Season guide · Osaka · Japan
Osaka in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Saigen Jiro, CC0
Quick answer
Plum then cherry blossom, mild days and Golden Week crowds in early May. Expect highs up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 6°C (43°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
- 6°C (43°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) | 6°C (43°F) | 10 | 11.9 h | 3/5 |
| April | 20°C (68°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 9 | 13 h | 5/5 |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 16°C (61°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 105 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: Grand Sumo Spring Tournament (usually March)
- April: Cherry blossom at Osaka Castle Park and along the Okawa River (usually early April)
- April: Japan Mint cherry blossom passage — a week-long public opening of its avenue of late-blooming cherry trees (usually mid-April)
- May: Golden Week holidays (late April to early May)
- May: Rose garden in bloom at Nakanoshima Park (May)
Good choices for spring
Market · Namba
Kuromon Market
A 580-metre covered market of about 150 stalls, Kuromon was long where Osaka's chefs bought fish and produce.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Aquarium · Bay Area
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Go in the late afternoon on weekdays when school groups have left; combine with the Tempozan Ferris wheel next door.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Viewpoint · Tennoji
Abeno Harukas 300
At 300 metres, Abeno Harukas is one of Japan's tallest skyscrapers.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- After dark
- Rainy day
- Couples
Museum · Ikeda
Cupnoodles Museum Osaka Ikeda
Take the Hankyu Takarazuka line from Umeda to Ikeda, about 20 minutes, and arrive early on weekends for the workshop.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Food
Street · Tenma
Tenjinbashisuji shopping street
Often called Japan's longest covered shopping street, Tenjinbashisuji runs about 2.6 km north from Osaka Tenmangu shrine past hundreds of local shops, croquette stands, sushi bars and cafés.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Rainy day
Day trips in spring
- Kyoto (About 15–45 minutes by train) — Japan's former imperial capital has Fushimi Inari's torii gates, Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji and the geisha district of Gion.
- Nara (About 40 minutes by train) — Todai-ji's giant bronze Buddha, Kasuga Taisha's lanterns and the free-roaming deer of Nara Park are all within walking distance of Kintetsu Nara Station.
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 Osaka?
Yes: March–May are among the best months. Plum then cherry blossom, mild days and Golden Week crowds in early May.
+What is the weather like in Osaka in spring?
Highs of up to 25°C (77°F) and lows around 6°C (43°F), with about 29 rainy days over the season.