When is the best time to visit Tokyo? Well… we can’t say for sure. 🤷 If you want to see beautiful scenery, you could visit during spring or autumn. If you want less crowds, there’s always summer and winter that have beauties of their own.
See, the best time to visit Tokyo all depends on what you want to do, and where you want to visit! So now the question is, what activities can you do for each season? 🤔
Spring (March to May)
Witness the beauty of Japan’s cherry blossoms in spring!
Spring is often said to be the best time to visit Tokyo because of the cherry blossoms. Well, there’s no denying that! 🌸
You’ll find cherry blossom tree after cherry blossom tree in most of Tokyo’s parks and gardens, like Ueno Park, Yoyogi Park, and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. You can choose to walk around the area, or have a small picnic.
If you want to have a unique experience, you can go on this Night Cherry Blossom Viewing Trip that takes you to Ueno Park, Chidorigafuchi, and Meguro River. You’ll find that the cherry blossoms have a different beauty at night!
Hit two birds with one stone when you visit Mount Fuji during cherry blossom season. | Tak H. on Flickr
Speaking of cherry blossoms, you can go on day trips outside of Tokyo to find more of them, too!
This Izu Kawazu day tour takes you to see the famous Kawazu cherry blossoms. But, of course, you also can’t miss out on the cherry blossoms at Mount Fuji. This Mount Fuji day tour takes you to the famous landmark, with cherry blossoms all around!
Summer (June to August)
Visiting Tokyo in summer? You’re in luck! This is the best season to visit Tokyo if you’re not a huge fan of crowds, as tourists usually shy away from the city during the season.
But to combat the city’s heat and humidity, why not do some indoor activities?
Discover novel museums like the Snoopy Museum in Tokyo.
For one, you can go museum-hopping! If you do, we recommend getting the Tokyo Pass. It offers unlimited entry to about 50 museums, aquariums, parks, gardens, and zoos! 😲
We suggest going to the Tokyo National Museum, which will teach you a lot about Japan’s history. If you’re into art, there’s the Mori Art Museum and teamLab Borderless’s interactive museum. And if you’re a Snoopy fan, well, the beloved dog also has a museum in Tokyo!
Repair ceramics with gold in the art of kintsugi.
Apart from museums, Tokyo also has tons of workshops, and when we say tons, we mean tons.
Some of our favorites include this Traditional Kintsugi making experience, which teaches you about the Japanese culture of kintsugi. You’ll learn to repair ceramics with gold, and even get to take home your beautifully restored piece.
Weave your own omamori to become luckier!
If you want to attract good luck, this Amulet making experience teaches you to make an omamori, Japan’s own lucky charm pouch! Even kids as young as 3 can join.
Autumn (September to November)
Have a nice stroll along Jingu Gaien Gingko Street. | Photo from Kakidai on Wikimedia
The best time to go to Tokyo for the autumn foliage is, well, autumn!
If summer was all about the indoors, then we’re going back outdoors this season because of the cool weather. 🧣 Now is the time to stroll along the city’s gardens, like Meiji Jingu Gaien and Rikugien Garden, for the autumn leaves. You can even go on a day trip to Mount Fuji to see the landmark in autumn colors!
Autumn offers clear views of the city skyline from Tokyo Sky Tree. | David T. Jones on Flickr
But if you want to stay in Tokyo, you can also see Mount Fuji, and a whole lot of beautiful autumn scenery - up on the Tokyo Sky Tree.
Drive through cool weather in an equally cool go kart!
As we did say, autumn is the season for the outdoors, which means it’s the perfect season to go on a Shibuya go karting experience!
This isn’t your typical go kart because of one thing: you literally drive around town! You’ll go around famous places like the Shibuya Scramble, all while driving in style and taking in that autumn scenery.
Visit the happiest places on Earth!
This is also the season to explore Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea Park! If you’re with kids or not, your Tokyo trip will surely be more special when you visit the happiest places on earth.
Experience Japan’s warm tea on a cool autumn day.
And if all you want to do is relax after a tiring day, this Tea Ceremony with Kimono Experience is the perfect way to end your day. 🍵
Winter (December to January)
Snap a photo at Asakusa Temple’s famous gate.
Brr! Winter is the best time to visit Tokyo if you want to really immerse yourself in the culture - but it will get cold. 🥶
Because the new year is coming up, now is the best time to visit temples in the city. This Asakusa and Sensoji Temple walking tour takes you to the oldest temples in Tokyo, with a local guide that’s sure to make it educational and fun.
Time to make your new year’s wishes!
Don’t miss out on the sumo wrestling action!
Winter is also the season of sumo wrestling tournaments, and what better way to see the sport than to go on a Sumo Wrestling Tournament Tour at Ryogoku Kokugikan?
You’ll learn the history of the sport, and even get to watch top sumo matches. You can also watch the Morning Sumo Practice of the wrestlers! If you visit in January, you might just catch their training before an actual match. 🫢
Taste the best of Shinjuku when you go on a food tour!
And, of course, you can’t miss out on the right food to make your winter a bit warm.This Shinjuku Food Tour takes you to hidden hotspots that will surely make your dinner filling!
But if walking around made you feel cold, well, it is the season for a good glass of beer. 👀 Why not top off your dinner with this Tokyo Bar Hopping Tour in Shinjuku? This all-you-can-drink experience will surely warm up your night!
Feel refreshed when you spend an evening in an onsen.
But a winter night is made real warm when you go to an onsen! Spending your evening at the Tokyo Dome Natural Hot Spring LaQua will definitely make you feel warm, relaxed, and energized for the next day.
FAQs about the best time to visit Tokyo
1. What is the best month to go to Tokyo?
If you’re after the cherry blossoms, the best time to visit Tokyo is during spring from late March to April! Autumn from October to November is also a good season for cool weather and beautiful scenery.
2. What is the cheapest time to go to Tokyo?
January to early March is definitely the cheapest time to visit Tokyo. You get lower prices and fewer crowds during this off season.
3. What is the off season in Tokyo?
Apart from winter, another off season in Tokyo is the rainy season from June to mid-July. Just a heads up - it can get very humid!
4. What is the coldest month in Tokyo?
The best month to visit Tokyo if you’re after the winter chill is definitely January!
No matter when you go, Tokyo always has something special for you 🗼
The best time to visit Tokyo really comes down to what you want to experience while you’re there. Pick the season that fits your travel style, and let Tokyo do the rest.
Now, if you want to explore Japan beyond Tokyo, this Japan Seasonal Travel Guide takes you to the best places to visit in Japan depending on the season!
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