How to Enjoy the Seasons in Tokyo
Tokyo offers a great opportunity to experience the four seasons in all their glory and variety against the backdrop of the rich culture of Japan. All the seasons are very distinct, with beautiful characteristics marking each. Tokyo offers unique experiences for each season, with various activities, festivals, national dress, foods and natural beauty to enjoy! This page has been created to help you make the most out of your trip depending on which season you’re visiting in! On this page you will find the following information :
— Times of Year and Seasons to Visit Tokyo
— 15 Best Places to See Autumn Leaves In and Around Tokyo
— 25 Best Places to see Cherry Blossoms In and Around Tokyo
— Best Day-trips & Overnight Getaways
TIMES OF YEAR AND SEASONS TO VISIT TOKYO
Each of the four seasons in Japan provides visitors with unique and exciting experiences. From the blooming blossoms in Spring, the lively festivals of Summer, the beautiful golden and red leaves in Autumn, and the magical winter illuminations in Winter. Here are our tips and information on what you can expect and enjoy during each season in Tokyo!
Spring / March to May
Weather : Mild and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 10 degrees to 20 degrees. The days are generally sunny, and the evenings can be cool. Layers are recommended.
Highlights of Spring include Cherry Blossom season, also known as Sakura. The blossom usually peak around late March, but recently the blossom has been blooming a lot later in mid to late April. You can check the Cherry Blossom forecast in advance of your trip to know if they will be blooming when you visit. The blooms attract some of the largest crowds to Tokyo, so be prepared for a lot of people. Some of the best spots to view the Cherry Blossoms are ’Shinjuku Gyoen Garden’, ’Koishikawa Gardens’ and ’Ueno Park’. Check out our ’Cherry Blossom’ page for more information on where you can see blossom in Tokyo.
You can also enjoy many Spring festivals where ’Hanami’ or flower viewing parties take place as you eat street food and wear Yukata. Festivals such as the Sumida Park Sakura festival offer an amazing opportunity to immerse yourself in local culture. You can even enjoy many seasonal foods and drinks such as sakura flavoured mochi, chocolates, teas and even Sakura themed drinks at many cafes! These are of course limited edition, so we highly recommend trying as many as you can on your trip!
Summer / June to early September
Weather : It is incredibly hot and humid in the summer in Tokyo and across Japan. Temperatures range from 25 degrees up to 35 degrees, and with the humidity levels it can feel much hotter. From mid June to mid July, it is the rainy season or ’Tsuyu’ here. This is when Tokyo receives its highest amount of rainfall. July and August are the hottest months. The sun in Japan is very strong, so if you are coming to Japan during the summer please ensure to take precautions to stay hydrated and safe. Wear SPF, hats, and protective clothing. You can buy UV umbrellas here and products to help keep your body cool.
Highlights of Summer include the Summer Festivals which is peak season for these celebrations across Japan. There will be many festivals that you can go to across Tokyo during your trip! Some of Tokyo’s biggest festivals are held in the Summer like the Sumida Fireworks Festival. These events involve dancing, parades, fireworks and food stalls. You can make your experience more authentic and fun by wearing a Yukata (a lightweight Kimono) as you watch the beautiful fireworks and eat lots of delicious festival foods.
Many hotels, bars, restaurants and department stores open pop up beer gardens and terraces on their rooftops during the hotter months to provide an escape from the heat in the city. They offer a range of cold drinks, beers, seasonal dishes and bbq, so we highly recommend trying some out during your stay.
We also recommend taking the time to venture to the beautiful beaches and mountains nearby Tokyo to cool off and enjoy nature. You can visit nearby beaches in Kamakura or Enoshima to relax, swim and enjoy the bars for a drink! You can also visit the mountainous area of Hakone or Tokyo’s own Mount Takao for hiking in the cooler areas. Why not check out our ’20 Things to Do Around Hakone & Where to Stay’ and ’20 Things to Do Around Kamakura & Where to Stay pages for inspiration on how to make the most of your Summer trip to Japan!
Autumn / Mid September to November
Weather : After the hot and humid summer, Autumn is mild and comfortable. Temperatures range from 15 degrees to 25 degrees. The days are generally sunny, and the humidity drops off making it one of the most pleasant times to visit. Layers are essential to keep comfortable throughout the day.
