Month guide · Osaka · Japan
Osaka in May
What May is really like in Osaka: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mc681, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Osaka. Expect average highs of 25°C (77°F), lows of 16°C (61°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 14 hours of daylight. Warm and fresh; Golden Week at the start of the month brings crowds and higher prices, then it calms.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 25°C (77°F) / 16°C (61°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 14 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Osaka: days average 25°C (77°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 16°C (61°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with April (20°C (68°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 28°C (82°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 04:55
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 18:53
- Daylight
- About 14 hours
Spring (March–May). Plum then cherry blossom, mild days and Golden Week crowds in early May.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 4 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in April). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
- Golden Week holidays (late April to early May)
- Rose garden in bloom at Nakanoshima Park (May)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Viewpoint · Tennoji
Abeno Harukas 300
Clear winter days give the longest views; the department store below has a large food hall.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- After dark
- Rainy day
- Couples
Museum · Ikeda
Cupnoodles Museum Osaka Ikeda
In the suburb where Momofuku Ando invented instant ramen in 1958, this museum tells the story of the invention and lets visitors design a cup and choose ingredients to make their own Cup Noodles to take home.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Food
Street · Tenma
Tenjinbashisuji shopping street
Start at Osaka Tenmangu, walk north and finish with dinner in the Tenma izakaya lanes.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Rainy day
Castle · Chuo
Osaka Castle
Toyotomi Hideyoshi's castle, begun in 1583, was the centre of the struggle that unified Japan.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Views
What to pack
For highs near 25°C, lows near 16°C and 10 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Osaka?
One of the best months to visit Osaka, with 2 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are March–April and October–November. Compare every month.
Osaka in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Osaka?
It is one of the best months to visit Osaka. Warm and fresh; Golden Week at the start of the month brings crowds and higher prices, then it calms.
+How warm is Osaka in May?
Average highs are around 25°C (77°F) and lows around 16°C (61°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Osaka in May?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.