Seasons in Japan
Japan has four distinct seasons and a climate that runs from subarctic in the north to subtropical in the south, with different conditions on the Pacific side and the Sea of Japan side.[4] In winter, northwesterly winds bring heavy snow to the Sea of Japan side and sunny weather to the Pacific side, while Okinawa stays mild.[5] In spring, passing cyclones and anticyclones make temperatures rise gradually with large short-term swings.[5] Early summer is the rainy season, called tsuyu or baiu, which is caused by a stationary front.[5] Every area except Hokkaido has it, and JMA's 1991 to 2020 normals put its start around 10 May in Okinawa, around 4 June in northern Kyushu, around 6 June in the Chugoku, Kinki and Tokai districts and around 7 June in Kanto/Koshin. The normal end is around 21 June in Okinawa and around 19 July in all of those mainland districts.[2]
Once the rainy season ends, western Japan can see temperatures of 35 °C or above, and the Okhotsk High sometimes brings cool, rainy easterly winds (Yamase) to the Pacific side of northern and eastern Japan.[5] On average, about 25 tropical cyclones form each year, about 12 come within 300 km of Japan and about 3 make landfall, and all three counts are highest from July to October.[6] JMA's normals show 3.3 approaches in August and again in September.[3] September is also wet because of the autumnal rain front, October brings frequent anticyclones with sunny, refreshing weather, and from November rain and snow increase on the Sea of Japan side.[5]
Region by region
Hokkaido (Sapporo)
Hokkaido is the only part of Japan without a rainy season.[2] Our data rates Sapporo best in April, May, June, July and October, and mixed in August and September, when rain reaches 146 mm and 137 mm and tropical storms came within 200 km in 6 and 8 of the 30 years. Hokkaido also has the fewest typhoon approaches of any JMA district, 1.9 a year on average.[3]
Winters are long and snowy: the mean daily high is 2.1 °C in December, -0.2 °C in January and 0.7 °C in February, and December is rated poor. Sapporo gets about 485 cm of snow in a year, and the Sapporo Snow Festival takes over the city for one week each February.[7] Cherry blossom comes late, with normal flowering on 1 May[8] and full bloom on 6 May.[1] JMA's maple observation puts the autumn colour peak in Sapporo around 28 October.[9]
Kanto and Chubu (Tokyo, Takayama)
Tokyo is rated best in March, April, November and December and mixed from July to October, when rain reaches 195 mm in September and 215 mm in October and tropical storms came within 200 km in 12 and 9 of the 30 years. Tokyo lies in JMA's Kanto/Koshin district,[10] where the rainy season normally runs from around 7 June to around 19 July.[2] Winters are sunny on the Pacific side,[5] and Tokyo gets only 52 to 56 mm of rain a month from December to February.
Takayama lies in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, which JMA places in its Tokai district,[10] where the rainy season normally runs from around 6 June to around 19 July.[2] January brings a mean daily high of 2.3 °C and low of -4.9 °C, and September is rated poor with 212 mm of rain and storms within 200 km in 16 of the 30 years. Only November is rated best, so the town suits late autumn better than early autumn. The two Takayama festivals fall on 14 and 15 April[11] and on 9 and 10 October.[12] If you plan to climb Mount Fuji, the official season runs from early July to early September, and the mountain is closed in winter because of snow, ice and strong winds.[13]
Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka)
Kyoto and Osaka both belong to JMA's Kinki district,[10] whose rainy season normally runs from around 6 June to around 19 July.[2] Both cities are rated best in March, November and December, and Osaka is also best in April and May, while Kyoto is good in those two months. Kyoto is rated poor in September (185 mm of rain, storms within 200 km in 15 of the 30 years), while Osaka is mixed (166 mm, 14 of 30 years) and good in August with only 93 mm.
