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

In April, average highs in our 14 places with temperature records run from 11.7°C (53°F) in Sapporo to 24.3°C (76°F) in Okinawa (JMA, 1991–2020). Wet days (1 mm or more of rain or snow) range from 8.5 days at Mount Fuji to 13.2 days in Shirakawa-go.

Updated

24.3°COkinawa
11.7°CSapporo
3.91Mvisitors (2025)

15 places in April

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

15 places in April: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
PlaceHighLowWet daysDeepest snow
Tokyo19.4°C9.8°C9.5 days—
Kyoto20.1°C9.2°C9.4 days—
Osaka19.9°C10.9°C9.2 days—
Sapporo11.7°C3.4°C9.6 days22 cm
OkinawaNaha24.3°C19.1°C10.3 days—
Hakonerain only——12.7 days—
Fukuoka19.9°C11.5°C9.7 days—
Nagoya20.1°C9.7°C9.4 days—
Mount FujiKawaguchiko16.1°C3.7°C8.5 days4 cm
Hiroshima19.8°C10.1°C8.8 days—
Kanazawa17.3°C8.2°C12.0 days—
Nara19.8°C8.7°C9.6 days—
NikkoImaichi16.1°C4.6°C10.9 days—
Takayama17.0°C3.4°C11.0 days2 cm
Shirakawa-goShirakawa15.6°C2.7°C13.2 days32 cm
Cherry trees in bloom at Sumida Park, with people sitting on a red checkered mat and a tall tower in the background
Photo: Cherry blossoms in full bloom 墨田公園.jpg by Souka Kinmei (CC BY 4.0, cropped), via Wikimedia Commons.

What to wear in April

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

Our clothing level for each place in April (from the JMA's averages)
LevelAverage highWhat to wearPlaces
Mild20 to 25°CLong sleeves, or a T-shirt with a light jacket or cardigan.Kyoto 20.1°C, Okinawa 24.3°C and Nagoya 20.1°C
Cool15 to 20°CLong sleeves with a light jacket or sweater.Tokyo 19.4°C, Osaka 19.9°C, Fukuoka 19.9°C, Mount Fuji 16.1°C, Hiroshima 19.8°C, Kanazawa 17.3°C, Nara 19.8°C, Nikko 16.1°C, Takayama 17.0°C and Shirakawa-go 15.6°C
Chilly10 to 15°CA warm jacket or light coat over a sweater.Sapporo 11.7°C

Flowers and autumn colour in April

Flowers and leaves in April: average dates for 1991–2020 and 2026 (JMA sample trees)
PlaceWhatAverage date2026
KyotoCherry blossom26 March23 March
OsakaCherry blossom27 March26 March
SapporoPlum blossom29 April18 April
NagoyaCherry blossom24 March17 March
HiroshimaCherry blossom25 March19 March
KanazawaCherry blossom3 April29 March
NaraCherry blossom28 March24 March

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

Rainy season and typhoons in April

Typhoons in April: on average 0.6 form and 0.2 come within 300 km of Japan (JMA, 1991–2020).

Holidays, visitors and crowds in April

National holidays in April 2027:

  • Thu 29 April — Showa Day

3,909,128 visitors arrived in Japan in April 2025. The most came from China (765,189), South Korea (721,672) and Taiwan (537,638) (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 April 2025, by prefecture (%)

Average room occupancy for all hotels and inns. Japan as a whole: 61.4%.

Osaka Prefecture81.0%
Tokyo79.4%
Kyoto Prefecture73.9%
Fukuoka Prefecture73.8%
Aichi Prefecture72.8%
Kanagawa Prefecture71.2%
Hiroshima Prefecture67.5%
Okinawa Prefecture60.5%
Ishikawa Prefecture59.8%
Gifu Prefecture59.5%
Nara Prefecture58.2%
Tochigi Prefecture54.7%
Hokkaido46.3%
Yamanashi Prefecture45.2%

