The Best Time to Visit Tokyo Japan (When I Would Go Again) 2026

When I planned my trip to Japan, Tokyo was one of the cities I was most excited about, so I wanted to make sure I picked the best time to visit. I wanted good weather, fewer crowds, and reasonable prices. A lot to ask, I know, but somehow it worked out pretty well.

There are quite a few things to keep in mind when you plan a trip to Tokyo, and timing really does matter. The weather shifts a lot throughout the year, and for me there’s nothing worse than exploring a massive city in full heat and humidity. But there are other things to avoid too, like typhoon season, Golden Week crowds, and the school holiday rush.

In this quick guide, I’ll walk you through what I learned about the best time to visit Tokyo, and the worst time to visit Tokyo, so you can pick the right season depending on what kind of trip you’re after.

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The Best Time to Visit Tokyo Japan (When I Would Go Again) 2026

The Best Time to Visit Tokyo Japan – My Experience

I always think it’s more helpful to share what actually happened on my trip rather than give you a list of generic “best time to visit Tokyo” tips. So here’s how it went for me.

I visited Tokyo at the beginning of November, and the weather was… mixed, to say the least. Some days were bright and surprisingly warm, and other days I was in a proper coat, wandering around with rain drizzling down. But honestly? I kind of loved it. There was something so atmospheric about walking through tiny Tokyo backstreets with a cute umbrella in hand, hunting down my next bowl of ramen in that cozy, gloomy weather. The rain didn’t ruin a single thing for me.

Crowds also felt manageable. Tokyo is always Tokyo, I had to queue for ramen, sushi bars, and observation decks no matter when I would come, but it never felt chaotic or overwhelming.

I had hoped to catch peak fall foliage in Tokyo, but it hadn’t really arrived yet. I heard from a few locals that summers are getting longer, which means autumn colours are shifting later each year. Kyoto had great foliage while I was there, but Tokyo was definitely lagging behind.

For my next trip, I’m tempted to visit around Christmas or even in January. I think I’d love Tokyo in crisp winter weather, plus fewer crowds and lots of hot bowls of noodles to warm up with.

Seasons in Japan – When to Visit Tokyo

Winter in Tokyo (December–February)

Winter is probably when I’ll plan my next Japan trip, I’m already pretty set on it. When I explored Japan (and especially Tokyo), culture, food, history, and general city wandering were the things I cared about most. Warm weather wasn’t a priority for me at all.

In fact, I love crisp cold days. Being wrapped in a coat, wandering through quiet neighborhoods, then warming up with a steaming bowl of ramen sounds like heaven. And if you’re lucky enough to catch the temples and shrines dusted with snow which is stunning.

I also snowboard, so my dream itinerary would be a few days in the mountains and then another week exploring Tokyo and beyond. My only tip: I would avoid Christmas and New Year’s if I can. Crowds are intense and hotel prices skyrocket.

Spring in Tokyo (March–May)

I’ve heard and seen incredible things about spring in Tokyo, especially when cherry blossoms start blooming and the city turns white and pink which I think looks so pretty. The temperatures are mild, walking around is easy, and overall it just seems like a gorgeous time to visit.

But, and there is a but, cherry blossom season is also one of the busiest and most expensive times of the year. Tokyo gets packed, hotels book out early, and prices spike. That said, I still think it’s worth it at least once. Perfect weather + cherry blossoms = a pretty magical combo.

Summer in Tokyo (June–August)

I haven’t experienced Tokyo in summer myself, but I’ve heard nothing but warnings, from locals, other travelers, and pretty much every corner of the internet. Everyone seems to agree: summer is not the time to visit Tokyo (or Japan in general).

Since I love exploring cities on foot and I easily walked 20,000 steps a day in Tokyo, the idea of doing that while hot, sticky, and sweaty sounds like pure misery. And unfortunately, that’s exactly what summer in Tokyo is known for: intense heat and heavy humidity. If you’re not a fan of that combination, I’d strongly recommend choosing another season.

Autumn in Tokyo (September–November)

Autumn is when I visited Tokyo, and honestly, I adored it. Temperatures were perfect for long city walks, and even though I had a bit of rain, it didn’t bother me at all since so many activities are indoors, and grabbing a cute umbrella from a 7-Eleven solved everything.

I also caught pockets of beautiful fall foliage in Tokyo, and on chilly days, soaking in a hot onsen was absolute bliss. It also didn’t feel overly crowded, at least when I was there in early November. Based on my experience, autumn is a fantastic time to visit Tokyo.

The Best Time to Visit Tokyo for Cherry Blossom Season

I’ve debated with myself for weeks about booking another trip this coming spring just to finally see the cherry blossoms in Japan. I’m still tempted, because experiencing sakura season in Tokyo must be incredible.