Summers are hot and humid: in August the mean daily high is 33.0 °C in Kyoto and 34.0 °C in Osaka, with nights of 24.1 °C and 25.1 °C. Cherry trees normally flower on 26 March in Kyoto and 27 March in Osaka[8] and reach full bloom on 4 April in both.[1] JMA's maple observations put the autumn colour peak around 1 December in Osaka and around 5 December in Kyoto.[9] The Gion Matsuri in Kyoto runs through July, with the main float processions on 17 and 24 July.[14]
West Japan (Hiroshima, Fukuoka)
Hiroshima and Fukuoka are the wettest places on our map outside Okinawa in June and July: Hiroshima receives 260 mm in June and 266 mm in July, Fukuoka 258 mm and 259 mm, and July is rated poor in both. Hiroshima lies in JMA's Chugoku district and Fukuoka in northern Kyushu,[10] where the rainy season normally runs from around 6 June and around 4 June respectively, and ends around 19 July in both.[2] Northern Kyushu averages 3.8 typhoon approaches a year and the Chugoku district 3.0.[3]
Outside the rainy season Fukuoka is the more reliable of the two: it is rated best from February to May and from October to December, while Hiroshima is best in November and December and good from January to May and in October. Hiroshima is rated poor in September, with 226 mm of rain and storms within 200 km in 15 of the 30 years. Cherry trees normally flower on 22 March in Fukuoka and 25 March in Hiroshima[8] and reach full bloom on 31 March and 3 April.[1] The autumn colour peak is around 22 November in Hiroshima and around 1 December in Fukuoka.[9]
Okinawa (Naha)
Okinawa has a subtropical oceanic climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters.[4] Its rainy season starts about a month earlier than on the mainland, normally around 10 May, and ends around 21 June.[2] Our data rates Okinawa best from November to February, with a mean daily high of 19.6 °C in January and 25.0 °C in November, good in March and April, mixed in May, July and October, and poor in June, August and September.
Typhoons matter more here than anywhere else in Japan: Okinawa averages 7.7 approaches a year, 2.2 in August and 1.9 in September.[3] Tropical storms came within 200 km in 17 of the 30 years in August and in 19 of the 30 years in September. Okinawa Prefecture issues its box jellyfish advisory for the sea every year from June to September.[15] Cherry trees here are the early-flowering hikanzakura, which normally flower on 16 January[8] and reach full bloom on 4 February.[1]
Japan month by month
Japan in January
SapporoTokyoTakayamaKyotoOsakaHiroshimaFukuokaOkinawa (Naha)
Great or good weather: Okinawa (Naha), Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka.
Most rain: Okinawa (Naha), 109 mm.
Hottest days: Okinawa (Naha), 20 °C on average.
January is rated best in Okinawa and good in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Fukuoka, while Sapporo and Takayama are mixed with mean daily highs of -0.2 °C and 2.3 °C. Naha's cherry trees normally start flowering around 16 January.[8] Many businesses close for several days around New Year, and domestic travel is extremely busy.[16]
Japan in February
SapporoTokyoTakayamaKyotoOsakaHiroshimaFukuokaOkinawa (Naha)
Great or good weather: Fukuoka, Okinawa (Naha), Tokyo, Takayama, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima.
Most rain: Okinawa (Naha), 101 mm.
Hottest days: Okinawa (Naha), 20 °C on average.
February is rated best in Fukuoka and Okinawa and good in Tokyo, Takayama, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima, while Sapporo is mixed with a mean daily high of 0.7 °C. Fukuoka has the warmest nights of the mainland cities, with a mean daily low of 4.0 °C against 2.3 °C in Tokyo. The Sapporo Snow Festival is held for one week each February at three venues in and around the city.[7]
Japan in March
SapporoTokyoTakayamaKyotoOsakaHiroshimaFukuokaOkinawa (Naha)
Great or good weather: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Fukuoka, Sapporo, Hiroshima, and Okinawa (Naha).
Most rain: Okinawa (Naha), 150 mm.
Hottest days: Okinawa (Naha), 22 °C on average.
March is rated best in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka, good in Sapporo, Hiroshima and Okinawa, and mixed in Takayama, where 134 mm of rain falls and the mean daily high is only 9.2 °C. On JMA's 1991 to 2020 normals, cherry trees start flowering on 22 March in Fukuoka, 24 March in Tokyo, 25 March in Hiroshima, 26 March in Kyoto and 27 March in Osaka.[8] JMA counts flowering as the day several blossoms are open, so full bloom follows later.[17]
Japan in April
SapporoTokyoTakayamaKyotoOsakaHiroshimaFukuokaOkinawa (Naha)
Great or good weather: Sapporo, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Takayama, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Okinawa (Naha).
Most rain: Okinawa (Naha), 185 mm.
Hottest days: Okinawa (Naha), 24 °C on average.
April is rated best in Sapporo, Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka and good in Takayama, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Okinawa. Normal full bloom is 31 March in Tokyo and Fukuoka, 3 April in Hiroshima and 4 April in Kyoto and Osaka.[1] The Takayama spring festival is held on 14 and 15 April.[11] Golden Week begins with Showa Day on 29 April,[18] and a cluster of holidays brings crowds and fully booked transport.[16]
Japan in May
SapporoTokyoTakayamaKyotoOsakaHiroshimaFukuokaOkinawa (Naha)
Great or good weather: Sapporo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Tokyo, Takayama, Kyoto, and Hiroshima.
Most rain: Okinawa (Naha), 251 mm.
Hottest days: Okinawa (Naha), 27 °C on average.
