The best times to visit Japan for ideal weather are

April 23rd to July 8th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Japan Travel Info

Weather in Japan

Temperature

Average temperatures in Japan vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel nice most of the year, excluding some cold weeks in the winter, with a chance of rain or snow throughout most of the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 30th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Japan, the hottest months are August, July, and then September. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally early to mid August where highs are regularly around 86.9°F (30.5°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 74.5°F (23.6°C) at night.

Japan Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Japan Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Japan Perceived Temperature (F)

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High
Average
Low

Japan Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Japan Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 45.5 39.4 32.3
Feb 47.5 41.1 33.6
Mar 53.5 46.7 38.8
Apr 62.4 55 46.8
May 71.1 63.7 56
Jun 76.5 70.2 64.4
Jul 83 76.9 71.4
Aug 85.6 79.1 73.3
Sep 79.9 73.3 66.8
Oct 70.5 63.7 56.3
Nov 59.9 53.4 46.1
Dec 49.9 43.8 36.8

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 7.5 4.1 0.2
Feb 8.6 5.1 0.9
Mar 11.9 8.2 3.8
Apr 16.9 12.8 8.2
May 21.7 17.6 13.3
Jun 24.7 21.2 18
Jul 28.3 24.9 21.9
Aug 29.8 26.2 22.9
Sep 26.6 22.9 19.3
Oct 21.4 17.6 13.5
Nov 15.5 11.9 7.8
Dec 9.9 6.6 2.7

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Japan are January, October, and then May. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early August. For example, on the week of July 30th there is 1 day of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in mid June with an average of 2 days of significant precipitation the week of June 18th.

When can you find snow in Japan? Weather stations report large amounts of snow likely to be deepest around February, especially close to mid February. The best time to ski (if at all) in Japan is often around around December 17th when fresh powder is deepest. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Japan.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Japan (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 15% 4.7 2.2
Feb 17% 6 2.5
Mar 17% 5.6 2.9
Apr 16% 4.2 3.2
May 15% 0 3.6
Jun 19% 0 5.4
Jul 18% 0 5
Aug 16% 0 4.3
Sep 17% 0 4.7
Oct 15% 0.4 3.9
Nov 17% 2 3.1
Dec 18% 3.5 3

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 15 11.9 5.6
Feb 17 15.2 6.4
Mar 17 14.2 7.4
Apr 16 10.7 8.1
May 15 0 9.1
Jun 19 0 13.7
Jul 18 0 12.7
Aug 16 0 10.9
Sep 17 0 11.9
Oct 15 1 9.9
Nov 17 5.1 7.9
Dec 18 8.9 7.6

 

Humidity and Wind

Japan has some very humid months, with other comfortably humid months. The least humid month is March (55.5% relative humidity), and the most humid month is July (73.9%).

Wind in Japan is usually calm. The windiest month is March, followed by April and December. March’s average wind speed of around 7.5 knots (8.7 MPH or 13.9 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in mid March where average top sustained speeds reach 14.1 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Japan.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 7.1 Gentle breeze 12.7 Significant breeze
Feb 7.2 Gentle breeze 13 Significant breeze
Mar 7.5 Gentle breeze 13.7 Significant breeze
Apr 7.4 Gentle breeze 13.4 Significant breeze
May 6.8 Light breeze 12.5 Significant breeze
Jun 6 Light breeze 10.9 Gentle breeze
Jul 6.1 Light breeze 11 Significant breeze
Aug 6 Light breeze 10.8 Gentle breeze
Sep 6.2 Light breeze 11.2 Significant breeze
Oct 6.5 Light breeze 11.7 Significant breeze
Nov 6.5 Light breeze 11.8 Significant breeze
Dec 7.3 Gentle breeze 13 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 55.9%
Feb 56.9%
Mar 55.5%
Apr 56.4%
May 61.1%
Jun 72%
Jul 73.9%
Aug 71.5%
Sep 68.7%
Oct 63.5%
Nov 61.9%
Dec 58.7%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Japan?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for Japan; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Nov 14, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Japan is May, followed by October and March. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Japan in July. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is very reliable. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 82.7 in July means 82.7% of the tourists vs. May.

 

 

Overall Japan Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderate. Highs range from 73°F (22.8°C) and 50°F (10°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with roughly 5 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see the most precipitation with 5 to 6 days of precipitation per month. June – August is fairly slow season for tourism in Japan, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly less.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 82.5°F (28.1°C) and 55.5°F (13.1°C), which will feel comfortable given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: approximately 5 days per month. Tourism is the second busiest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be slightly higher priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is too cold this time of year in Japan to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 52.3°F (11.3°C) and 44.7°F (7.1°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: consistently 5 times per month. These times of year are the slowest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel › Japan