Tokyo Weather

January and February are normally sunny and dry, though cool, in most of Japan. In the northern part of the country and along the Sea of Japan coast, however, there is usually quite a bit of snow. But the conditions are great for winter sports. The downside to winter, especially in Tokyo, is that night falls early—around 5pm. And the vegetation is usually bare in surrounding rural areas. It’s usually cool until spring hits in March. You’ll notice the trees turning greener, and flowers sprouting, with plum trees and cherry blossoms taking life around the end of March when the weather gets noticeably milder. But to get the full effect of the cherry blossoms, and the warming weather, visit in April or May. Rain usually falls throughout June in Japan, though the amount can vary by region (cities along the coast, of course, get more rain). Heat and humidity takes over Japan come summer and, by August, expect to be sweating under the sun. September is still quite hot and humid in most of Japan, although the typhoon season also hits hard along the costs of Okinawa, Shikoku and Kyushu. Temperatures dip as the reds and oranges of autumn transform trees across the country, and Tokyo feels much drier and milder by November. While it only gets colder in December, the sun sets much earlier in the capital city—around 4:30. But, then again, there are enough neon lights in Tokyo that in the end it really doesn’t matter that much.