Season guide · Tokyo · Japan
Tokyo in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Akonnchiroll, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Cold, dry and sunny, with illuminations, New Year traditions, plum blossom in February and clear views of Mount Fuji. Expect highs up to 12°C (54°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 16 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 1°C (34°F) to 12°C (54°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 16
- Sea
- 14°C (57°F) to 17°C (63°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10°C (50°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 5 | 10 h | 2/5 |
| February | 11°C (52°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 6 | 10.8 h | 2/5 |
| December | 12°C (54°F) | 4°C (39°F) | 5 | 9.8 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 11°C (52°F) against a yearly 20°C (68°F), and 16 of the year's roughly 109 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Hatsumode New Year shrine visits, busiest at Meiji Jingu (1–3 January)
- January: January Grand Sumo Tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan (usually mid-January)
- February: Setsubun bean-throwing at temples and shrines (around 3 February)
- February: Plum blossom festivals at Yushima Tenjin and other shrines (February to early March)
- December: Winter illuminations in Marunouchi, Roppongi and elsewhere (usually mid-November to December)
- December: New Year's Eve temple bells (31 December)
Good choices for winter
Museum · Mitaka
Ghibli Museum
Walk to the museum through Inokashira Park from Kichijoji Station, about 15 minutes.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Aoyama
Nezu Museum
At the end of Omotesando, Kengo Kuma's bamboo-lined building houses a private collection of Japanese and East Asian art, and behind it lies a hilly garden of ponds, stone lanterns and teahouses.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Couples
Museum · Ueno
Tokyo National Museum
Start in the main Honkan building for an overview of Japanese art, then save the dimly lit Horyuji gallery for a quiet finish.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Experience · Toyosu
teamLab Planets
In this immersive digital-art museum you walk barefoot through rooms of knee-deep water, mirrored light installations and a garden of suspended orchids, with artworks that respond to your movement.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Art
- Rainy day
- Photo spot
Day trips in winter
- 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.
- Yokohama (About 30 minutes by train) — Japan's second-largest city has the country's largest Chinatown, the Minato Mirai waterfront with the Cup Noodles Museum, the red-brick warehouses on the harbour and the traditional Sankeien garden.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Tokyo?
It is a trade-off: Cold, dry and sunny, with illuminations, New Year traditions, plum blossom in February and clear views of Mount Fuji. The best months overall are March–May and October–November.
+What is the weather like in Tokyo in winter?
Highs of up to 12°C (54°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 16 rainy days over the season.