When is the best time to visit Japan?

The best time to visit Japan depends on the city, but March to April and October to November suit the most places: at least 2 of the 4 cities we cover are at their best in those months. By city: Tokyo, March to April and October to November; Osaka, April to May and October to November; Sapporo, June to September; Kyoto, March to April and November. Cities marked weather data only have a pick based on temperature and rain alone, not yet checked against crowds or local seasons.

When is the hottest month in Japan?

It depends on the city. The hottest month is August in Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo and Kyoto (average daytime highs, 2019-2024).

When is the rainy season in Japan?

The wettest month, counted in days with at least 1 mm of rain, is January in Sapporo; July in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. Open the city guide for the full month-by-month table.

Is there a month that is good everywhere in Japan?

No. The most cities (3 of 4) are at their best in March to April and October to November, but at least one city is better visited at another time.

Best Time to Visit Japan: Month by Month, City by City

Best months by city

City	Best months	Hottest month	Wettest month
Tokyo	March to April and October to November	August, 90°F (32°C)	July, about 18 rainy days
Osaka	April to May and October to November (weather data only)	August, 91°F (33°C)	July, about 16 rainy days
Sapporo	June to September (weather data only)	August, 79°F (26°C)	January, about 19 rainy days
Kyoto	March to April and November	August, 90°F (32°C)	July, about 18 rainy days

Each city name opens its own month-by-month table. Heat is the average daytime high; rainy days are days with at least 1 mm of rain. Cities marked "weather data only" have not yet been checked against crowds, closures or local seasons.

Every month at a glance

City	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Tokyo	Okay	Okay	Best	Best	Okay	Okay	Avoid	Okay	Okay	Best	Best	Okay
Osaka	Okay	Okay	Okay	Best	Best	Okay	Avoid	Okay	Okay	Best	Best	Okay
Sapporo	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	Okay	Okay	Best	Best	Best	Best	Okay	Okay	Avoid
Kyoto	Okay	Okay	Best	Best	Okay	Okay	Avoid	Okay	Okay	Okay	Best	Okay

Best = the city's best months. Avoid = very hot, very cold or among the wettest months. Okay = neither. Hover or tap a cell for the reason.

Japan month by month

January: None of the cities we cover is at its best this month. Worth avoiding: Sapporo (among the wettest, 19 rainy days; cold, 28°F (-2°C)).
February: None of the cities we cover is at its best this month. Worth avoiding: Sapporo (cold, 29°F (-2°C)).
March: At its best in Tokyo and Kyoto (2 of 4). Worth avoiding: Sapporo (cold, 40°F (4°C)).
April: At its best in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto (3 of 4).
May: At its best in Osaka (1 of 4).
June: At its best in Sapporo (1 of 4).
July: At its best in Sapporo (1 of 4). Worth avoiding: Tokyo (among the wettest, 18 rainy days); Osaka (among the wettest, 16 rainy days); Kyoto (among the wettest, 18 rainy days).
August: At its best in Sapporo (1 of 4).
September: At its best in Sapporo (1 of 4).
October: At its best in Tokyo and Osaka (2 of 4).
November: At its best in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto (3 of 4).
December: None of the cities we cover is at its best this month. Worth avoiding: Sapporo (among the wettest, 18 rainy days; cold, 33°F (1°C)).

Plan your trip

Open a city guide for tours, hotels and what to do there:

See today's travel advisory for Japan (government warnings, checked every 2 minutes).

Japan: common questions

When is the best time to visit Japan?: The best time to visit Japan depends on the city, but March to April and October to November suit the most places: at least 2 of the 4 cities we cover are at their best in those months. By city: Tokyo, March to April and October to November; Osaka, April to May and October to November; Sapporo, June to September; Kyoto, March to April and November. Cities marked weather data only have a pick based on temperature and rain alone, not yet checked against crowds or local seasons.
When is the hottest month in Japan?: It depends on the city. The hottest month is August in Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo and Kyoto (average daytime highs, 2019-2024).
When is the rainy season in Japan?: The wettest month, counted in days with at least 1 mm of rain, is January in Sapporo; July in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. Open the city guide for the full month-by-month table.
Is there a month that is good everywhere in Japan?: No. The most cities (3 of 4) are at their best in March to April and October to November, but at least one city is better visited at another time.

How we worked this out

Temperatures and rainy days come from Open-Meteo ERA5 records for 2019-2024 for each city. Where a city's best months were checked by hand against crowds and local seasons, that is the pick shown; otherwise the pick is based on weather alone and is marked. Weather changes from year to year, so treat this as a planning guide, not a forecast.