Cherry blossoms usually peak in late March to early April, so the last week of March and the first week of April are generally the best time to visit Tokyo for sakura. Across Japan the season starts earlier in the warm south (Okinawa can bloom in early March) and much later in the north (Hokkaido can be May), but Tokyo typically sits right around that late-March/early-April window.

It is a bit of a gamble though, honestly similar to my fall foliage “miss”, because the timing depends heavily on the weather and how warm the year has been.

Still, I’d book your trip for that window if cherry blossoms are the goal. And book early (ideally through Booking.com), because hotels fill up fast and prices definitely go up during sakura season.

When to Visit Tokyo Japan for Fall Foliage

I always assumed fall would automatically be the best time to visit Tokyo for those gorgeous autumn colors, but after my own trip, I’d say late fall is your safest bet.

I visited in early November and while I did get some pretty shades of gold and brown in both Tokyo and around Mount Fuji, there was still a lot of green hanging on.

I can’t predict what the seasons will look like next year, but if I were planning again, I’d aim for mid- to late November to catch the autumn leaves at their best.

Christmas & New Year in Tokyo

Christmas and New Year in Tokyo come with a few things you should know ahead of time and then you can decide whether it’s worth visiting during the holidays. Personally, I wouldn’t visit Tokyo at this time of the year.

Japan doesn’t celebrate Christmas the way we do in Europe or the U.S. Yes, you’ll see lights and decorations (because they’re pretty and commercial), but the 25th is just a normal work and school day. So it’s festive on the surface, but not in the “cozy holiday spirit” kind of way.

New Year’s is the opposite, it’s one of the biggest holidays in Japan. From roughly December 29 to January 3, many shops close, restaurants book out early, hotels get wildly expensive, and overall it’s a tricky (and pricey) time to travel.

If you’re dreaming of a winter trip to Japan, I’d aim for January, February, or early December instead. You’ll avoid the holiday premiums, and honestly, Tokyo just feels better outside that New Year rush.

When NOT to Visit Tokyo (In My Opinion)

If you’re flexible with your dates, these are the times I personally wouldn’t choose for a Tokyo trip:

• Summer (June–August): I love Tokyo, but I do not love being sweaty, sticky, and exhausted while trying to explore a massive city on foot. Summer in Tokyo is famously hot and extremely humid, and for me that would take away a lot of the joy of wandering around, eating, and sightseeing.

• Golden Week (late April–early May): Golden Week is a string of national holidays from around April 29 to May 5. It’s one of Japan’s busiest travel periods, and pretty much the entire country is on the move. Hotels book out, trains fill up, restaurants get packed, and prices go up. Unless you love crowds and don’t mind paying a premium, I’d avoid Tokyo at this time.

• Christmas & New Year (late December–early January): I mentioned this earlier, but Tokyo over the holidays just isn’t my vibe. Christmas isn’t really celebrated in Japan (outside of decorations and lights), and New Year’s is a major holiday where shops, restaurants, and attractions close for several days. It gets crowded, expensive, and a little inconvenient. If you want a Japan winter trip, I’d choose January or February instead, or even a cozy mountain getaway in a ski resort, which sounds way more magical.

FAQs About The Best Time to Go to Tokyo

When is the best time to visit Tokyo for cherry blossoms?

The best time to visit Tokyo for cherry blossoms is usually the last week of March and the first week of April. If you’re planning a trip during that window, book your hotels as early as humanly possible because things book out fast.

When is the best time to visit Tokyo Disneyland?

I think fall is ideal. I went to Universal Studios Japan in Osaka in November and we had perfect T-shirt weather and blue skies all day. I imagine Tokyo Disneyland feels just as good around that time.

When is the best time to visit Tokyo Skytree?

The season doesn’t matter too much since it’s indoors, I would just aim for a clear day so you can (hopefully) see Mount Fuji. I sadly wasn’t that lucky.

When is the best time to visit Tokyo to avoid crowds?

Late fall and winter. End of November, early December, or January–February are the months I would personally choose.

When is the worst time to visit Tokyo?

Without a doubt: summer. The heat and humidity in a massive concrete city would completely ruin the experience for me.

Final Thoughts on the Best Month to Visit Tokyo

To wrap this up, I can tell you that I had the best experience visiting Tokyo in November. The weather was perfect for exploring, and the city had such a cozy fall vibe.

I’m already planning my next trip, and I’m torn between winter or spring because both sound incredible for very different reasons. Honestly, you can’t really go wrong with the seasons… as long as you skip summer.

I hope this little guide gives you a good idea of what to expect throughout the year, so you can plan your own Tokyo trip. Happy travels!