Season guide · Nara · Japan
Nara in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Omizutori fire rituals in March, cherry blossom in early April and fresh green in May; busy at Golden Week. Expect highs up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F), with about 29 rainy days across March–May. March–May are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 3°C (37°F) to 25°C (77°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 29
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 14°C (57°F) | 3°C (37°F) | 10 | 11.9 h | 3/5 |
| April | 20°C (68°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 9 | 13 h | 5/5 |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 10 | 14 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 20°C (68°F) against a yearly 21°C (70°F), and 29 of the year's roughly 103 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: Omizutori (Shuni-e) — fire rituals at Nigatsu-do (1–14 March)
- April: Cherry blossom in Nara Park (usually early April)
- April: Cherry blossom at Mount Yoshino (usually early to mid-April)
- May: Golden Week holidays (late April to early May)
Good choices for spring
Museum · Nara Park
Nara National Museum
Japan's leading collection of Buddhist art fills a 1894 Western-style building and a modern wing linked by an underground passage.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Day trips in spring
- Horyu-ji (About 30 minutes by train and walk or bus) — Founded by Prince Shotoku in the early 7th century, Horyu-ji has some of the oldest surviving wooden buildings in the world, including its five-storey pagoda and Golden Hall, and a treasure hall of early Buddhist art.
- Uji (About 30–45 minutes by train) — A riverside town famous for green tea and for Byodo-in, whose Phoenix Hall from 1053 appears on the ¥10 coin.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Nara?
Yes: March–May are among the best months. Omizutori fire rituals in March, cherry blossom in early April and fresh green in May; busy at Golden Week.
+What is the weather like in Nara in spring?
Highs of up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F), with about 29 rainy days over the season.