Visiting Japan can be enjoyable in every season of the year. Below is an introduction to each month of the year with respect to travel in Japan.
The tables list average daily min. and max. temperatures, and average monthly rainfall, rainy days and sunshine for selected cities. A rainy day is defined as a day on which at least 1 mm of rain falls. (Source: Japan Meteorological Agency)
January
|
City
|
Max. Temp
|
Min. Temp.
|
Rainy Days
|
Rainfall
|
Sunshine
|
|
Sapporo
|
-1 C (30F)
|
-8 C (18F)
|
18 d
|
111 mm
|
97 h
|
|
Tokyo
|
10 C (50F)
|
2 C (34F)
|
5 d
|
49 mm
|
181 h
|
|
Osaka
|
9 C (49F)
|
3 C (37F)
|
5 d
|
44 mm
|
142 h
|
|
Fukuoka
|
10 C (50F)
|
3 C (38F)
|
9 d
|
72 mm
|
100 h
|
|
Naha
|
19 C (66F)
|
14 C (58F)
|
11 d
|
115 mm
|
95 h
|
New Year is one of Japan's three major travel seasons with intensive domestic and international travel activity. Most businesses and companies shut down from January 1 to 3. Read more about visiting Japan during New Year.
The remainder of January is a great time for visiting Japan, as the weather is usually sunny and dry, airfares are low and sightseeing spots are not crowded. Only in northern Japan and along the Sea of Japan coast, there is lots of snowfall, and conditions are good for winter sports.
The downside of a visit in winter are the relatively short days (sunset is around 5pm in Tokyo) and the vegetation's barren state.
February
|
City
|
Max. Temp
|
Min. Temp.
|
Rainy Days
|
Rainfall
|
Sunshine
|
|
Sapporo
|
0 C (32F)
|
-7 C (19F)
|
16 d
|
96 mm
|
110 h
|
|
Tokyo
|
10 C (50F)
|
2 C (36F)
|
6 d
|
60 mm
|
161 h
|
|
Osaka
|
9 C (49F)
|
3 C (37F)
|
6 d
|
59 mm
|
131 h
|
|
Fukuoka
|
11 C (51F)
|
4 C (38F)
|
9 d
|
71 mm
|
114 h
|
|
Naha
|
19 C (67F)
|
14 C (58F)
|
11 d
|
125 mm
|
85 h
|
Like January, February is a great time for visiting Japan, as the weather is usually sunny and dry, airfares are low and sightseeing spots are not crowded. Only in northern Japan and along the Sea of Japan coast, there is lots of snowfall, and conditions are very good for winters sports.
The downside of a visit in winter are the relatively short days (sunset is around 5:30pm in Tokyo) and the vegetation's barren state.
March
|
City
|
Max. Temp
|
Min. Temp.
|
Rainy Days
|
Rainfall
|
Sunshine
|
|
Sapporo
|
4 C (38F)
|
-4 C (26F)
|
14 d
|
80 mm
|
157 h
|
|
Tokyo
|
13 C (55F)
|
5 C (41F)
|
10 d
|
115 mm
|
160 h
|
|
Osaka
|
13 C (56F)
|
5 C (41F)
|
9 d
|
100 mm
|
158 h
|
|
Fukuoka
|
14 C (57F)
|
6 C (43F)
|
11 d
|
109 mm
|
150 h
|
|
Naha
|
21 C (70F)
|
16 C (61F)
|
12 d
|
160 mm
|
109 h
|
Early flowering flowers and trees, such as plum trees, deliver the first signs of spring, while the weather is getting noticeably milder. Towards the end of March, the cherry blossom season starts in certain regions, while in northern Japan, conditions are still perfect for winter sports.
Domestic travel activity is increasing towards the end of March due to spring school holidays.
April
|
City
|
Max. Temp
|
Min. Temp.
|
Rainy Days
|
Rainfall
|
Sunshine
|
|
Sapporo
|
11 C (52F)
|
3 C (37F)
|
9 d
|
61 mm
|
178 h
|
|
Tokyo
|
18 C (65F)
|
11 C (51F)
|
10 d
|
130 mm
|
165 h
|
|
Osaka
|
20 C (67F)
|
11 C (51F)
|
10 d
|
121 mm
|
184 h
|
|
Fukuoka
|
19 C (67F)
|
11 C (51F)
|
10 d
|
125 mm
|
177 h
|
|
Naha
|
24 C (75F)
|
19 C (66F)
|
11 d
|
181 mm
|
134 h
|
Besides November, April is considered the best time to visit Japan, because in most regions of the country, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and the weather is pleasantly mild. Domestic travel activity is increasing due to spring school holidays and the cherry blossom season.
