Japan by month
Japan in May
Warm, green and comfortable (Tokyo around 24°C by day) once Golden Week ends on 5 May. Cherry blossoms reach Sapporo in early May, while Okinawa's rainy season begins.
What May is like
May is one of Japan's most comfortable months. Tokyo averages 23.6°C by day and 14.6°C at night, with fresh green leaves everywhere. Humidity is still low on the mainland.
Okinawa's rainy season starts around 10 May, and southern Kyushu's around 30 May. Hokkaido finally warms up, with Sapporo averaging 17.9°C.
Where to go in May
Hokkaido has its cherry blossoms around 1 May in Sapporo and into mid-May further east. Around the Fuji Five Lakes, the Fuji Shibazakura Festival carpets the ground with pink moss phlox from mid-April to late May.
In Kyoto, the Aoi Matsuri procession on 15 May is one of the city's three great festivals. The Japanese Alps open up: the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route's snow walls are a famous sight in spring.
Golden Week and how to avoid it
Golden Week (29 April to 5 May) is the busiest travel week in Japan, with packed trains and hotel prices up to double. The weeks after it are the opposite: quiet, good value and with great weather.
Mid to late May is one of the best value times of the year: no Japanese holidays, low crowds and long, mild days.
Festivals and events
Typical weather in May
Average daily high and low and total rainfall for the month (1991–2020). Tap a city for its 7-day forecast.
| City | High | Low | Rain (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sapporo | 18°C | 9°C | 56 |
| Asahikawa | 19°C | 6°C | 67 |
| Kushiro | 13°C | 5°C | 116 |
| Aomori | 19°C | 9°C | 77 |
| Akita | 20°C | 11°C | 125 |
| Sendai | 20°C | 12°C | 110 |
| Niigata | 21°C | 13°C | 94 |
| Kanazawa | 22°C | 14°C | 138 |
| Tokyo | 24°C | 15°C | 140 |
| Utsunomiya | 23°C | 13°C | 149 |
| Nagano | 23°C | 11°C | 69 |
| Nagoya | 25°C | 15°C | 150 |
| Osaka | 25°C | 16°C | 137 |
| Takamatsu | 25°C | 15°C | 101 |
| Matsue | 23°C | 14°C | 130 |
| Hiroshima | 24°C | 15°C | 170 |
| Kochi | 25°C | 16°C | 280 |
| Fukuoka | 24°C | 16°C | 134 |
| Kagoshima | 26°C | 17°C | 205 |
| Amami | 26°C | 20°C | 278 |
| Naha | 27°C | 22°C | 245 |
| Ishigaki | 29°C | 24°C | 191 |
Tips
- Avoid travelling between 29 April and 5 May if you can. If not, book trains and hotels as early as possible.
- UV is strong in May even when it feels cool. Wear sunscreen and a hat.
- Bring a light jacket for Hokkaido and the mountains, where evenings are still cool.
Questions travellers ask
Is May a good time to visit Japan?
Yes, after Golden Week ends on 5 May. The weather is warm and dry, and crowds are low until summer.
Are there cherry blossoms in May?
Yes, in Hokkaido. Sapporo's average flowering date is 1 May, and eastern Hokkaido blooms in mid-May.
When does the rainy season start?
In Okinawa around 10 May, southern Kyushu around 30 May, and Tokyo and Osaka around 6–7 June.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.
All 12 months7-day forecasts for 22 cities
Facts checked 23 October 2026