August is Tokyo at full heat and full festival. Come for the second and plan around the first.
Weather#
| Typical | |
|---|---|
| Days | ~31–34°C / 88–93°F, humid |
| Nights | ~24°C / 75°F |
| Rain | Thunderstorms; first typhoons possible |
| Humidity | The year's highest |
Obon, around 13 to 16 August#
Japan goes home. Shinkansen and regional hotels book out; some small shops and restaurants close for a few days; Tokyo gets quieter and the big sights stay open. Stay in the city, reserve any train weeks ahead, and join a Bon odori dance in a neighbourhood park, which is the festival's gentle side.
What's on#
- Bon dances in parks and temple grounds all month; anyone can join the circle.
- Fireworks: Edogawa, Jingu Gaien and others through the month.
- Koenji Awa Odori, the last weekend: ten thousand dancers through the streets of Koenji, the best thing in Tokyo's summer.
- Asakusa Samba Carnival, late August.
- Comiket at Big Sight, mid-month, if that's your world.
The heat and the typhoons#
Mornings and evenings outside, afternoons in the air conditioning: museums, department stores, arcades, a long lunch, a sento. One flexible day in the plan for a typhoon; if one comes, the city shuts trains for a day and reopens. Things to do, the 5-day itinerary rearranged around the sun.
Escaping#
Nikko, Hakone, the Fuji Five Lakes, Kamakura's beaches (day trips). Fuji's climbing season ends early September.
Prices#
Moderate, higher around Obon. Where to stay with good air conditioning; Tokyo on a budget.
Pack#
Lightest clothes, hat, towel, fan, a layer for indoor cold. What to wear in Tokyo.
Awa Odori with a local#
Koenji on the last weekend, a Bon dance in a park, a festival yakitori stand: a Tokyoite knows the corner to stand on. Post your dates on Roavi Community and a Local Friend can take you.
Tokyo in August? Dance at a Bon odori with someone who lives there.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
How hot is Tokyo in August?
The hottest month: highs around 31 to 34°C (88 to 93°F), sometimes higher, lows around 24°C (75°F), with humidity that makes it feel more. Nights barely cool. Afternoons outdoors are hard; mornings and evenings are fine.What is Obon and does it affect a Tokyo trip?
A Buddhist festival honouring ancestors, around 13 to 16 August, when Japanese people travel to their hometowns. Shinkansen and hotels outside Tokyo fill; some family-run shops and restaurants close for a few days; Tokyo itself is a little quieter. Stay in the city that week and reserve any trains well ahead.Is August typhoon season in Tokyo?
It's the start: typhoons can affect Tokyo from August to October, most often in September. Most Augusts pass with heat and thunderstorms only. Keep one flexible day, watch the forecast, and expect trains to stop if one hits.What is Koenji Awa Odori?
Tokyo's biggest dance festival, the last weekend of August in Koenji: ten thousand dancers in troupes parading through the streets to drums and flutes, a million spectators, free. The best single thing in Tokyo's summer.