The Golden Week, one of Japan's busiest travel seasons, takes place in the end of April and beginning of May. It is best avoided. Read more about the Golden Week.
May
|
City
|
Max. Temp
|
Min. Temp.
|
Rainy Days
|
Rainfall
|
Sunshine
|
|
Sapporo
|
17 C (63F)
|
8 C (46F)
|
9 d
|
55 mm
|
197 h
|
|
Tokyo
|
23 C (73F)
|
15 C (59F)
|
10 d
|
128 mm
|
181 h
|
|
Osaka
|
24 C (76F)
|
15 C (60F)
|
10 d
|
140 mm
|
200 h
|
|
Fukuoka
|
24 C (74F)
|
15 C (59F)
|
9 d
|
139 mm
|
181 h
|
|
Naha
|
26 C (80F)
|
22 C (71F)
|
12 d
|
234 mm
|
150 h
|
The Golden Week, one of Japan's busiest travel seasons, takes place in the end of April and beginning of May. It is best avoided. Read more about the Golden Week.
The remainder of May is quite a good time for visiting Japan, as vegetation is lush and the weather is mild, but not yet hot and humid as in the summer months. Airfares are relatively low and many tourist spots are pleasantly uncrowded right after the Golden Week.
In Okinawa, the rainy season (tsuyu) typically starts in the beginning of May and lasts until the end of June.
June
|
City
|
Max. Temp
|
Min. Temp.
|
Rainy Days
|
Rainfall
|
Sunshine
|
|
Sapporo
|
21 C (70F)
|
12 C (54F)
|
7 d
|
51 mm
|
187 h
|
|
Tokyo
|
25 C (77F)
|
19 C (66F)
|
12 d
|
165 mm
|
120 h
|
|
Osaka
|
27 C (81F)
|
20 C (68F)
|
12 d
|
201 mm
|
150 h
|
|
Fukuoka
|
27 C (80F)
|
19 C (67F)
|
12 d
|
272 mm
|
148 h
|
|
Naha
|
29 C (85F)
|
25 C (76F)
|
11 d
|
212 mm
|
182 h
|
From the beginning of June, the rainy season (tsuyu) visits most parts of Japan, except Hokkaido. While it does not rain every day, the weather tends to be overcast and dreary. The duration and intensity of the rainy season can vary quite strongly from year to year.
Hot spring resorts like Hakone and the wooded temple mountain Koyasan are some of the places which can be quite attractive in rainy weather. Least affected by the rainy season, Hokkaido is an attractive destination in June.
July
|
City
|
Max. Temp
|
Min. Temp.
|
Rainy Days
|
Rainfall
|
Sunshine
|
|
Sapporo
|
25 C (77F)
|
17 C (63F)
|
8 d
|
67 mm
|
176 h
|
|
Tokyo
|
29 C (84F)
|
23 C (73F)
|
10 d
|
162 mm
|
148 h
|
|
Osaka
|
31 C (89F)
|
24 C (75F)
|
10 d
|
155 mm
|
186 h
|
|
Fukuoka
|
31 C (87F)
|
24 C (75F)
|
11 d
|
266 mm
|
183 h
|
|
Naha
|
31 C (88F)
|
26 C (80F)
|
9 d
|
176 mm
|
243 h
|
The rainy season (tsuyu) typically ends in the first half of July. It is hot and humid in most of Japan, and just standing outdoors can make you sweat. The conditions are more comfortable in higher elevations and in Hokkaido, a highly popular destination among outdoor lovers during the summer months.
Many local festivals are celebrated in July. Summer school holidays last from the end of July until the end of August. With them, domestic travel activity and the room rates of many hotels are increasing.
August
|
City
|
Max. Temp
|
Min. Temp.
|
Rainy Days
|
Rainfall
|
Sunshine
|
|
Sapporo
|
26 C (79F)
|
19 C (65F)
|
9 d
|
137 mm
|
174 h
|
|
Tokyo
|
31 C (87F)
|
24 C (76F)
|
8 d
|
155 mm
|
178 h
|
|
Osaka
|
33 C (91F)
|
25 C (77F)
|
7 d
|
99 mm
|
211 h
|
|
Fukuoka
|
32 C (89F)
|
25 C (76F)
|
9 d
|
188 mm
|
199 h
|
|
Naha
|
31 C (88F)
|
26 C (79F)
|
12 d
|
247 mm
|
223 h
|
August is hot and humid in most of Japan. The conditions are more comfortable in higher elevations and in Hokkaido, a highly popular destination among outdoor lovers during the summer months. Many local festivals are held in August.
