The best time to visit Japan for most first trips is spring (late March to May) or autumn (October to November). Both have mild weather and the country’s two famous colour seasons, cherry blossom and autumn leaves. Winter is cold but clear on the Pacific side and snowy in the north, while June brings the rainy season and July to September bring heat, humidity and the chance of typhoons. Here is how each season plays out, with long-term weather averages for four cities.
Know before you go
- Best overall: Late March to May and October to November
- Cherry blossom: Late March to early April in Tokyo and Kyoto
- Autumn leaves: September in Hokkaido, into December further south
- Rainy season: Early June to mid July (not much in Hokkaido)
- Typhoons: Mostly July to October, peaking August and September
- Busiest weeks: Golden Week, Obon (mid August) and New Year
In this Article
Japan’s seasons at a glance
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) describes four distinct seasons and a climate that runs from subarctic in northern Hokkaido to subtropical in Okinawa. That spread matters. In February Sapporo is below freezing while Naha, in Okinawa, sits around 20°C.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March to May | Mild, cherry blossom, Golden Week crowds |
| Rainy season | June to mid July | Frequent rain, fewer visitors, hydrangeas |
| Summer | July to August | Hot and humid, festivals and fireworks |
| Autumn | September to November | Typhoons early, then cool and clear with autumn colour |
| Winter | December to February | Snow in Hokkaido and the Sea of Japan side, clear skies in Tokyo |
Weather by month in Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo and Naha
These are long-term averages published by the World Meteorological Organization from Japan Meteorological Agency data. Temperatures are average daily low and high in °C. Rain is the monthly average in millimetres.
| Month | Tokyo | Osaka | Sapporo | Naha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1 to 10, 60 mm | 3 to 10, 47 mm | -6 to 0, 108 mm | 15 to 20, 102 mm |
| Feb | 2 to 11, 57 mm | 3 to 11, 61 mm | -6 to 0, 92 mm | 15 to 20, 115 mm |
| Mar | 5 to 14, 116 mm | 6 to 14, 103 mm | -2 to 5, 78 mm | 17 to 22, 143 mm |
| Apr | 10 to 19, 134 mm | 11 to 20, 102 mm | 3 to 12, 55 mm | 19 to 24, 161 mm |
| May | 15 to 24, 140 mm | 16 to 25, 137 mm | 9 to 18, 56 mm | 22 to 27, 245 mm |
| Jun | 19 to 26, 168 mm | 20 to 28, 185 mm | 13 to 22, 60 mm | 25 to 30, 284 mm |
| Jul | 22 to 30, 156 mm | 25 to 32, 174 mm | 18 to 25, 91 mm | 27 to 32, 188 mm |
| Aug | 24 to 31, 155 mm | 26 to 34, 113 mm | 19 to 26, 127 mm | 27 to 32, 240 mm |
| Sep | 20 to 28, 225 mm | 22 to 30, 153 mm | 15 to 23, 142 mm | 26 to 31, 275 mm |
| Oct | 15 to 22, 235 mm | 16 to 24, 136 mm | 8 to 16, 110 mm | 24 to 28, 179 mm |
| Nov | 9 to 17, 96 mm | 10 to 18, 73 mm | 2 to 9, 114 mm | 20 to 25, 119 mm |
| Dec | 4 to 12, 58 mm | 5 to 12, 56 mm | -4 to 2, 115 mm | 17 to 22, 110 mm |
Two things stand out. Tokyo’s wettest months are September and October, when typhoons and autumn rain systems pass through, and its driest are December to February. Sapporo’s winter “rain” is mostly snow.
Spring: March to May
Spring is the season most people picture. JNTO calls it ideal for travel, with mild temperatures and cherry blossom. In Tokyo, daytime highs climb from about 14°C in March to 24°C in May.
The blossom moves north with the warmth. It opens first in Okinawa, reaches Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka around late March to early April, and gets to Hokkaido later in spring. The exact dates shift every year, so watch the forecasts in the weeks before you go. Our Japan itinerary for 7 days works well in this window.
The catch is crowds. Golden Week, a run of national holidays from 29 April to 5 May, is one of Japan’s three big domestic travel periods. JNTO notes that trains and hotels get crowded and prices are often higher. If you can, finish your trip before it starts or arrive just after.
May after Golden Week is one of the quietest good months, with long days and green hills.
Rainy season: June to mid July
Japan’s rainy season, tsuyu, generally runs from the start of June to mid July. It starts earlier in the south (Okinawa’s begins in May) and later in the north. JNTO says it does not rain every day, just more often than usual, and that Hokkaido is largely unaffected.
