Tokyo in January: weather, what to wear and events

Tokyo weather in January

Averages for 1991–2020 at the JMA's Tokyo station (25 m above sea level).

High: 9.8°C (50°F)
Low: 1.2°C (34°F)
Precipitation: 59.7 mm
Wet days: 4.5 days
Sunshine: 193 hours
Snow on ground: 1.4 days

Highs are 2.2°C below December and 1.1°C below February.

That is 10.5°C below Tokyo's yearly average high of 20.3°C.

Of our 14 places with temperature records, Tokyo is the 4th warmest in January: 0.1°C cooler than Hiroshima and 0.1°C warmer than Osaka.

January is Tokyo's 3rd driest month (59.7 mm).

Of our 15 places, Tokyo has the 7th lowest precipitation in January: 1.2 mm less than Kawaguchiko and 6.4 mm more than Kyoto.

Rain or snow of 1 mm or more falls on 4.5 days, and 10 mm or more on 1.9 days.

Rain or snow of 30 mm or more in one day falls on 0.6 days.

The temperature drops below 0°C on 8.1 nights.

4 cm of snow falls in an average January; snow lies on the ground on 1.4 days.

The sun is out for 40% or more of the possible hours on 23.0 days, and 3.2 days have under 0.1 hours of sunshine.

By the JMA's cloud records, 8.3 days are clear and 5.2 are overcast.

On 15 January 2027 the sun rises at 6:50 and sets at 16:51 in Tokyo, giving 10 hours 1 minute of daylight (NAOJ).

Average temperature: 5.4°C (42°F)
Humidity: 51%
Deepest snow (average of each year's deepest): 3 cm

Early, mid and late January

Tokyo in January by ten-day period: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
Days	High	Low	Precipitation
1–10 January	10.3°C	1.5°C	11.7 mm
11–20 January	9.5°C	1.2°C	20.9 mm
21–31 January	9.6°C	1.0°C	27.1 mm

By the last ten days of January the average high in Tokyo is 0.7°C lower than in the first ten.

By ten-day totals, 21–31 January is the wettest (27.1 mm) and 1–10 January the driest (11.7 mm).

What to wear in Tokyo in January

Cold: highs around 9.8°C

A winter coat over layers, and a scarf.
Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 8.1 nights.
Rain or snow is less common (on 4.5 days); a compact umbrella is enough.

Pack

Compact umbrella
Gloves and a warm hat
Scarf

Our clothing rules

Flowers and autumn colour in Tokyo in January

Plum blossom

The JMA's sample plum tree in Tokyo opens around 22 January in an average year (1991–2020). In 2026: 14 January.

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

January records in Tokyo

The extremes the JMA has measured in January at its Tokyo station.

Hottest January day: 22.6°C (73°F) on 27 January 1969 (records since 1876); also on 31 January 1882
Coldest January night: −9.2°C (15°F) on 13 January 1876 (records since 1876)
Wettest January day: 68.0 mm on 31 January 2009 (records since 1876)
Deepest January snow: 31 cm on 26 January 1954 (records since 1876); also on 18 January 1887
Most snow in one January day: 26 cm on 19 January 1984 (records since 1953); also on 23 January 1954

Holidays and crowds in January

National holidays in January 2027:

Fri 1 January — New Year's Day
Mon 11 January — Coming of Age Day

Fri 1 January to Sun 3 January: 3 days off in a row
Sat 9 January to Mon 11 January: 3 days off in a row

In January 2025, hotels and inns across Tokyo were 71.1% full on average (the quietest month of the year). Foreign guests spent 4.69 million nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency). That compares with 78.2% in December and 75.4% in February.

What's on in Tokyo in January

Events in Tokyo in January: dates from each organizer's official page
Event	When	Where and what
New Year General Audience at the Imperial Palace (Shinnen Ippan Sanga)新年一般参賀	Early January: 2 January in 2026	Imperial Palace, Tokyo. Visitors enter through the main gate (Seimon, at Nijubashi) and gather in the East Courtyard of the Palace (Kyuden Totei). Exits are Sakashita Gate, Kikyo Gate, Otemon Gate or Inui Gate. The Emperor and Empress appear on the Chowaden veranda about five times in the day. In 2026 the appearances were scheduled for around 10:10, 11:00, 11:50, 13:30 and 14:20. Entry 9:30 to 14:10 in 2026. Luggage inspections and security checks are carried out and the agency expects very heavy crowds. The Imperial Palace East Gardens are closed that day. Large bags should be left in coin lockers. Official page

Tokyo before and after January

Tokyo: December, January and February (JMA, 1991–2020)
Month	High	Low	Precipitation	Wet days
December	12.0°C (+2.2°C)	3.8°C (+2.6°C)	57.9 mm (−1.8 mm)	5.2 days (+0.7 days)
January	9.8°C	1.2°C	59.7 mm	4.5 days
February	10.9°C (+1.1°C)	2.1°C (+0.9°C)	56.5 mm (−3.2 mm)	5.2 days (+0.7 days)

Other places in January

January: Tokyo against five other places (JMA, 1991–2020)
Place	High	Against Tokyo	Wet days	Against Tokyo
Kyoto	9.1°C	−0.7°C	6.4 days	+1.9 days
Osaka	9.7°C	−0.1°C	5.6 days	+1.1 days
Sapporo	−0.4°C	−10.2°C	18.3 days	+13.8 days
OkinawaNaha	19.8°C	+10.0°C	10.2 days	+5.7 days
Fukuoka	10.2°C	+0.4°C	9.3 days	+4.8 days

All 15 places in January

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Tokyo in January?

The average high is 9.8°C (50°F) and the average low 1.2°C (34°F). 59.7 mm of rain or snow falls on about 4.5 days (JMA, 1991–2020).

What should I wear in Tokyo in January?

A winter coat over layers, and a scarf. Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 8.1 nights. Rain or snow is less common (on 4.5 days); a compact umbrella is enough.

Does it snow in Tokyo in January?

Yes. 4 cm of snow falls in an average January, and snow lies on the ground on 1.4 days (JMA, 1991–2020).

Is Tokyo busy in January?

In January 2025, hotels and inns across Tokyo were 71.1% full on average (the quietest month of the year). Foreign guests spent 4.69 million nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency).

What are the record temperatures for January in Tokyo?

The highest temperature the JMA has recorded in Tokyo in January is 22.6°C (73°F), on 27 January 1969. The lowest is −9.2°C (15°F), on 13 January 1876.

What events are on in Tokyo in January?

New Year General Audience at the Imperial Palace (Shinnen Ippan Sanga): Early January: 2 January in 2026.

When do plum trees bloom in Tokyo?