Season by season
Spring (March–May)
Cherry blossom reaches the town in mid-to-late April, later than Tokyo, and azaleas colour the lake shore in May. The Toshogu spring festival in mid-May is the year’s great spectacle.
Summer (June–August)
Lush, green and five or more degrees cooler than Tokyo, though the rainy season brings mist. The waterfalls are at full volume, and Oku-Nikko’s marsh walks are at their best.
Autumn (September–November)
Colour starts at the lake in early October and descends to the shrines by early November. Spectacular, and correspondingly crowded: Irohazaka traffic jams are notorious at weekends.
Winter (December–February)
Cold, with snow on the cedars and few visitors. Shrine hours shorten, some boats and trails close, and Kegon Falls partly freezes. Yumoto and Kinugawa’s hot springs are the reward.
Month by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4°C | -5°C | Quiet |
| February | 5°C | -5°C | Quiet |
| March | 9°C | -1°C | Busy |
| April | 15°C | 4°C | Very busy |
| May | 20°C | 9°C | Very busy |
| June | 22°C | 14°C | Busy |
| July | 26°C | 18°C | Very busy |
| August | 27°C | 19°C | Very busy |
| September | 23°C | 15°C | Busy |
| October | 17°C | 8°C | Very busy |
| November | 12°C | 2°C | Very busy |
| December | 7°C | -2°C | Quiet |
Temperatures are approximate long-term averages; individual years vary.
Festivals & events
- 13–17 April: Yayoi Festival at Futarasan Shrine, with decorated floats
- 17–18 May: Toshogu Grand Spring Festival — horseback archery and the procession of a thousand samurai
- Late July–early August: summer festivals and fireworks at Lake Chuzenji
- Early October–early November: autumn-leaf season, from the lake down to the shrines
- 16–17 October: Toshogu Grand Autumn Festival, a smaller version of the May procession
Our advice
For autumn colour without the worst crowds, come on a weekday and take the earliest train. If you can choose any time of year, late May and early November balance good weather, colour and manageable numbers.
