Tokyo in January is the city at its clearest, and almost nobody comes.
Weather#
| Typical | |
|---|---|
| Days | ~10°C / 50°F, sunny, dry |
| Nights | ~2°C / 36°F |
| Rain | Lowest of the year |
| Snow | Rare, light, brief |
| Fuji | Visible from the city most mornings |
Best time to visit Japan puts it in context; February is similar.
1 to 3 January#
New Year is Japan's Christmas. Shrines fill for hatsumode, the first visit of the year (Meiji Jingu alone draws millions); many restaurants, shops and museums close from about the 29th to the 3rd; hotel prices peak. If you're here for it, do a shrine at midnight or on the 1st, then eat at a department store or a chain. From the 2nd, department stores reopen with fukubukuro lucky bags and the sales.
Mid-month#
The January sumo tournament runs two weeks from the second Sunday at Ryogoku Kokugikan; tickets go on sale about a month ahead and the cheap upper seats are easy on weekdays. The sales continue. The city is empty of tourists and full of itself.
What to do#
Fuji from a tower or a Hakone day trip on a clear morning, a public bath or onsen, ramen that finally makes sense, the museums, the neighbourhoods on foot in the cold sun. Things to do in Tokyo, the 5-day itinerary.
Pack#
A real coat, layers, a scarf, gloves; it's dry, so an umbrella can stay home. What to wear in Tokyo. Flights and hotels are cheap after the 4th: Tokyo on a budget.
With a Tokyoite#
Hatsumode, a sumo afternoon, a winter izakaya: all better with someone from here. Post your dates on Roavi Community; travellers in Tokyo in January appear together, and Local Friends who live here reply. Rent a Local Friend in Tokyo.
Tokyo in January? Spend an evening with someone who lives there.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
What is the weather like in Tokyo in January?
Cold, dry and sunny: highs around 10°C (50°F), lows around 2°C (36°F), very little rain, and the clearest skies of the year. Wind makes it feel colder. Mount Fuji is visible from Tokyo's towers on most January mornings.Does it snow in Tokyo in January?
Occasionally, once or twice a winter, usually a light fall that melts in a day. Heavy snow that stops trains happens once every few years. Don't plan for it; enjoy it if it comes.Is Tokyo closed over New Year?
Partly, from about 29 December to 3 January: many restaurants, shops, museums and small businesses close while people go home. Shrines are open and packed, department stores reopen on the 2nd with sales and lucky bags, and the city is back to normal from the 4th.Is January a good time to visit Tokyo?
After the 4th, one of the best: clear, dry, uncrowded and cheaper than spring or autumn. The cold is manageable with a coat, and indoor Tokyo (food, museums, baths, shopping) is at its best.
