Travel Japan: Best Time to Visit Tokyo Throughout the Year

Tokyo is a fantastic year-round travel destination where a unique event or seasonal phenomenon is almost always happening. The best time to visit Tokyo will depend mainly on what you want to see and do. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to witness the bloom of the cherry trees in Ueno Park or to experience the beautiful holiday lights in Tokyo Midtown during the holidays. If you’re planning a trip to Tokyo, then here is a guide to the best time to visit for different events and activities you may be interested in.

1. Late March/early April for TOKYO SAKURA SEASON

Easily the natural wonder that Japan is best known for, the blooming of the cherry blossoms – which are called sakura – signifies the coming of warmer weather. The cherry blossom is a symbol of beauty, vitality, and renewal, and has been celebrated in traditional Japanese art and music for centuries. For a brief time each spring, Tokyo‘s numerous parks, gardens, and shrine and temple grounds become awash in delicate shades of pink. The cherry blossoms hit full bloom just a week after they begin opening, and most have fallen from the trees just a week after that.

Tokyo sakura season typically occurs during the last week of March or the first week of April. This is also the ideal season in Tokyo weather-wise. When the blooms arrive, locals and visitors alike engage in a pastime known as “hanami,” which translates into “looking at flowers.” People are encouraged to shake off the winter stupor and head outside to take walks or have picnics under the cherry blossom trees. Even Tokyo‘s busy shopping streets turn pink as retailers offer goodies such as cherry-blossom-flavored confections and knick-knacks such as fake cherry blossom flowers.

One of the best and most popular places in Tokyo to appreciate the cherry blossoms is Ueno Park, which is home to over 1,000 cherry trees. The trees are lit up when it gets dark so you can also enjoy the blooms in the evening. Shinjuku Gyoen Park is another great park for cherry blossom viewing, and it is only a 10-minute walk from Shinjuku Station. Here, you’ll find a unique mix of early blooming and late-blooming trees. Other prime spots for hanami in Tokyo include Asukayama Park, Sumida Park, and Arisugawa Park.

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2. May or June for the KANDA MATSURI or SANNO MATSURI festival

Kanda Matsuri and Sanno Matsuri are two of the most popular and important Shinto festivals in Tokyo. What’s interesting about these festivals is that they are held on alternating years. Kanda Matsuri takes place every odd-numbered year in May while Sanno Matsuri takes place every even-numbered year in mid-June. Both festivals began in the 17th century during the Edo Period and originally started as political celebrations. The festival weeks are the best times to visit Tokyo if you want to experience the city’s rich culture and history.

Kanda Matsuri was first held as a celebration of a military victory by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of Japan’s Tokugawa shogunate, and continued as a display of the shogunate’s prosperity. Today, Kanda Matsuri is also held in honor of the spirit that resides at Kanda Shrine, which serves as the festival’s main hub. One of the main highlights of the Kanda festival is a large, day-long processional parade featuring over 200 portable shrines, known as mikoshi. There are a variety of additional festivities and events which are held over the week-long festival period.

Sanno Matsuri is likewise a week-long festival featuring a full-day parade. The parade both begins and ends at Hie Shrine, which is the main site of the rest of the festival’s activities and celebrations. The shrine is dedicated to the guardian deity of Tokyo and is believed to predate Tokyo itself. During the rule of the Tokugawa shoguns, the Tokugawa family became associated with Hie Shrine as well. The Sanno Matsuri festival was established to celebrate the Tokugawa family as well as Japan’s new political center of Edo (the former name of Tokyo).

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3. Late July to August for TOKYO SUMMER FIREWORKS

One of the very best parts of visiting Tokyo during the summer is getting to experience the city’s extravagant fireworks season. The season begins towards the end of July and lasts throughout August. Fireworks have been popular in Japan for hundreds of years, which means that Tokyo really knows how to put on a fireworks show. There are a great number of fireworks used during the various fireworks festivals that take place around Tokyo every summer. The fireworks that are used come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, making for an exciting show every time.