The Obon week in mid August is one of Japan's three busiest travel seasons and room rates go up at many hotels. Travel activity is generally high during the whole month due to summer school holidays, which last from the end of July to the end of August.
September
|
City
|
Max. Temp
|
Min. Temp.
|
Rainy Days
|
Rainfall
|
Sunshine
|
|
Sapporo
|
22 C (79F)
|
14 C (65F)
|
10 d
|
138 mm
|
160 h
|
|
Tokyo
|
27 C (80F)
|
21 C (69F)
|
11 d
|
209 mm
|
113 h
|
|
Osaka
|
29 C (84F)
|
21 C (70F)
|
10 d
|
175 mm
|
149 h
|
|
Fukuoka
|
28 C (82F)
|
21 C (69F)
|
10 d
|
175 mm
|
158 h
|
|
Naha
|
30 C (88F)
|
25 C (79F)
|
10 d
|
200 mm
|
197 h
|
The typhoon season reaches its peak in September. Typhoons usually hit the coasts of Okinawa, Kyushu and Shikoku and make for strong rain and wind in most or all of Japan on about two days. Luckily, typhoons are often followed by perfectly clear weather.
The weather in September can still be quite hot and humid, but the crowds of August have mostly disappeared and hotel rates return to low season levels.
October
|
City
|
Max. Temp
|
Min. Temp.
|
Rainy Days
|
Rainfall
|
Sunshine
|
|
Sapporo
|
16 C (60F)
|
7 C (44F)
|
12 d
|
124 mm
|
153 h
|
|
Tokyo
|
22 C (71F)
|
15 C (59F)
|
9 d
|
163 mm
|
130 h
|
|
Osaka
|
23 C (73F)
|
15 C (59F)
|
8 d
|
109 mm
|
162 h
|
|
Fukuoka
|
23 C (73F)
|
15 C (59F)
|
7 d
|
81 mm
|
175 h
|
|
Naha
|
28 C (82F)
|
23 C (73F)
|
8 d
|
163 mm
|
169 h
|
Still warm, but not hot and humid anymore, the weather in October is very comfortable for traveling. In northern regions and higher elevations, trees are turning colors.
November
|
City
|
Max. Temp
|
Min. Temp.
|
Rainy Days
|
Rainfall
|
Sunshine
|
|
Sapporo
|
8 C (47F)
|
1 C (34F)
|
14 d
|
103 mm
|
100 h
|
|
Tokyo
|
17 C (62F)
|
10 C (49F)
|
6 d
|
93 mm
|
141 h
|
|
Osaka
|
17 C (63F)
|
10 C (49F)
|
6 d
|
66 mm
|
147 h
|
|
Fukuoka
|
18 C (64F)
|
10 C (49F)
|
8 d
|
81 mm
|
133 h
|
|
Naha
|
24 C (76F)
|
20 C (67F)
|
9 d
|
124 mm
|
121 h
|
November is one of the best times to visit Japan, as the weather is dry and mild, airfares are low and the colored autumn leaves are spectacular.
December
|
City
|
Max. Temp
|
Min. Temp.
|
Rainy Days
|
Rainfall
|
Sunshine
|
|
Sapporo
|
2 C (36F)
|
-4 C (24F)
|
16 d
|
105 mm
|
87 h
|
|
Tokyo
|
12 C (54F)
|
5 C (40F)
|
4 d
|
40 mm
|
171 h
|
|
Osaka
|
12 C (54F)
|
5 C (41F)
|
5 d
|
38 mm
|
149 h
|
|
Fukuoka
|
13 C (55F)
|
5 C (41F)
|
8 d
|
54 mm
|
117 h
|
|
Naha
|
21 C (70F)
|
16 C (61F)
|
8 d
|
101 mm
|
114 h
|
The driest month in many parts of the country, December is a good month for traveling. Airfares and domestic travel activity remain low during the first half of December. The downside of a visit in winter are the relatively short days (sunset is around 4:30pm in Tokyo) and the vegetation's barren state.
Winter school holidays start around December 24, and many museums and tourist attractions start closing down around December 29 for the New Year holidays.
