"Janvier est le mois le plus calme à Tokyo : foule réduite, tarifs d'hébergement au plus bas, musées tranquilles. Les journées froides mais ensoleillées sont parfaites pour explorer les temples de l'ouest (Hachioji, Takao-san) vides de touristes."
Expert on Tokyo · 1 contributions
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Japan Desk — Mowando·Editor
Japan Desk — Mowando·EditorThe best periods
The best time to visit Tokyo is March-May (cherry blossoms) and October-November (autumn colours).
Mar, Avr, Mai
Printemps — sakura et douceur
- ✅Floraison des cerisiers (fin mars–début avril) : les parcs d'Ueno, Shinjuku Gyoen et Chidorigafuchi se couvrent de rose
- ✅Températures idéales (10-20 °C), parfaites pour arpenter les quartiers à pied
- ✅Atmosphère festive lors des hanami : pique-niques sous les cerisiers dans tout Tokyo
- ❌La semaine de floraison attire des foules massives dans les parcs les plus célèbres
- ❌Hébergements plus chers en période sakura, réservez des mois à l'avance
- ❌La Golden Week (fin avril–début mai) sature tous les transports et les sites
Jui, Aoû
Été — chaleur humide et festivals
- ✅Festivals de plein air (matsuri), feux d'artifice spectaculaires sur la Sumida
- ✅Longues soirées animées dans les izakaya et les marchés nocturnes
- ❌Chaleur étouffante (30-35 °C) avec une humidité supérieure à 80 % — inconfort marqué
- ❌Typhons possibles de fin août à mi-septembre, perturbant les transports
- ❌Haute saison touristique internationale, hébergements au prix fort
Oct, Nov
Automne — momiji et lumière dorée
- ✅Feuillage automnal (momiji) : érables rouges et gingkos dorés dans les temples et parcs
- ✅Températures agréables (15-22 °C), ciel souvent bleu et dégagé
- ✅Saison gastronomique d'exception : matsutake, sanma, kuri, sake nouveau
- ❌Parcs et temples très fréquentés aux pics de couleur (mi-novembre)
- ❌Jours plus courts à partir de novembre
Month-by-month climate
Temperatures, rainfall and sunshine in Tokyo across the 12 months.
| Jan | Fév | Mar | Avr | Mai | Juin | Jui | Aoû | Sep | Oct | Nov | Déc | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min | 2° | 3° | 6° | 11° | 16° | 20° | 24° | 25° | 21° | 15° | 9° | 4° |
| Max | 10° | 12° | 16° | 19° | 23° | 26° | 31° | 32° | 27° | 21° | 17° | 13° |
| Mer | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pluie | 52mm | 56mm | 117mm | 125mm | 138mm | 168mm | 154mm | 168mm | 210mm | 197mm | 93mm | 40mm |
| Soleil/j | 6.1h | 6.8h | 6.5h | 6.6h | 7.1h | 5.4h | 6.3h | 6.5h | 5.2h | 5.7h | 5.8h | 5.8h |
Tourist crowds
Monthly attendance levels (0 = empty, 100 = saturated).
Jan
35
Fév
38
Mar
65
Avr
88
Mai
75
Jui
55
Jui
60
Aoû
58
Sep
50
Oct
70
Nov
80
Déc
50
Average flight prices
Average round-trip Paris → Tokyo by month.
Jan
$702
Fév
$724
Mar
$842
Avr
$1,026
Mai
$886
Jui
$756
Jui
$810
Aoû
$788
Sep
$734
Oct
$864
Nov
$929
Déc
$778
Frequently asked questions
How many days should I plan for Tokyo?+
Five days is the realistic minimum to cover the essential neighbourhoods: Asakusa and Senso-ji (one day), Shibuya, Shinjuku and Harajuku (one day), Ginza and Tsukiji (half a day), Akihabara and Ueno (one day), and the quieter neighbourhoods like Yanaka and Daikanyama (one day). With 7-10 days you can add day trips to Kamakura (giant Buddha, Zen temples), Nikko (Tokugawa mausoleum in the forest) or an overnight stop at the foot of Mount Fuji in Hakone.
