All the time dynamic, Tokyo exhibits a brand new facet to its character with every passing season. There’s actually no unhealthy time to visit.

Spring and fall deliver nice climate for sightseeing and seasonal adjustments in foliage – hanami (flower viewing) in spring and momijigari (leaf-viewing) in autumn – which are adopted by locals with giddy enthusiasm.

In summer season individuals collect to watch large firework shows mild up the evening sky, and in winter, there are fewer crowds, festive illuminations, and snow-clad Mt Fuji is at its most lovely. 

Whether or not you’re hoping to catch Japan’s capital at its most energetic or just keep away from the vacationer crowds, right here’s our information to the very best instances to visit Tokyo.

There are a number of excessive seasons in Tokyo 

As Japan’s journey enchantment has grown in recognition (it witnessed record-breaking annual tourism figures yearly from 2012 to 2019, peaking at 32 million guests) the excessive seasons have expanded outwards with it; nowhere has this been extra obvious than within the main cities, notably Tokyo and Kyoto.

Whereas the capital is sprawling sufficient to accommodate such an inflow, Tokyo’s premier points of interest are noticeably extra thronged for vital stretches of the yr in consequence. However often, it’s with good motive.

March to April is cherry blossom season and in Might it is Golden Week

March to Might is peak season in Tokyo, with nice climate and riots of shade in metropolis parks thanks to the well-known cherry blossom bloom. Locals and guests collect for open-air picnics and events, known as hanami, to take within the pure splendor. 

March sees the annual Tokyo Marathon and St Patrick’s Day parade roll into city, in addition to the celebration of Hina Matsuri (Women’ Day), the place public areas and houses are embellished with o-hina-sama (princess) dolls in conventional royal gown. 

Hotter climate and spring blooms – from floating sakura to tumbling wisteria – make April fairly merely a unbelievable month to be in Tokyo.

Celebrating the arrival of spring-proper, spirited events accompany the ritual of hanami (cherry blossom viewing) in parks like Ueno-kōen, Yoyogi-kōen, and Inokashira-kōen – get down early to assure a spot on the parks’ intensive lawns.

The month of Might can also be marked by Ōgon Shūkan (Golden Week), which sees a lot of vital holidays happen, giving the town an added buzz. Anticipate loads of crowds, jam-packed trains and a spike in lodging prices.

Climate-wise, Might is blissfully heat and sunny, so go for a stroll by means of Tokyo’s streets and inexperienced areas, or hire a bicycle and discover quieter neighborhoods in between the well-trodden vacationer hubs.

Mt Fuji mountain climbing opens in late-July and summer season festivals start

Regardless of the prospect of late-summer rains, energy-sapping humidity in August, and roaring typhoons in fall, a second tourism peak is available in late July and continues roughly unabated till December. 

Mt Fuji’s mountain climbing routes are open throughout July and August, attracting pilgrims and summiters of their stick-wielding droves, whereas firework-fuelled summer season festivals hold individuals entertained within the metropolis. 

When the wet season passes in mid-July, out of the blue it’s summer season – the season for energetic road gala’s and hanabi taikai (fireworks exhibits).

The grandest of the lot takes place on the final Saturday in July, with an unbelievable 20,000 pyrotechnic wonders exploding over Asakusa district (beware, crowds can attain a million). 

August is the peak of Japan’s sticky, scorching summer season (which locals love to bemoan with the phrase atsui desu ne – “scorching, is not it?”). The O-Bon nationwide holidays imply points of interest widespread with college students and households can be crowded, whereas lodging will seemingly be dear. 

Asagaya’s Tanabata competition sees Tokyo’s signature shōtengai (procuring arcade), Pearl Centre, decked out with colourful lanterns and papier-mâché decorations (some with cheeky popular culture references).

The twice-annual Comiket (Comedian Market) additionally rolls into city in August, a spotlight of the yr for main manga followers. It focuses on doujinshi, self-published and fanfic comics.

September to November is finest for fall foliage and moon viewing

Clear skies across the autumn equinox in September name for tsukimi (moon-viewing gatherings), one other quintessentially Japanese pastime.

Loads of massive occasions additionally happen at this time, together with the Tokyo Movie Competition and indulgent Halloween celebrations in October.

Pleasantly heat days and funky evenings make this a superb time to be in Tokyo. There are a selection of huge occasions too, together with Tokyo Worldwide Movie Competition, screening works from worldwide and Japanese administrators, and Halloween, which sees 1000’s of costumed merry-makers now converge on Shibuya Crossing for one massive, chaotic road celebration.

True to type, late-October additionally welcomes the Ikebukuro Halloween Avenue Social gathering, one of many largest cosplay occasions in Japan.

The temperature cools to agreeable ranges as Tokyo strikes by means of the autumn, paving the best way for the koyo (autumn foliage) phenomenon. O-tori shrines similar to Hanazono-jinja maintain gala’s known as Tori-no-ichi the place distributors promote kumade – stylized rakes that actually symbolize “raking within the wealth”.

In the meantime individuals collect to watch the town’s timber endure magnificent seasonal transformations throughout kōyō (autumn foliage season). Rikugi-en, Koishikawa Kōrakuen, and Hama-rikyū Onshi-teien are three favourite native viewing spots.

In November, the town’s parks, gardens, and excessive streets are painted in fiery hues as deciduous timber – ginkgo, momiji, maple, zelkova, and extra – bid their leaves adieu. Some gardens, like Rikugi-en within the north, illuminate the falling leaves after darkish.

December to February (plus June and July) are finest for avoiding crowds

Tokyo is quiet throughout the winter interval, excluding the latter half of December when locals head out to end-of-year work events and get-togethers.

That is, nonetheless, an excellent time to see the town decked out in dazzling winter lights, and observe non secular ceremonies in full swing at temples and shrines throughout Shōgatsu (the Japanese New Yr) firstly of January.

Lodging costs are typically low throughout this era and crowds are skinny. Nevertheless, it’s value noting many companies shut over the New Yr interval.

It’s additionally fairly chilly, although frequent clear blue skies imply snow-decked Mt Fuji is especially lovely at this time of yr.

The peak of the wet season, often arriving in mid-June to mid-July, is one other off-season for tourism in Tokyo, however the damp circumstances should not nice for sightseeing.

Early June is beautiful, although by the tip of the month tsuyu (the wet season) units in. The trade-off is that lodging costs will drop after the April–Might spike.

Ought to the rain arrive early, guests can head to the BeerFes Tokyo throughout the first weekend of June, the place over 100 totally different craft beers from round Japan and the world are on provide on the iconic Yebisu Backyard Place.

Different celebrations in June embody Sannō Matsuri (held on even-numbered years), a centuries-old competition that includes conventional music performances and takes place over 11 days in mid-June at Hie-jinja.

Maintain planning your journey to Tokyo:

Questioning the place to keep in Tokyo? We provide you with a rundown on the very best neighborhoods. 
Travelling on a price range? Save your yen with suggestions for visiting Tokyo for much less – plus examine the very best free issues to do if you’re there. 
Discover out the key issues to know earlier than you go.
And why not plan a day journey: listed below are the very best 5 day journeys to add to your itinerary.