For comfortable sightseeing, I would start by comparing May after Golden Week with November. Choose late March or early April when cherry blossoms are the priority, and July or August when summer festivals matter more than heat. Tokyo weather by month varies enough that the best date depends on your planned activities, not one universal ranking. 1234
The most important correction to simple seasonal advice is that autumn is not uniformly dry. October's long-term precipitation total is higher than June's, while November is markedly lower. That does not predict a particular holiday, but it is a good reason to preserve indoor alternatives rather than assume an October itinerary needs no rain plan. 1
Read the climate figures correctly
These are Japan Meteorological Agency normals for 1991–2020, not a forecast or a summary of one recent year. Mean temperature includes cooler nights; it is not the temperature you should expect at midday. Precipitation is a monthly total, not the number of rainy days. 1
| Month | Mean temperature | Precipitation |
|---|---|---|
| January | 5.4°C | 59.7 mm |
| February | 6.1°C | 56.5 mm |
| March | 9.4°C | 116.0 mm |
| April | 14.3°C | 133.7 mm |
| May | 18.8°C | 139.7 mm |
| June | 21.9°C | 167.8 mm |
| July | 25.7°C | 156.2 mm |
| August | 26.9°C | 154.7 mm |
| September | 23.3°C | 224.9 mm |
| October | 18.0°C | 234.8 mm |
| November | 12.5°C | 96.3 mm |
| December | 7.7°C | 57.9 mm |
Use the table to compare seasons, then use a short-range forecast when packing. A sensible itinerary allows you to move a garden walk to the better-weather day without losing a prepaid indoor booking.
January and February: winter sightseeing with a different focus
January suits visitors interested in New Year traditions and a city break built around museums, food and shorter outdoor walks. Hatsumode, the first shrine or temple visit of the year, draws people to places such as Meiji Jingu and Sensoji. January 1 is not an ordinary shopping day: the official tourism guide notes that many stores close. 5
For a trip over New Year, identify the activities that must happen on particular dates before filling the rest of the itinerary. A closure can be manageable when you have planned a walk or shrine visit instead; it is more frustrating when the whole day depended on one museum or shop.
February offers plum blossoms and Setsubun observances rather than the main cherry-blossom season. It is a useful alternative when you want seasonal interest without making the trip depend on the brief sakura peak. 6
Pack for standing still as well as walking. Waiting outside, taking photographs and returning after dinner can feel very different from moving briskly between stations. Layers that are easy to remove indoors are more practical than an outfit that works only at one temperature.
March, April and May: flowers, then a holiday-period decision
March is a transition month. For cherry blossoms, the relevant expectation is generally late March into early April, not a guarantee that the entire month will be pink. Keep the exact flower-viewing day flexible rather than attaching it to an expensive, non-changeable arrangement long in advance. 2
April is attractive even after the main cherry display. The official spring guide points to azaleas at Nezu Shrine and wisteria at Kameido Tenjin as later possibilities. Choose a second seasonal outing so that your trip still works if blossom timing differs from your expectation. 2
May requires a distinction between Golden Week and the rest of the month. The late-April and early-May holiday period can bring much higher travel and accommodation prices. Compare actual dated room offers rather than assuming that every May week has the same cost or availability. 2
My preference for a walking-focused first visit is to examine dates after that holiday period. That is a planning recommendation, not a promise of empty attractions or low prices. Book the experiences you genuinely care about, and leave at least one uncommitted outdoor half-day.
June, July and August: plan around rain and heat
June is associated with the rainy season, but that does not mean every day is lost to rain. Hydrangeas and irises provide seasonal reasons to visit gardens, and a museum-and-neighbourhood itinerary can work well when outdoor blocks remain flexible. 72
Carry an arrangement that keeps essentials dry and make sure your shoes are suitable for repeated wet-weather walking. Avoid a plan that requires several distant outdoor sites on the same fixed day. A nearby indoor alternative is more useful than a long list of attractions across the city.
July brings summer festivals and fireworks, including the established Sumida River event. Choose the current year's official programme before booking around a specific performance or display; a recurring seasonal tradition is not itself confirmation of next year's date. 3
August continues the summer festival period, including Bon dancing and the late-summer Koenji Awa-odori tradition. The trade-off is hot, humid sightseeing. The tourism authority recommends shifting outdoor activity towards mornings or later afternoons and using indoor facilities during the heat. 3
For either month, reduce the number of outdoor commitments per day. A slower itinerary with a proper indoor break is more realistic than copying a spring walking route and adding a water bottle.
September, October and November: do not treat autumn as one season
September is not an automatic escape from summer conditions. The city's seasonal guide still associates it with residual warmth and possible typhoons. Preserve flexibility for transport-dependent outings and follow official service information when disruptive weather is forecast. 58
October is a reasonable candidate for mixed cultural sightseeing, but the climate table argues against marketing it as reliably dry. Put exhibitions, shopping and food-focused activities alongside your outdoor plans. Their role is not to "rescue" a bad holiday; they can be worthwhile reasons to visit in their own right. 1
November is the stronger starting point when autumn colour is a major priority. GO TOKYO places much of the city's foliage interest from mid-November onward, with Rikugien's typical best period extending from late November into early December. City gardens and nearby mountain areas need not peak together. 4
Select one or two gardens rather than trying to visit every famous foliage spot. Leave the choice of day open and bring an extra layer for the return after dark.
December: lights, late foliage and year-end logistics
December can combine remaining autumn colour early in the month with winter illuminations. Marunouchi, Omotesando and other districts feature in the official winter guide, but the start and end dates belong to each individual display. 49
It is a good month for travellers who enjoy an evening walk followed by a warm meal rather than a full day outdoors. Reserve dining separately from illumination viewing; seeing a public light display does not require turning the whole evening into a package.
For a stay crossing into January, check the dated operating calendar of your must-see attractions before buying non-refundable tickets. Choose your month for the experiences it supports, then build enough flexibility that ordinary seasonal weather does not control the entire trip.
