Season guide · Tokyo · Japan
Tokyo in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Kakidai, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Heat and typhoon risk in September give way to clear, comfortable October days and autumn leaves in November. Expect highs up to 27°C (81°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F), with about 29 rainy days across September–November. October–November are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 9°C (48°F) to 27°C (81°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 29
- Sea
- 20°C (68°F) to 26°C (79°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 27°C (81°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 11 | 12.3 h | 3/5 |
| October | 22°C (72°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 10 | 11.2 h | 4/5 |
| November | 17°C (63°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 8 | 10.2 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 22°C (72°F) against a yearly 20°C (68°F), and 29 of the year's roughly 109 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: September Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku (usually mid-September)
- October: Tokyo International Film Festival (usually late October to early November)
- November: Autumn leaves in Rikugien, Shinjuku Gyoen and Meiji Jingu Gaien (usually mid-November to early December)
- November: Tori-no-ichi fairs at Otori shrines (November)
Good choices for autumn
Museum · Ueno
Tokyo National Museum
Japan's oldest and largest museum displays samurai armour and swords, Buddhist sculpture, ukiyo-e prints, kimono and national treasures across several buildings in Ueno Park.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Experience · Toyosu
teamLab Planets
Wear shorts or trousers that roll above the knee, as you will wade through water, and avoid skirts in the mirrored rooms.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Art
- Rainy day
- Photo spot
Museum · Mitaka
Ghibli Museum
Designed by Hayao Miyazaki on the edge of Inokashira Park, this whimsical museum has recreated animation studios, a small cinema showing Ghibli short films seen nowhere else, a giant plush Catbus that young children can climb on, and a robot soldier from Castle in the Sky in the rooftop garden.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Aoyama
Nezu Museum
Visit in late April or May for the iris screen and blooms, or in November for autumn colour in the garden.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Couples
Day trips in autumn
- Nikko (About 2 hours by train) — The richly carved and gilded Toshogu shrine, mausoleum of the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, stands among giant cedars in a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Lake Kawaguchiko and Mount Fuji (About 2 hours by bus or train) — The main town of the Fuji Five Lakes has classic views of Mount Fuji across the water and, nearby, the Chureito Pagoda with Fuji rising behind it.
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 autumn a good time to visit Tokyo?
Yes: October–November are among the best months. Heat and typhoon risk in September give way to clear, comfortable October days and autumn leaves in November.
+What is the weather like in Tokyo in autumn?
Highs of up to 27°C (81°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F), with about 29 rainy days over the season.