate and four distinct seasons. Whether you??re wandering the tranquil gardens of a temple or shopping around the modern area, Tokyo is an amazing city in every season. Summer is hot and sticky, while winter can feel very cold.

The warmest month is August with an average temperature of 27C and the coolest month is January with average temperature of 6C. The best time to visit Tokyo is during the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn.

Quick facts

Winter in Tokyo, on the ocean side of the island, tends to be relatively mild with sunny days, though snowfall is common in January and February.
Late March to early April is the best time to experience the famous cherry blossom season and enjoy picnics under the blossoms.
On average, the warmest months are July and August, when you can enjoy swimming in the sea at temperatures of around 26C.
August to September is typhoon season, but it??s unlikely to affect you in the city.
From October to November, Tokyo is ablaze with autumn colors and lots of sunshine.

Tokyo weather by season

Tokyo lies in the humid subtropical climate zone with hot humid summers and generally mild winters with cool snaps. Annual rainfall averages nearly 1530 mm, with wetter summers and drier winters. Snowfall is sporadic, but does occur almost annually.

August is the hottest month in Tokyo with average temperatures of 26C and January is the coldest with average temperatures of 5C. December has on average the most daily hours of sunshine at 6. The wettest month is June, with an average of 181mm of rain. The best month for swimming in the sea is August, with average sea temperatures of 26C.

Winter in Tokyo

In Tokyo, December temperatures tend to be around 12C in the afternoon and drop to about 5C in the morning and at night. In January and February, afternoon temperatures drop to 10C and morning temperatures tend to hover between 2-3C.

Tokyo winters are sunny with litttle rain or snow, with average rainfall of 50-60 mm. Daily sunshine hours are around 6, and sunset time is around 4.30 pm. The air is dry, with the humidity around this time generally hovering around 30%.

Winter may be the low point for tourism, but don't expect room rates to plummet. Tokyo's hotel prices are fairly stable and expensive throughout the year. Be sure to steer clear of New Year, as hotel rates are exorbitant and most museums are closed for a few days before and after the holiday.

Spring in Tokyo

Spring in Tokyo usually starts in March. The days become warmer with average temperatures of 13-23C during the afternoons and 5-15C during the mornings and evenings. Average daily sunshine hours from March to May are around 5-6, while the sun sets at around 6 pm. As spring starts, the rainfall is higher than in winter, with an average of 90-130 mm.

It??s an exciting season with famous sakura (cherry blossoms), new budding leaves and plenty of beautiful things to see, as well as delicious types of food to eat. During both cherry blossom season and Golden Week between late March and early April, plan far ahead and expect higher accommodation prices.

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Summer in Tokyo

Summer in Tokyo is hot and humid. The season normally begins in June and lasts through August. During this time, the average daytime temperatures are about 22-35C, and average sunshine hours are around 5, with tropical nights and high humidity.

It is also the rainy season, especially June and July with average rainfall is 167.7 mm, with occasional typhoons. August is the hottest month, also the best time to swim in the sea with sea temperatures of around 26C.

Summer is also one of the busiest times of year for tourists in Tokyo. Many activities such as festivals and fireworks can be enjoyed during this season. Expect crowds and book your accommodation well in advance, since many other visitors will also arrive to enjoy the summer festivals.

Autumn in Tokyo

Early autumn is one of the wettest times of year in Tokyo with average rainfall of around 150-180 mm. There is a chance that typhoons may occur between September to mid-October. During this season, temperatures tend to be around 14-25C in the afternoons and drop to about 7-18C in the mornings and at night. Tokyo usually enjoys an average of 5 hours of daily sunshine.

When the rain tapers off in November, the skies are typically brilliant blue, the temperatures quickly become cooler, and the prospect of seeing Tokyo erupt into beautiful fall colours makes it a great time for travellers to consider visiting.

Expect crowds during autumn, one of the best times to visit Tokyo, to enjoy a season with mild weather, beautiful nature and special events.

Rainfall

The rains in Tokyo are abundant, as they amount to 1500 mm per year. There's a rainy season starting in early June and lasting until mid-July. In August there is a clear decrease in rain: August is the hottest, driest and sunniest of the summer months.

But September and October showers in the typhoon season are heavier with strong winds, and may well affect public transportation timetables. Average rainfall in these months is around 181 mm per month. During the rainy season it does not rain every day. Tokyo registers only an average of 12 rainy days in June, while 120 hours of sunshine are recorded.

Typhoons

A typhoon is Japan??s version of a hurricane. Being on the ocean side of the island, Tokyo is susceptible to them. The main typhoon season is September, while Tokyo can be affected any time from August to early October. When typhoons come ashore, they tend to move north, leaving behind lots of damage and rain.

Do not worry if you are in Tokyo for vacation and there is a typhoon, Tokyo has a very good public transportation system, and you can catch either a bus, a subway or a train almost anywhere. Large major stations usually have many underpasses with many exits, so you can usually reach your destination without getting drenched.

Tokyo Weather by Month

See the information below for details about Tokyo temperatures and precipitation by month. Prepare yourself and your luggage for a Tokyo vacation according to the weather.

	Average Temperature (C)	Minimum Temperature (C)	Maximum Temperature (C)	Average Rainfall (mm)
January	5	2	8	43
February	6	2	9	58
March	9	5	12	94
April	14	10	17	119
May	18	14	21	132
June	21	18	24	181
July	25	22	28	128
August	26	23	29	147
September	23	20	26	181
October	18	15	20	158
November	12	9	15	84
December	8	4	11	44

Best time to visit Tokyo

Tokyo is a year-round destination that can be enjoyed whatever time of year you visit, but due to weather conditions, some months are better than others. The best time to visit Tokyo is around spring and autumn when the weather is nearly perfect, with none of the heavy rains and high temperatures. Sightseeing, outdoor activities, parks, and gardens are at their best.

With quickly rising temperatures, both old and young, locals and tourists, flock to see one of the best part of spring, the cherry blossoms, especially between March and April. They bloom in parks, on street roads, on the mountains or along the riversides. Sakura trees planted in various places burst into light pink at the same time.

Autumn is another excellent time to visit Tokyo, especially in October and November, as it ushers in colorful foliage and comfortable temperatures. The trees in Tokyo??s parks and gardens are ablaze with vibrant autumn colors - perfect for photos.

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