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Japan in March: weather, what to wear and what's on

In March, average highs in our 14 places with temperature records run from 4.5°C (40°F) in Sapporo to 21.9°C (71°F) in Okinawa (JMA, 1991–2020). Wet days (1 mm or more of rain or snow) range from 8.8 days in Nagoya to 16.7 days in Shirakawa-go.

Updated

21.9°COkinawa
4.5°CSapporo
3.50Mvisitors (2025)

15 places in March

Averages for 1991–2020 at the JMA station in or nearest each place. Hakone has rain records only.

15 places in March: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
PlaceHighLowWet daysDeepest snow
Tokyo14.2°C5.0°C9.2 days—
Kyoto14.1°C4.3°C9.5 days1 cm
Osaka14.2°C6.0°C9.1 days—
Sapporo4.5°C−2.4°C13.9 days82 cm
OkinawaNaha21.9°C16.7°C10.9 days—
Hakonerain only——13.2 days—
Fukuoka15.0°C7.2°C10.1 days—
Nagoya14.5°C4.6°C8.8 days—
Mount FujiKawaguchiko10.5°C−1.3°C9.1 days16 cm
Hiroshima14.5°C5.1°C9.0 days—
Kanazawa11.6°C3.4°C15.7 days7 cm
Nara13.9°C3.6°C9.9 days—
NikkoImaichi10.5°C−0.5°C9.1 days—
Takayama9.8°C−1.6°C13.0 days18 cm
Shirakawa-goShirakawa8.3°C−2.3°C16.7 days125 cm
White cherry blossoms in bloom on a branch with young green leaves
Photo: Flower viewing custom, Japan; April 2014 (03).jpg by erikjohansson (CC BY 2.0, cropped), via Wikimedia Commons.

What to wear in March

How we choose: from the JMA's average high and low for March, by our own rules.

Our clothing level for each place in March (from the JMA's averages)
LevelAverage highWhat to wearPlaces
Mild20 to 25°CLong sleeves, or a T-shirt with a light jacket or cardigan.Okinawa 21.9°C
Cool15 to 20°CLong sleeves with a light jacket or sweater.Fukuoka 15.0°C
Chilly10 to 15°CA warm jacket or light coat over a sweater.Tokyo 14.2°C, Kyoto 14.1°C, Osaka 14.2°C, Nagoya 14.5°C, Mount Fuji 10.5°C, Hiroshima 14.5°C, Kanazawa 11.6°C, Nara 13.9°C and Nikko 10.5°C
Cold5 to 10°CA winter coat over layers, and a scarf.Takayama 9.8°C and Shirakawa-go 8.3°C
Freezingunder 5°CA heavy winter coat (down or similar), thermal underwear, a hat, gloves and a scarf.Sapporo 4.5°C

Flowers and autumn colour in March

Flowers and leaves in March: average dates for 1991–2020 and 2026 (JMA sample trees)
PlaceWhatAverage date2026
TokyoCherry blossom24 March19 March
KyotoCherry blossom26 March23 March
OsakaCherry blossom27 March26 March
FukuokaCherry blossom22 March24 March
NagoyaCherry blossom24 March17 March
HiroshimaCherry blossom25 March19 March
NaraCherry blossom28 March24 March

Dates are for one sample tree at or near the JMA observatory, not for every park in the city.

Holidays, visitors and crowds in March

National holidays in March 2027:

  • Sun 21 March — Vernal Equinox Day
  • Mon 22 March — Substitute holiday
  • Sat 20 March to Mon 22 March: 3 days off in a row

Every Nozomi on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen is reserved-seat only on Sat 20 March – Mon 22 March (JR Central and JR West).

3,497,755 visitors arrived in Japan in March 2025. The most came from South Korea (691,725), China (661,817) and Taiwan (522,886) (JNTO).

Visitor arrivals to Japan in 2025, month by month (millions)

Jan3.78
Feb3.26
Mar3.50
Apr3.91
May3.69
Jun3.38
Jul3.44
Aug3.43
Sep3.27
Oct3.90
Nov3.52
Dec3.62

How full hotels were in March 2025, by prefecture (%)

Average room occupancy for all hotels and inns. Japan as a whole: 61.1%.