May is rated best in Sapporo, Osaka and Fukuoka, good in Tokyo, Takayama, Kyoto and Hiroshima, and mixed in Okinawa, where 251 mm of rain falls. Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day and Children's Day fall on 3, 4 and 5 May,[18] and in Golden Week you should expect crowds and fully booked transport.[16] Sapporo's cherry trees normally flower on 1 May and reach full bloom on 6 May.[8][1]
Japan in June
SapporoTokyoTakayamaKyotoOsakaHiroshimaFukuokaOkinawa (Naha)
Great or good weather: Sapporo, Tokyo, Takayama, Kyoto, and Osaka.
Most rain: Okinawa (Naha), 263 mm.
Hottest days: Okinawa (Naha), 30 °C on average.
June is rated best in Sapporo, good in Tokyo, Takayama, Kyoto and Osaka, mixed in Hiroshima and Fukuoka, and poor in Okinawa. Rain reaches 260 mm in Hiroshima, 258 mm in Fukuoka and 263 mm in Naha, against 76 mm in Sapporo. The normal start of the rainy season is around 4 June in northern Kyushu, around 6 June in Kinki and around 7 June in Kanto/Koshin, and it ends in Okinawa around 21 June.[2] Okinawa's jellyfish advisory for the sea begins in June.[15]
Japan in July
SapporoTokyoTakayamaKyotoOsakaHiroshimaFukuokaOkinawa (Naha)
Great or good weather: Sapporo.
Most rain: Hiroshima, 266 mm.
Hottest days: Osaka, 32 °C on average.
July is rated best in Sapporo, mixed in Tokyo, Takayama, Kyoto, Osaka and Okinawa, and poor in Hiroshima (266 mm of rain) and Fukuoka (259 mm). The normal end of the rainy season is around 19 July in the Kanto/Koshin, Tokai, Kinki, Chugoku and northern Kyushu districts.[2] The Gion Matsuri in Kyoto runs through July, with the main float processions on 17 and 24 July.[14] The Mount Fuji climbing season opens in early July.[13]
Japan in August
SapporoTokyoTakayamaKyotoOsakaHiroshimaFukuokaOkinawa (Naha)
Great or good weather: Osaka.
Most rain: Okinawa (Naha), 248 mm.
Hottest days: Osaka, 34 °C on average.
August is rated good only in Osaka, where 93 mm is the lowest rain of the eight places and the mean daily high is 34.0 °C, while Okinawa is poor with 248 mm of rain and tropical storms within 200 km in 17 of the 30 years and the other six places are mixed. JMA's normals show 3.3 typhoon approaches in August, including 2.2 for Okinawa.[3] Mountain Day on 11 August is a national holiday,[18] and Obon in mid-August sends many people travelling to their home towns.[16]
Japan in September
SapporoTokyoTakayamaKyotoOsakaHiroshimaFukuokaOkinawa (Naha)
No place on the map has great or good weather.
Most rain: Okinawa (Naha), 275 mm.
Hottest days: Okinawa (Naha), 31 °C on average.
September is rated poor in Takayama, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Okinawa and mixed in Sapporo, Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka, with 195 mm of rain and storms within 200 km in 12 of the 30 years in Tokyo. The normal number of typhoon approaches on the mainland is 1.9, the highest of any month, and the autumnal rain front adds to the rain.[3][5] Respect for the Aged Day falls on the third Monday and the autumn equinox holiday around 22 to 24 September, and a single weekday between two holidays also becomes a day off.[18]
Japan in October
SapporoTokyoTakayamaKyotoOsakaHiroshimaFukuokaOkinawa (Naha)
Great or good weather: Sapporo, Fukuoka, Takayama, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima.
Most rain: Tokyo, 215 mm.
Hottest days: Okinawa (Naha), 28 °C on average.
October is rated best in Sapporo and Fukuoka, good in Takayama, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima, and mixed in Tokyo (215 mm of rain, storms within 200 km in 9 of the 30 years) and Okinawa (193 mm, also 9 of 30 years). Frequent anticyclones bring sunny, refreshing weather,[5] and the normal number of typhoon approaches falls to 1.7 across Japan.[3] The Takayama autumn festival is held on 9 and 10 October.[12] The autumn colour peak in Sapporo is normally around 28 October.[9]
Japan in November
SapporoTokyoTakayamaKyotoOsakaHiroshimaFukuokaOkinawa (Naha)
Great or good weather: Tokyo, Takayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Okinawa (Naha), and Sapporo.
Most rain: Sapporo, 116 mm.
Hottest days: Okinawa (Naha), 25 °C on average.