June is one of the off-season months, along with weekdays in January and February, so it can be a good time for lower crowds. Plan indoor backups such as museums, depachika food halls and onsen, and think about adding Hokkaido, where June is pleasant and dry by comparison.
Summer: July and August
Summer is hot and humid across most of Honshu. Osaka’s average August high is about 34°C, and Tokyo’s is about 31°C. This is festival season, with fireworks over rivers and bays and big summer matsuri.
Two cautions. Obon, in mid August, is another busy domestic travel week. And typhoons start to form from July. Most climbers head for Mount Fuji in summer, since that is the official climbing season, but the rest of the country can be draining in the heat. Northern Tohoku, Hokkaido and the mountains are cooler.
Typhoon season: August to October
JNTO’s typhoon guide says tropical storms can form at any time, but most form between July and October, and the national parks guide puts the peak around August and September. Of the roughly 25 typhoons that form over the Pacific each year, about three make landfall on the four main islands. Okinawa and Kyushu are the most exposed. Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto are less often hit, though not immune.
A typhoon usually passes within a day. Trains and flights may stop while it does, so keep a spare day near the end of your trip and avoid tight connections in September.
Autumn: October and November
Once the typhoons ease, autumn is the other best time to visit Japan. Air is clear, temperatures drop into the high teens and low twenties in Tokyo, and the leaves turn. Colour starts in Hokkaido in September and moves south, with the last leaves falling in December in the southern parts of the country.
For Tokyo and Kyoto the peak is usually from mid November into early December. Kyoto’s temple gardens get very crowded at weekends in this period, especially on three-day weekends, so go early in the morning or on weekdays.
For Indian travellers, October and November line up well with the Diwali break, which makes this a popular time for family trips. Book flights and hotels early.
Winter: December to February
Winter splits the country in two. JNTO notes that Hokkaido and the Sea of Japan side get heavy snow, while Pacific-side cities such as Tokyo and Osaka see little snow and many clear, sunny days. Tokyo’s average January high is about 10°C.
This is ski season in Hokkaido and the Japanese Alps, and the time for snow villages and hot springs. The Sapporo Snow Festival runs from 4 to 11 February 2027 at Odori Park, Tsudome and Susukino.
The New Year period, from late December to early January, is busy, and many shops, museums and restaurants close for a few days around 1 January. Weekdays in January and February, after New Year, are among the quietest and best-value times to go.
Okinawa is a separate case
Okinawa runs on a different calendar. Naha stays between about 15°C and 32°C all year. Its rainy season starts in May, and it gets more typhoons than the main islands from summer into autumn. For beaches, April and from late October into November are good choices, with warm sea and less storm risk.
Which month should you pick?
- First trip, want blossoms: late March to early April, and book early.
- First trip, want fewer crowds: mid May, or late October to November.
- Snow and skiing: January to February in Hokkaido.
- Lowest prices and crowds: weekdays in January and February, or June.
- Avoid if you can: Golden Week, Obon and New Year.
Once you have your dates, the Japan visa for Indians guide covers the application, and our Japan trip cost from India breakdown helps with the budget for peak and off-peak weeks.
FAQ
What is the best month to visit Japan?
April and November are the two most popular, for cherry blossom and autumn leaves. May and late October are similar in weather with smaller crowds.
What is the cheapest time to visit Japan?
JNTO lists June and weekdays in January and February as off-season. Flights and hotels are usually easier to find then than in Golden Week, Obon or New Year.
Is it a good idea to visit Japan in the monsoon?
Japan’s rainy season runs from early June to mid July. It rains more often but not every day, and Hokkaido gets little of it. With indoor plans it can be a quiet, good-value time.
When does it snow in Japan?
Heavy snow falls from December to February in Hokkaido, the Sea of Japan coast and the mountains. Tokyo and Osaka rarely get much snow.
When is typhoon season in Japan?
Most typhoons form between July and October, with the peak in August and September. Okinawa and Kyushu are most affected.
When is the best time to visit Japan from India?
October and November suit the Diwali break and bring autumn colour. Late March to early April is best for blossom, if you can travel before Indian summer holidays start.
Official resources: JNTO travel tips; JNTO seasons and climate; WMO climate data for Tokyo
Photo credits
Featured image: Midori / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0; Spring: March to May: Suicasmo / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Rainy season: June to mid July: Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0; Summer: July and August: Alpsdake / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; Autumn: October and November: Martin Falbisoner / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Winter: December to February: tsuda from Tsushima, Aichi, Japan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0; Winter: December to February: ja:User:京浜にけ / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; Okinawa is a separate case: BORSHEM 2000 GONGAMU / Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