Highlights of Autumn include the Autumn leaves known as ’Kōyō’. You can see a lot of beautiful Autumn leaves across Tokyo and Japan. Tokyo’s parks and traditional gardens such as Koishikawa Gardens offer wonderful views of Autumn leaves. You can enjoy the vivid colours of reds, golds and orange against the backdrop of Tokyo! Check out our ’Autumn Leaves’ page for more information.
Autumn is also the time of the popular flavours of sweet potato and chestnut. You can try many delicious seasonal foods, sweets and drinks with these flavours in the Autumn. Autumn is also the time for cultural festivals such as the Meiji Jingu Gaien Gingko festival where you can walk down its famous road lined with golden Gingko, eating street food and taking beautiful photos.
Winter / December to February
Weather : The winter in Tokyo can get quite cold, but snow is rarely seen. Temperatures range from 2 degrees to 12 degrees. The days feel crisp and the air is much fresher with little humidity. Tokyo actually experiences quite dry winters. There is a lot of sunshine, and the mornings and nights are chilly.
Highlights of Winter include the many illuminations dotted throughout the city. These impressive light displays are for both winter, Christmas and New Year. They can be enjoyed throughout most of winter. They give Tokyo a cosy and magical atmosphere, with some of the best being in Marunouchi, Roppongi, Shibuya and the Tokyo Skytree.
Winter can get quite cold even in Tokyo, so we highly recommend trying Hot Springs (Onsen) during your Winter trip. You can easily take a day trip to onsen towns such as Hakone, or travel to the colder region of Nagano. If you want to experience this in Tokyo, you won’t find Onsen but Sento instead. These are public baths dotted across the city and are very popular during the Winter months with locals.
If you are visiting during the New Year period, please be aware that many attractions and smaller restaurants may be closed during this period. New Year holds the same importance as Christmas does in the Western Countries. Japanese people will travel to spend time with their families and pray for good fortune in the coming year at their local shrines and temples. However, you can also enjoy the ’Oshogatsu’ (New Year celebrations) by visiting a shrine or temple for ’Hatsumode’ which is the first shrine visit of the New Year).
15 BEST PLACES TO SEE AUTUMN LEAVES IN AND AROUND TOKYO
In and around Tokyo, visitors can view spectacular Autumn leaves! Known as Momiji, the red maple leaves are truly breathtaking and make for fantastic pictures! The process of the changing leaves is called Kōyō in Japanese, and it is highly valued by Japanese people. The best time to try and catch the Autumn leaves is during late October to early December. Check out our 15 Best Places To See Autumn Leaves In & Around Tokyo page to find out where you can enjoy this amazing seasonal phenomenon.
25 BEST PLACES TO SEE CHERRY BLOSSOMS IN & AROUND TOKYO
One thing that comes to mind as soon as you think of Japan is Cherry Blossom. Across Tokyo, visitors can view the beautiful blooms! Cherry Blossom season can vary depending on the weather, and blooming can happen anytime between late March to late April. Known as Sakura in Japanese, the blooms range from white to pink and are truly amazing to witness in person! You can enjoy seeing them in traditional gardens, parks, along rivers and even on random streets. Check out our ’25 Best Places To See Cherry Blossoms In & Around Tokyo’ page to find out where you can enjoy these amazing trees during your Spring trip to Tokyo!
BEST TOURS IN TOKYO
This page would not be complete without recommending our best tours in Tokyo page. Many of our tours go to destinations that will give you the opportunity to see either Cherry Blossom or Autumn Leaves, as well as enjoying the beauty of the Summer and Winter months. Tokyo is steeped in history. The city has faced many hardships from earthquakes, fires and the air raids of WW2, and unfortunately many of its oldest buildings and structures have disappeared over time. However, Tokyo does a fantastic job at celebrating and retaining much of its character and culture, with stunning renovations of temples and shrines, museums housing some of Japan’s finest artefacts, and hidden pockets of neighbourhoods that have managed to preserve its original architecture despite the many challenges its faced. Pop culture lovers will rejoice at Japan’s modern aesthetic, with its bright lights and neon signs that make the city glow at night. There is so much to see and do in Tokyo. Check out our ’Best Tours in Tokyo’ page which will give you information on the best tours in Tokyo and the best day trips from Tokyo throughout the Kanto region. However, to give you a taste of what we offer, check out the tours below! We hope you book a tour with us!
