Japan, Asia

Tokyo in May

Skip the first week: Golden Week means sold-out trains and peak domestic crowds. Mid and late May are superb, some of Tokyo's best weather of the year.

GoodWarm and green, highs near 73F (23C)

Tokyo skyline, Japan — TokyoPhoto: David Kernan, CC BY 4.0

The straight answer

May is a good month to visit Tokyo. Skip the first week: Golden Week means sold-out trains and peak domestic crowds. Mid and late May are superb, some of Tokyo's best weather of the year.

Weather: Warm and green, highs near 73F (23C)
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 4 of 5

What May is like in Tokyo

May is warm and green, with highs near 73F (23C). The first week is Golden Week, with sold-out trains and peak domestic crowds. After that, mid and late May bring some of Tokyo's best weather of the year and moderate crowds. On the third weekend of May, the Sanja Matsuri fills Asakusa with portable shrines and noise.

It suits nearly everyone once Golden Week is over, including homeschool families who can travel while Japanese kids are in school. Skip the first week if you can. If you are after blossoms, you have missed them, so come for the long, pleasant days instead.

Make the most of May

What is especially good about Tokyo this month.

Sanja Matsuri

Asakusa's rowdy portable shrine festival on the third weekend of May is one of Tokyo's biggest. It is loud, crowded and a lot of fun.

Best weather of spring

Mid and late May are warm and mostly dry, perfect for a Kamakura day trip or a long walk through Meiji Jingu.

Term-time calm

Late May weekday mornings are quiet at family favorites like the Miraikan science museum and Ueno Zoo.

What to pack for May

Light, breathable clothes
A light layer for evenings
Sunscreen and sunglasses
Comfortable walking shoes

Our timing tip

Book your trip for after Golden Week ends in the first week of May, when prices and crowds drop sharply.

Book Tokyo for May.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Tokyo
Opens a hotel search for Tokyo in May, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for May
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Vacation rentals in Tokyo
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Tokyo
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Tokyo for May. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in May

Golden Week

Late April into the first week of May

A run of national holidays when much of Japan travels at once. Shinkansen seats and hotels sell out; sights are at maximum domestic crowd.

Sanja Matsuri

Third weekend of May

Asakusa's rowdy portable-shrine festival, one of Tokyo's biggest. Spectacular, loud, and very crowded around Senso-ji.

Things to do in Tokyo

Full guide

Senso-ji and Asakusa

Tokyo's oldest temple. Go before 8am to see the lantern gate and Nakamise lane without the crowds; by midday it is a river of people.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya Sky

The famous scramble is best at dusk. Shibuya Sky's open-air deck sells out; book the sunset slot days ahead.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Meiji Jingu

A genuine forest in the middle of the city. Early morning is serene, and you may catch a traditional wedding procession on weekends.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Tsukiji Outer Market

The wholesale auction moved to Toyosu, but the outer market's food stalls remain a world-class breakfast. Go hungry, before 9am.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

teamLab Planets

The immersive digital art museum lives up to the hype. Timed tickets sell out weeks ahead in peak seasons.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Shinjuku after dark

Omoide Yokocho's lantern-lit yakitori alleys and Golden Gai's tiny bars. Some bars are regulars-only; look for English menus as the welcome sign.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Do headline temples and markets before 8am. Tokyo sights open early, tour groups do not, and the difference at Senso-ji or Tsukiji is night and day.
For cherry blossoms, skip midday at Ueno and go at first light, or pick quieter spots like the Kanda River or Aoyama Cemetery over the Instagram rivers.
Never plan intercity travel during Golden Week or Obon without reserved seats booked as far ahead as the system allows.
Book timed-entry attractions (Shibuya Sky, teamLab, Ghibli Museum) the moment your dates firm up; they cap capacity and simply sell out.

Know before you go

December 29 through January 3: the New Year holiday closes many restaurants, shops, and some museums, while shrines see their biggest crowds of the year for first visits (hatsumode).
Golden Week (late April to early May) closes nothing, but sells out everything: treat trains and hotels like concert tickets.
Many museums close on Mondays, and when a Monday is a national holiday they close Tuesday instead. Check the specific museum before building a day around it.
Typhoon season (roughly August through early October) occasionally halts trains and flights for a day. Build one flexible day into any September itinerary.

Tokyo in May, quick answers

Is May a good time to visit Tokyo?

May is a good month to visit Tokyo. Skip the first week: Golden Week means sold-out trains and peak domestic crowds. Mid and late May are superb, some of Tokyo's best weather of the year.

What is the weather like in Tokyo in May?

Warm and green, highs near 73F (23C).

Is Tokyo crowded in May?

Tokyo is busy in May, though mornings and late afternoons stay workable.

What is happening in Tokyo in May?

Golden Week (late april into the first week of may); Sanja Matsuri (third weekend of may).