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Updated: March 15, 2024

Is April a good time to visit Tokyo?

April is one of the best times to visit Tokyo. There are many festivals to enjoy in April, including those that celebrate nature and the glorious coming of spring.

What is the weather like in Tokyo in April?

The average temperature is around 19.4°C (66.9°F) during the day, and 9.8°C (49.6°F) at night. With the cold days of winter over, the weather is mild, and perfect for outdoor activities. April may have some windy days, so it's good to carry scarves and a parka with you.

Best events, festivals, and other things to do in April

Cherry Blossom Festival

Cherry blossoms are a top highlight of Tokyo in early April. Hugely popular events include Ueno Park's Ueno Sakura Matsuri, the Sumida Park Sakura Festival, and the Chiyoda Cherry Blossom Festival which takes place along the Chidorigafuchi walkway to the west of the Imperial Palace. Petals dance in the air as they fall like snow, and float on the surface of rivers, creating quintessential spring scenes.

Photo courtesy of Chiyoda City Tourism Association

 

Meiji Jingu Shrine Spring Grand Festival

Meiji Jingu Shrine, in Harajuku, honors the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, who oversaw the modernization of Japan in the 19th century. Its annual Spring Grand Festival, held in late April or early May, features various traditional performances. Bugaku (a type of dance first performed at the ancient imperial court), noh and kyogen theater, and sankyoku chamber music, and more, are performed by Japan's top artists in their fields.

 

Asakusa Yabusame (Horseback archery)

Asakusa Yabusame is a traditional event that takes place in Sumida Park. It's a great opportunity to see an exciting ancient tradition in action. Archers on horseback, dressed in traditional hunting attire, strike a series of targets with arrows as they gallop past.

 

Mt. Takao Annual Spring Festival

Mt. Takao is one of Tokyo's most popular natural retreats. Its annual spring festival is held at Takao-san Yakuo-in, a Buddhist temple located halfway up the mountain. You can see a goma fire ritual and a parade of children in fancy dress.

 

Japan Hobby Show

Japan Hobby Show is an annual showcase of world-class handmade objects that is held at Tokyo Big Sight in late April. Craft-loving hobbyists can browse a wide range of materials and tools for sewing, knitting, and more. Many creators display and sell their work at the show, so it's the perfect place to pick up a one-of-a-kind item. Visitors can also choose from over 100 hands-on workshops.

 

Daidai Kagura Ritual

Daidai Kagura, a designated Intangible Cultural Property of Tokyo, is a traditional ritual performed at Shinagawa-jinja Shrine. It is said to have originated with an offering made by military leader Tokugawa Ieyasu in the year 1600. At that time, he came to pray for victory at the crucial Battle of Sekigahara. Four performances of Daidai Kagura are held each year, in conjunction with various festivals. Six dance numbers are presented during Shinagawa-jinja Shrine's Spring Festival in April—that's the highest number of these dances performed in a single festival.

 

Kameido Tenjin Shrine Wisteria Festival

Many people think of Kameido Tenjin Shrine as the best place to view wisteria in the whole of Tokyo. The wisteria begins to bloom in early to mid-April, while the shrine's wisteria festival runs throughout April. Beautiful lavender-colored flowers swaying in the spring breeze make for great memories.

 

Tsutsuji Matsuri (Bunkyo Azalea Festival)

Nezu-jinja Shrine is said to date back 1,900 years. Its 300-year-old azalea garden, which covers 6,600 square meters, features about 3,000 azalea plants in 100 varieties. Rare examples include fuji-tsutsuji (tiny flowers), hanaguruma (pinwheel-like flowers), and karafune ("black" azaleas). You can also enjoy a plant fair, an antique fair, and many outdoor stalls.

Event on This Month

 

Calendar

January January in Tokyo speaks of traditions. Start the New Year in good spirits and head to a temple or shrine for Hatsumode on January 1 and pray like the locals do for peace and good health. Some begin their sojourn the night before on New Year's Eve to hear temple bells chime 108 times as the new year dawns, but Hatsumode is drawn out and takes place over 2-3 days.
February Tokyo's festival and event card is varied in February. Visit Tokyo at this time of year and you'll be witness to festivals and events that honor ume (plum blossoms), banish devils, celebrate the efforts of runners and see an unusual take on Valentine's Day—only men are supposed to receive chocolate.
March Temperatures and moods begin to thaw in March, the month heralding the start of spring. While cherry blossoms or sakura appear at month's end and are eagerly awaited, the rest of March offers much to see and do.
April April in Tokyo is blooming marvelous. Many of spring's events have a floral focus, with the highly anticipated Sakura or cherry blossom season reigning supreme. Join in the hanami or flower viewing parties all over the city.
May May festivals and events begin with the latter half of cluster of Golden Week holidays. Greenery or Arbor Day (May 4) sees entry fees waived in many of the cities parks and gardens, while Children's Day (May 5) heralds the arrival of brightly colored carp or koi streamers festooned around the city.
June Visit Tokyo in June, and the weather begins to get steamy. Rainy season arrives, but not all days are marked by wet weather. Embrace the increasing humidity with the official opening of Tokyo's many beer gardens and imbibe in a glass of your favorite ale. From the lofty heights of the beer garden atop Mt. Takao to the elegant surrounds of Meiji Kinenkan, you'll find a beer garden for every occasion.
July From the booming sound of fireworks lighting up the night sky to the soothing sounds of fuurin wind chimes tinkling in the breeze, July in Tokyo is a sensory experience. Festivals and events ranging from spectacular fireworks shows and ancestral bon odori rites to the sonic wizardry of summer music festivals that attract the best of domestic and international artists.
August August sees Tokyo at it’s hottest, but a continuing cascade of fireworks, traditional obon dances, multicolored tanabata lantern events, and the height of official water park and beach season all provide welcome distractions.
September September means sayonara, or goodbye, to the soaring heat of summer. Nights begin to cool and temperatures become more bearable, but these changes also see the occasional typhoon. Many of the city’s beer gardens remain open, however, a reminder that there’s still fun to be had outdoors yet.
October October, the height of autumn, is one of the best times of year to visit Tokyo. From ongoing traditional festivals to art and cultural soirees to culinary-focused events celebrating the bounty of the season—the city's event card is full.
November Visit November in Tokyo and shade yourself in hues of yellow, orange, red and golden brown. With seasonal foliage at its finest, the month sees the arrival of Koyo, or changing autumn leaves. Bask in the rich-jeweled tones of the season at Rikugien Gardens—at night the grounds are illuminated—or delight in the vibrant yellows of the city's numerous ginko trees.
December Tokyo is dazzling in December–literally–when the city lights up with illuminations. The dark nights are an ideal canvas for intricate and elaborate light displays and the illuminations are a signature winter sight.

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