November is rated best in Tokyo, Takayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka and Okinawa and good in Sapporo, with 82 mm of rain in Tokyo, 79 mm in Kyoto and 72 mm in Osaka. Tropical storms came within 200 km in only one of the 30 years in Fukuoka and in none at the other places. JMA's maple observations put the autumn colour peak around 22 November in Hiroshima and around 28 November in Tokyo.[9] From November, rain and snow increase on the Sea of Japan side.[5]
Japan in December
SapporoTokyoTakayamaKyotoOsakaHiroshimaFukuokaOkinawa (Naha)
Great or good weather: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Okinawa (Naha), and Takayama.
Most rain: Sapporo, 131 mm.
Hottest days: Okinawa (Naha), 22 °C on average.
December is rated best in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka and Okinawa, good in Takayama and poor in Sapporo, where the mean daily high is 2.1 °C. The autumn colour peak is normally around 1 December in Osaka and Fukuoka and around 5 December in Kyoto.[9] Government offices are closed from 29 December to 3 January by law,[19] and the year-end period is extremely busy for domestic travel.[16]
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Japan?
For most travellers it is late March to early April, when cherry blossom is at its peak in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka,[1] and November, which our data rates best for seven of the eight places on the map. Hokkaido is best from April to July and Okinawa from November to February.
When is cherry blossom season in Japan?
JMA's 1991 to 2020 normals put full bloom at 31 March in Tokyo and Fukuoka, 3 April in Hiroshima, 4 April in Kyoto and Osaka and 6 May in Sapporo.[1] Naha's early-flowering cherry trees normally start flowering around 16 January.[8]
When is the rainy season in Japan?
Every area except Hokkaido has a rainy season, normally from early June to late July, and Okinawa's comes about a month earlier, from around 10 May to around 21 June.[2] Our data shows the heaviest rain in Hiroshima and Fukuoka, at 258 to 266 mm in June and July.
When is typhoon season in Japan?
About 25 tropical cyclones form each year, about 12 come within 300 km of Japan and about 3 make landfall, and all three counts are highest from July to October.[6] JMA's normals show 3.3 approaches in both August and September, and Okinawa gets 2.2 in August and 1.9 in September.[3]
When is the best time to see autumn leaves in Japan?
JMA's normal dates for the maple colour peak are around 28 October in Sapporo, 22 November in Hiroshima, 28 November in Tokyo, 1 December in Osaka and Fukuoka and 5 December in Kyoto.[9] JMA's date marks the peak viewing time, not the start of colour change.[17]
When is the best time to visit Okinawa?
Our data rates Okinawa best from November to February and poor in June, August and September, when rain and typhoons are most likely. Okinawa's rainy season normally runs from around 10 May to around 21 June, and typhoon approaches peak in August and September.[2][3]
About the data
Temperatures and rain are long-term averages for 1991 to 2020 from TerraClimate, and the typhoon risk counts tropical storms from NOAA IBTrACS. The ratings use the same rules for every country. How the rating works.
Long-term averages, not a forecast. The weather in a given year can be quite different.
Travel guide: Japan
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Japan Meteorological Agency: さくらの満開日(2021-2026年) (in Japanese). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [2] Japan Meteorological Agency: Climatological dates of Baiu onset and withdrawal in each district of Japan. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [3] Japan Meteorological Agency: Normal statistics for tropical cyclones with maximum wind speeds of 17.2 m/s or higher forming over the western North Pacific. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [4] Japan Meteorological Agency: General Information on Climate of Japan. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [5] Japan Meteorological Agency: Overview of Japan's climate. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [6] Japan Meteorological Agency: 台風の発生、接近、上陸、経路 (in Japanese). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [7] Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee: Sapporo Snow Festival. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [8] Japan Meteorological Agency: さくらの開花日(2021-2026年) (in Japanese). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [9] Japan Meteorological Agency: 生物季節観測累年表 かえでの紅葉 (in Japanese). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [10] Japan Meteorological Agency: 地域名 (in Japanese). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [11] Hida Takayama (Takayama City): Takayama Festival. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [12] Hida Takayama (Takayama City): Autumn Takayama Festival (Hachiman Matsuri). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [13] Official Website for Mt. Fuji Climbing: Things you must know before climbing Mt. Fuji. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [14] Kyoto City Tourism Association: Gion Matsuri Festival. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [15] Okinawa Prefecture: ハブクラゲ等海洋危険生物 (in Japanese). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [16] Japan National Tourism Organization: Japan Business Hours and Holidays. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [17] Kumagaya Local Meteorological Observatory, Japan Meteorological Agency: 生物季節の観測 (in Japanese). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [18] Cabinet Office, Government of Japan: 「国民の祝日」について (in Japanese). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [19] e-Gov, Government of Japan: 行政機関の休日に関する法律 (in Japanese). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