What's on in April

Events in April in our 15 places: dates from each organizer's official page
EventPlaceWhen
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
Miyako Odori都をどりKyotoEvery April: 1 to 30 April in 2027 Official page
Yasurai Matsuri at Imamiya Shrine今宮神社 やすらい祭KyotoThe second Sunday of April; the shrine's page lists about 15:00 Official page
Cherry Blossom Passage at the Japan Mint (Sakura no Toorinuke)造幣局 桜の通り抜けOsakaAbout one week in early to mid April: 9 to 15 April in 2026 Official page
Cherry blossoms in Sapporo (Maruyama Park and Nakajima Park)札幌の桜（円山公園・中島公園）SapporoLate April to early May Official page
Jozankei Onsen Stream Carp Streamers定山渓温泉渓流鯉のぼりSapporoEarly April to early May (10 April to 10 May in 2026; early April to early May in 2027) Official page
Hiraoka Plum Festivalひらおか梅まつりSapporoLate April to 10 May (25 April to 10 May in 2026) Official page
Ryukyu Kaiensai Fireworks琉球海炎祭OkinawaAround mid-April (11 April in 2026) Official page
Azalea and Rhododendron Fair at Hotel de Yamaつつじ・しゃくなげフェア（山のホテル）HakoneEvery May. Azaleas bloom from late April to mid-May and rhododendrons from early to late May. 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 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 Shibazakura Festival富士芝桜まつりMount FujiMid-April to late May, depending on the bloom (11 April to 24 May 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
Tokasai (Peach Blossom Festival), Itsukushima Shrine桃花祭（嚴島神社）HiroshimaEvery year on 15 April, from 17:00 Official page
Tokasai Goshino (Noh offering), Itsukushima Shrine桃花祭御神能（嚴島神社）HiroshimaEvery year from 16 to 18 April, about 09:00 to 16:00 Official page
Fire-walking ritual, Daishoin Temple大聖院 火渡り式HiroshimaEvery year on 15 April (spring grand festival) and 15 November (autumn grand festival), from 11:00 Official page
Kanazawa Castle and Kenroku-en Four Seasons Story: cherry blossom season (free entry and light-up)金沢城・兼六園四季物語（観桜期）KanazawaAbout one week in early April, timed to the cherry blossoms (2 to 8 April in 2026); the dates are announced each year right after the cherry blossom opening is declared in Kanazawa Official page
Spring Ochamori (Giant Tea Bowl Ceremony) at Saidai-ji西大寺 春の大茶盛式NaraThe second Sunday of April and the Saturday before it Official page
Busshoe (Buddha's Birthday Ceremony) at Todai-ji東大寺 仏生会（花まつり）NaraEvery year on 8 April, from 8:00 Official page
Gohan-shiki (rice-serving ritual) at Rinno-ji強飯式Nikko2 April every year, at 11:00 and 14:00 Official page
Yayoi Festival (Futarasan Shrine)日光二荒山神社 弥生祭Nikko13 to 17 April every year; the floats come out on the 16th (evening festival) and the 17th (main festival) Official page
Spring Takayama Festival (Sanno Matsuri)春の高山祭（山王祭）Takayama14 and 15 April every year 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
Cherry blossoms in Shirakawa-go, including the Ota cherry桜の開花・おおたザクラShirakawa-goMid-April to early May; the Ota cherry in early to mid May Official page

Other months

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Japan in April?

In April, average highs in our 14 places with temperature records run from 11.7°C (53°F) in Sapporo to 24.3°C (76°F) in Okinawa (JMA, 1991–2020). Wet days (1 mm or more of rain or snow) range from 8.5 days at Mount Fuji to 13.2 days in Shirakawa-go.

Where is warmest in Japan in April?

Of our 14 places with temperature records, Okinawa is warmest with an average high of 24.3°C (76°F). Next come Kyoto at 20.1°C and Nagoya at 20.1°C (JMA, 1991–2020).

Where can I see snow in Japan in April?

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

Is April a busy month to visit Japan?

3,909,128 visitors arrived in April 2025, the 1st highest month of the year (JNTO). Hotels across Japan were 61.4% full (6th of 12 months, Japan Tourism Agency).

Related items

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