If you’d like to see Tokyo in the summer, then fireworks season is definitely a perfect time to visit. You may find yourself spending a good portion of your days inside to escape the heat and humidity, but the nighttime always brings in cool and pleasant weather for catching some of the spectacular firework displays. The biggest fireworks event of the summer is the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival (also known as the Sumida River Fireworks Festival) in Asakusa. Over one million people gather along the Sumida River to watch more than 20,000 fireworks. To get the best vantage point, you can rent out a boat and paddle out on the river.

To get the best experience at these fireworks festivals as a whole, you’ll want to arrive early so that you can stake out a good spot. Bring a picnic blanket as well as some drinks and snacks so that you can watch in comfort. If there is a particular festival you are interested in, consider booking a hotel room nearby so that you can watch from the window. To find out even more about the history of fireworks in Tokyo, you can also visit the Ryogoku Fireworks Museum, which is just a five-minute walk from Ryogoku Station.

Check In to ONE@Tokyo, Step Out to Asakusa

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4. Late October for TOKYO HALLOWEEN

Halloween didn’t use to be very big in Tokyo. There generally wasn’t much going on unless you visited bars and clubs that catered to locals. Today, Halloween is one of the best times to visit the city. It has become a hugely popular event, with celebrations beginning well before October 31st. In fact, you can find Halloween events and activities around Tokyo throughout the whole month. Halloween decorations and goodies start showing up in shops all over the city as early as September in anticipation of the festivities. All of Tokyo seems to come to life to celebrate this spooky holiday.

The North American practice of trick-or-treating isn’t very common in Tokyo. While there are many events for children and families, Halloween in Tokyo is largely celebrated by teens and young adults who dress up in extravagant costumes and attend large street parties. The largest of these street parties is held in Shibuya at the world-famous Shibuya Crossing, which is shut down to vehicle traffic on Halloween and for multiple evenings prior. Thousands of revelers come out for the party. The Kawasaki Halloween Parade, which is one of Tokyo‘s longest-running and best Halloween events, is also an absolute must-see for Halloween fans.

If you are looking for a more family-friendly and kid-oriented event, then make sure you check out the Halloween Parade in Roppongi. Following the parade of costumed ghosties, ghoulies, and manga and anime characters, candy is handed out to the children in attendance. Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea also host a variety of family-friendly Halloween events, and guests are welcome to come in costume. Tokyo Disneyland has actually been hosting Halloween events since 1997 and played a big role in popularizing the holiday.

Check In to Shibuya Tokyu REI Hotel, Step Out to Shibuya Crossing

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5. November for Tokyo’s many CHRYSANTHEMUM FESTIVALS

Tokyo sakura season isn’t the only time that the city is thrown into beautiful bloom. November brings with it the blooming of the gorgeous chrysanthemum flowers. Chrysanthemums hold an important cultural and historical significance in Tokyo. The chrysanthemum is actually Japan’s national flower and is featured on the Imperial Seal of Japan. In fact, the throne of the Emperor of Japan is known as the Chrysanthemum Throne. Growing chrysanthemum flowers for ornamental purposes is also a big part of traditional Japanese culture. Chrysanthemum festivals are held at many major temples and shrines throughout Tokyo.

The three best places to see the chrysanthemums are Meiji Shrine, Sensoji Temple, and Yushima Tenjin Shrine. Meiji Shrine lies in the heart of a lush, forested park in Shibuya, making it a great place to take a stroll and enjoy the crisp autumn weather. Sensoji Temple in Asakusa is the oldest temple in Tokyo and home to a stunning variety of chrysanthemums, providing a veritable feast of colors, sizes, and shapes for you to look at. Yushima Tenjin Shrine, which is dedicated to the deity of learning, is located in Bunkyo and home to some 2,000 different chrysanthemum plants. All three are very much worth the visit, and all are a great choice if you have time for only one chrysanthemum-viewing stop.