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Walking Tour in Shinjuku and Shibuya : The Best of Both | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:30 – 17:30 |
| Meeting Place | Inside Yotsuya-Sanchome Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥19,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥13,000 |
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Walking Tour in Ueno and Yanaka : Culture, Art and Old Tokyo | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:30 – 17:00 |
| Meeting Place | Outside Ueno Station Park Gate Exit |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Walking Tour in Asakusa : Traditional Tokyo, Culinary Delights and Nature | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:30- 17:00 |
| Meeting Place | Outside the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Centre |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
THINGS TO DO IN TOKYO
This page would not be complete without also suggesting our wider recommendations on things to do in Tokyo which includes both the golden tourist attractions and some lesser known activities you can enjoy. Why not check out Things to Do in Tokyo page which will also give you plenty of inspiration for your time spent in Tokyo. Here you will find some of the best activities and recommendations on how to spend your time in the Capital, as well as some tours that you can join to make the most out of your trip!
From watching Sumo wrestlers train to eating the freshest sushi at local markets, playing Taiko drums to exploring hidden shrines and temples, Tokyo truly has it all. Our Tokyo tours enable you to pick and choose from a wide range of areas and activities to explore during your trip. Want to explore lesser known neighbourhoods in Tokyo, or do you want to get into the hustle and bustle of the world’s most populated city, then click the link above and start exploring what you can do in Tokyo to make your trip unforgettable.
30 DAY-TRIPS & GETAWAYS NEAR TOKYO
While Tokyo has more than enough to keep you entertained for your entire visit, it is also an ideal base from where to escape the city and explore our home region of Central Japan and beyond. Boasting the majority of Japan’s tallest mountains, verdant forests, open spaces, ancient temples and a slower way of life, it is everything that Tokyo is not. Our ’30 Things To Do Near Tokyo: Best Day-Trips & Overnight Getaways’ page includes some fantastic tips and suggestions of what’s on offer. Here are some examples of the tours we offer outside of Tokyo, but click on the link above to see more . We hope it tempts you to explore beyond the city!
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Tour : Explore Nikko’s World Heritage and National Park | |
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| Period | April – October |
| Time | 08:40 – 19:15 |
| Meeting Place | Outside Asakusa Ekimise Department Store |
| Adult Rate | ¥24,900 |
| Child Rate | ¥18,900 |
1 Day Tour
| Mount Fuji Day Trip : Adventure around Lake Kawaguchiko | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 07:50 – 19:45 |
| Meeting Place | Outside Shinjuku Bus Terminal |
| Adult Rate | ¥24,900 |
| Child Rate | ¥15,500 |
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Tour : Mount Fuji and Hakone | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 08:00 – 19:00 |
| Meeting Place | Outside Shinjuku Bus Terminal |
| Adult Rate | ¥28,900 |
| Child Rate | ¥24,000 |
HOW TO GET TO TOKYO
As Japan’s sprawling capital, Tokyo is the start and end point of numerous train lines and express bus services making it easy to reach from all over the country. Our ‘How to Get to Tokyo’ page includes detailed information about just how to get there from popular starting points including Tokyo Narita Airport and Tokyo Haneda Airport. Why not also check out our ’Comparing Tokyo Haneda Airport and Tokyo Narita Airport’page for more useful information for planning your trip.
WINTER ESCAPES TO NAGANO
We can’t talk about enjoying the seasons in Tokyo, without also mentioning the beauty of Winter in Nagano! Just 80 minutes away from Tokyo by the Shinkansen ( Bullet Train), Nagano makes for a great day trip or multi-day getaway from the city. With our head office being based in Nagano, we are highly knowledgable in what Nagano can offer you for the perfect Winter escape. Part of the Japanese Alps, Nagano gets some of the best snow in the Country. It is a popular ski and snowboarding destination for many Japanese people as well as tourists. If skiing or snowboarding is not your thing there is plenty more to do in the snowy season, from seeing Snow Monkeys bathing in hot springs to beautiful snowy walks amongst forests, temples and shrines. Check out our ‘Snow Monkey Park’, ’Nagano City & Togakushi’, ’Shiga Kogen’ and ’Hakuba’ pages for a flavour of what Nagano could offer you in the Winter season!
HOW TO GET TO NAGANO
As the largest city in Nagano Prefecture and the broader region, Nagano City is your gateway to Central Japan. Easily accessible using the Hokuriku Shinkansen line – which runs from Tokyo to Kanazawa – Nagano is an ideal base from which to explore Central Japan including moving to and from its many ski resorts and popular attractions. In just over 80 minutes, you could be exploring the beauty of Central Japan. Check out our ’How to Get to Nagano’ page to make planning your Nagano adventure smoother!
