Spring in Japan 2023: Traveling, Clothing, and Weather in March-May
Spring in Japan spans from March to May. This article contains information on the weather and the best things to do in Japan in the spring. Enjoy your trip to the fullest by viewing cherry blossoms and taking part in spring festivals and events!
Spring is an exciting season in Japan, with sakura (cherry blossoms), fresh green and plenty of beautiful things to see, as well as delicious seasonal treats. Also, in Japan, both the school year and business year start in April: spring is a season full of new meetings, activities, and liveliness.
Spring in Japan is generally a three-month period, from March to May.
In March, temperatures in Tokyo are an average of 13 degrees during the afternoon, and 5 degrees Celsius during the morning and evening. In April, afternoon temperatures reach an average of 18.5 degrees, while temperatures in the morning and night are around 10.5 degrees Celsius.
In May, we can experience around 23 degrees Celsius during the afternoon, with temperatures decreasing to around 15 degrees in the evenings and mornings.
Even though it’s spring, during the first half of the season there are mostly cold days, while the second half has plenty of sunny days with clear weather.
The cherry blossoms of the Somei Yoshino type, the most popular in Japan, are expected to bloom a little earlier than usual in 2023. The first blooms will probably be seen in Tokyo around March 20, in Kyoto around March 25, and in Fukuoka around March 21. For details on forecasts for each region, please refer to our article on cherry blossom regional forecast for 2023.
One of the highlights of the season is definitely cherry blossoms. They bloom in parks, along the roads, on the mountains or along riversides. Sakura trees planted in various places all burst into a light pink at the same time.
The time that the sakura bloom depends on each year’s climate, but usually around March the cherry blossoms slowly start blossoming from the southern regions of Japan, working their way up to the northern areas.
The average time for the sakura to bloom is late April in Hokkaido, and they should be in full bloom by early May.
In the Tokyo area, cherry blossoms will start blooming around March 15 and should be in full bloom until late March.
In Osaka, the cherry blossoms will start blooming around March 19 and should be in full bloom by March 25.
In Kyoto, the dates for blooming are March 19 and the flowers are expected to be in full bloom until the end of March.
As the time the cherry blossoms are actually in bloom is not very long, you should plan your trip while taking a look at this year’s cherry blossom forecast.
Sakura trees are gorgeous when they are in full bloom, but they are just as beautiful when the petals begin falling. It looks like snowfall. The cherry blossoms can be viewed not only during the day but also in the evening. This is called yozakura (night-time sakura viewing) and is another way of enjoying the beauty f these blooms.
