Tokyo
City in Japan
Tokyo is a city in Japan with a population of about 9.6 million people. Visitors explore a variety of landmarks ranging from the Tokyo Imperial Palace and Yasukuni Shrine to modern structures like the Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower.
What to see
The city features several significant architectural and cultural sites. For panoramic views, visitors head to the Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower, or the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Historical and cultural interest points include the Tokyo Imperial Palace, Yasukuni Shrine, St. Mary's Cathedral, and the Tokyo National Museum. The National Museum of Western Art is also located here. For urban experiences, travelers visit Shibuya Crossing, the Ginza district, Roppongi, Akasaka, and the Tsukiji fish market. Transportation hubs like Tokyo Station and the Tokyo Stock Exchange are notable, as are the Rainbow Bridge and Ueno Zoo. The National Diet Building serves as a central landmark.
When to go
Tokyo experiences distinct seasonal changes. Winters are cool, with January and February daily highs between 8 °C and 9 °C and lows near freezing. Spring brings milder temperatures, with highs of 12 °C in March and 21 °C in May, though rainy days increase from 12 days in March to 12 days in May. Summer is warm, peaking in August with a daily high of 30 °C and a low of 24 °C; this period sees significant rain, with up to 18 rainy days in July, August, and September. Autumn cools down, with October highs of 21 °C and November highs of 16 °C, before temperatures drop again in December.
Getting there
The city is served by Tokyo Haneda International Airport, located 15 km away.
Top sights in Tokyo
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 30 °C. The wettest is September, with about 215 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 8 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 21 | 24 | 28 | 30 | 26 | 21 | 16 | 11 |
| Average low, °C | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 21 | 15 | 9 | 3 |
| Rainfall, mm | 52 | 57 | 114 | 125 | 135 | 167 | 152 | 165 | 215 | 199 | 93 | 50 |
| Rainy days | 5 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 11 | 7 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Tokyo (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Hachikō
- NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building
- National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
- National Museum of Nature and Science
- Shinjuku Gyo-en
- Sunshine 60
- The National Art Center, Tokyo