Osaka Prefecture76.8%
Tokyo76.3%
Fukuoka Prefecture72.4%
Aichi Prefecture68.0%
Kanagawa Prefecture67.3%
Kyoto Prefecture66.7%
Hiroshima Prefecture64.1%
Okinawa Prefecture59.6%
Ishikawa Prefecture56.1%
Hokkaido55.2%
Tochigi Prefecture54.9%
Gifu Prefecture53.6%
Nara Prefecture53.2%
Yamanashi Prefecture41.2%

What's on in March

Events in March in our 15 places: dates from each organizer's official page
EventPlaceWhen
Tokyo Marathon東京マラソンTokyoEarly March, on a Sunday: 7 March in 2027 (1 March in 2026) Official page
Chiyoda Cherry Blossom Festival (Chiyoda no Sakura Matsuri)千代田のさくらまつりTokyoEarly March to late April: 5 March to 22 April in 2026. The night illumination at Chidorigafuchi usually runs from late March to early April. Official page
Special Night Viewing at Kiyomizu-dera清水寺 夜間特別拝観KyotoThree periods a year. In 2026: spring 27 March to 5 April, summer 14 to 16 August, autumn 21 to 30 November. Official page
Nagashi-bina (Floating Hina Dolls) at Shimogamo Shrine下鴨神社 流し雛KyotoEarly March: 3 March in 2026 Official page
Nehan-e and Saga Otaimatsu-shiki (Torch Ceremony) at Seiryo-ji涅槃会と嵯峨お松明式（清凉寺）Kyoto15 March: Nehan-e from 19:00 and the torch ceremony from about 20:00 Official page
Grand Sumo March Tournament (Osaka Basho)大相撲三月場所（大阪）OsakaMid-March, Sunday to Sunday: 8 to 22 March in 2026 and 14 to 28 March in 2027 Official page
Spring Higan-e at Shitenno-ji四天王寺 春季彼岸会OsakaSeven days around the spring equinox: 18 to 24 March in the 2027 schedule Official page
Sapporo White IlluminationさっぽろホワイトイルミネーションSapporoLate November to mid-March; each site has its own end date (20 November 2026 to 14 March 2027) Official page
Juri-uma Festival (Tsuji, Naha)じゅり馬まつりOkinawaEarly March (8 March in 2026) Official page
Yutate Shishimai (Hot-Water Lion Dance) at Sengokuhara Suwa Shrine仙石原湯立獅子舞HakoneEvery year on 27 March; the page says the festival date is fixed on 27 March Official page
Fukuoka Castle Sakura Festival福岡城さくらまつりFukuokaLate March to early April (25 March to 8 April in 2026) Official page
Nagoya Women's Marathon名古屋ウィメンズマラソンNagoyaMid-March (14 March in 2027) Official page
Nagoya Castle Cherry Blossom Festival名古屋城桜まつりNagoyaLate March to early April (20 March to 5 April in 2026) Official page
Fuji-Kawaguchiko Sakura Festival富士・河口湖さくら祭りMount FujiFrom late March to mid-April (28 March to 15 April in 2026) Official page
Hiroshima Minato Festa広島みなとフェスタHiroshimaA weekend in mid-March (14 and 15 March in 2026) Official page
Miyajima Kiyomori Festival宮島清盛まつりHiroshimaLate March (28 March in 2027) Official page
Yukitsuri (snow ropes) at Kenroku-en兼六園雪吊り作業KanazawaWork starts on 1 November every year and continues to about mid-December; the ropes can be seen until mid-March Official page
Shuni-e (Omizutori) at Todai-ji東大寺 修二会（お水取り）Nara1 to 14 March (2026 schedule). The Omizutori water-drawing rite takes place around 1:30 a.m. after the 12th. Official page
Yumitori Doji (boys' archery ritual)弓取り童子NikkoA Sunday in mid-March (8 March in 2026) Official page
Iwasaki Kannon Grand Festival岩崎観世音大祭NikkoThe last Sunday of March (29 March in 2026) Official page
Imaichi Night Market (Imaichi Yoichi)今市夜市NikkoMid-March (13 and 14 March in 2027) Official page
Winter Illumination in Takayama (Nakabashi Bridge)冬の飛騨高山ライトアップTakayamaFrom 1 December to mid-March, 16:30 to 21:30 (last season: 1 December 2025 to 15 March 2026) Official page
Hida Takayama Hina Doll Festival飛騨高山雛まつりTakayamaFrom 1 March to 3 April (2026 dates); the Hida region celebrates the Doll Festival one month later than usual Official page
Snow season in Shirakawa-go白川郷の降雪期Shirakawa-goSnow falls from late December to early March Official page

Other months

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Japan in March?

In March, average highs in our 14 places with temperature records run from 4.5°C (40°F) in Sapporo to 21.9°C (71°F) in Okinawa (JMA, 1991–2020). Wet days (1 mm or more of rain or snow) range from 8.8 days in Nagoya to 16.7 days in Shirakawa-go.

Where is warmest in Japan in March?

Of our 14 places with temperature records, Okinawa is warmest with an average high of 21.9°C (71°F). Next come Fukuoka at 15.0°C and Nagoya at 14.5°C (JMA, 1991–2020).

Where can I see snow in Japan in March?

Snow lies on the ground for 5 days or more in an average March in Sapporo, Mount Fuji, Takayama and Shirakawa-go (JMA, 1991–2020).

Is March a busy month to visit Japan?

3,497,755 visitors arrived in March 2025, the 7th highest month of the year (JNTO). Hotels across Japan were 61.1% full (8th of 12 months, Japan Tourism Agency).

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Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 2, 2026