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6. Late November to early December to see the TOKYO FALL LEAVES

The late fall is the best time to visit Tokyo if you’re looking for mild weather and beautiful sightseeing opportunities. After the iconic cherry blossom spring bloom, the Tokyo fall leaves are probably the next best known seasonal marvel. They have inspired generations of Tokyo artists and poets. You’re in for a major treat when the leaves start changing color and paint the urban landscape a spectacular mix of yellow, orange, and red. Another bonus to visiting Tokyo during November and December is that the city tends to be less crowded and the hotel rates lower this time of year.

Just as it’s popular to view the cherry blossoms and chrysanthemums, Tokyo locals also plan walks to take in the changing fall leaves on the city’s abundant ginkgo and maple trees. The activity of viewing fall leaves and searching for the most beautiful ones is known as momijigari, which translates to “red leaf hunting.” Momijigari has been a popular activity among Japanese people since the Heian period. Today, the activity is paired with delicious fall treats from local food vendors.

A convenient spot for visitors to view the fall foliage in Tokyo is Hibiya Park by Tokyo Station. This small park near the Imperial Palace has a great variety of trees that reflect a lot of the stunning fall colors you can find throughout the city. Rikugien Garden, an Edo-period landscape garden in Bunkyo is also one of the most popular leaf-viewing locales. It is especially enjoyable at night when the trees are illuminated. Other top momijigari spots include Shinjuku Gyoen Park and Koishikawa Korakuen Garden.

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7. The holiday season for TOKYO ILLUMINATION

Winter nights in Tokyo may be dark and on the chilly side, but Tokyo Illumination sets the whole city aglow with millions of colorful light displays. These displays are held all over the city as different areas compete to put on the most impressive illuminations, and they are truly spectacular to see in person. Throngs of people are drawn out onto the streets during Tokyo Illumination to take in the sights with their friends and loved ones, making for a festive atmosphere. Don’t let the nippy air hold you back. Put on a warm jacket, a hat, and a scarf, and head out into this sparkling winter wonderland. There is no better way to experience Tokyo‘s winter charms. Buildings, trees, and even landmarks such as Tokyo Tower are beautifully lit up with LED lights and projection mapping.

One of the best illuminations in Tokyo during this wintery festival is the Marunouchi Naka-dori Illumination, which you can enjoy while strolling down a street lined with cafes and fancy boutique stores. Another popular illumination is the Carretta Shiodome Illumination in front of the Shiodome shopping and dining center, which receives over half a million visitors a year. If you have the time and opportunity, you should also try to see the Shinjuku Terrace City Illumination, Smart Illumination Yokohama, or the Tokyo Midtown Illumination, which is held both indoors and outdoors.

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8. Late winter for the TOKYO MARATHON

The Tokyo Marathon is one of the only six annual world marathon majors, the others being New York City, Boston, Chicago, Berlin, and London. It usually takes place in late February or early March. As the only marathon major to be held in Asia, the Tokyo Marathon draws large crowds and a diverse array of competitors. It was first held in 2007 and was elevated to the status of a world marathon major in 2012, when it joined the Abbott World Marathon Majors. The Tokyo Marathon is a championship-style race that includes an eclectic mix of both elite marathoners and goofy racers looking to have a good time. Out of the over 300,000 annual applicants, only 35,500 get to run.

The Tokyo Marathon begins at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and ends at Tokyo Station. The marathon route passes through some of Tokyo‘s most popular areas, including Ginza, Hibiya Park, Shinagawa, and Asakusa. Spectators line the streets to cheer on and high-five the runners as they pass, and the runners provide ample entertainment not only with their performance but with some of the best costumes in any marathon around the globe. Some runners come out dressed as cartoon characters and superheroes while others dress in ninja costumes and even in drag. The atmosphere is competitive, but also wacky and wonderful all at the same time.

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