Is the JR Pass worth buying?+
The JR Pass (sold only outside Japan) is essential if you plan to travel by Shinkansen. For a trip focused solely on Tokyo, it may not pay for itself — calculate your planned journeys before buying. If you're travelling from Tokyo to Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima or Kyushu, the 7-day JR Pass (around €350) pays for itself after two Tokyo-Kyoto round trips by Shinkansen. Within Tokyo, the metro networks (Toei, Tokyo Metro) plus the JR Yamanote Line, all payable with a rechargeable Suica or Pasmo IC card, are more than sufficient.
Which Tokyo neighbourhood should I stay in?+
Shinjuku is the all-round choice: hyperconnected, lively at all hours, with accommodation ranging from capsule hotels to five-star towers. Asakusa is ideal for traditional Tokyo immersion, with accessible ryokan and a calm atmosphere. Shibuya suits travellers who want shopping, dining and nightlife in a compact area. Akihabara and Ueno are central and often cheaper. Avoid staying in Narita city (60 km from Tokyo) unless you need an airport overnight.
When is the best time to visit Tokyo?+
March-April (cherry blossoms) and October-November (autumn colours) are the two ideal windows. The cherry blossom season — which falls between late March and mid-April, varying by year — is one of the most beautiful natural spectacles on the planet, though it draws major crowds. Book flights and accommodation six months ahead if sakura is your goal. November is often the most comfortable month: mild temperatures, clear skies and brilliant foliage. Avoid July-August: intense humid heat, possible typhoons, very limited comfort.
Is the language barrier really a problem in Tokyo?+
Much less than you'd fear. Metro stations are displayed in roman characters (romaji), restaurant menus often include photos, and Google Translate with the live camera cuts through most signage instantly. Tokyoites are remarkably helpful even without a shared language. Hotels of 3-star level and above all have English-speaking staff. Learn a few polite phrases (arigatou gozaimasu, sumimasen) — they transform the quality of every interaction.
How do I get around Tokyo?+
The metro is by far the best option. Tokyo has two complementary networks (Tokyo Metro and Toei) covering 285 stations, supplemented by JR lines (including the Yamanote Line, a loop of the central wards) and several private railways. A rechargeable Suica or Pasmo IC card (available from station machines) works across all networks without buying individual tickets. Taxis are expensive (¥5-8 per km in central zones) and rarely useful. Docomo bike share works well for flatter neighbourhoods like Shinjuku Gyoen or Yanaka.
Where should I eat authentic sushi in Tokyo?+
The Tsukiji outer market remains the reference for morning sushi — a dozen family-run counters open from 6 or 7am at reasonable prices (¥1,500-3,000). For a premium experience, the sushi counters in Ginza (Saito, Kyubey) offer omakase menus from ¥15,000 per person. The good news: even conveyor-belt kaiten-sushi chains (Sushiro, Kura Sushi) offer quality that far outstrips anything available outside Japan, for roughly €10-15 per person. For the full high-end experience without the lottery system, try a mid-range neighbourhood sushi-ya in Shibuya or Shinjuku — excellent quality, no 6-month wait.
Which sights require advance booking in Tokyo?+
Several: the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka issues tickets by monthly lottery through the Lawson convenience store system (tickets go on sale on the 10th of the preceding month, Japanese credit card required — use a ticket agent service from abroad). teamLab Planets and teamLab Borderless require online advance booking. The Tokyo Skytree is walk-up but worth pre-booking at busy periods. Top-end sushi and kaiseki restaurants should be reserved weeks or months ahead via TableCheck or a hotel concierge. Most temples, including Senso-ji, are walk-up and free.
Our verdict
Tokyo is a city that rewards preparation and repays that preparation a hundredfold. Nowhere else combines total urban safety with the world's highest density of great food, relentless cultural creativity and a standard of hospitality — the Japanese concept of omotenashi — that makes every interaction memorable. The jet lag, the cost and the distance are the only real obstacles to what stands as one of the most extraordinary travel experiences available. Come in March-April for the cherry blossoms or November for the autumn colours, base yourself in Shinjuku or Asakusa, buy a JR Pass and let Tokyo surprise you at every street corner.
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ActivitéSans queueActivités au Japon
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