Season by season
Spring (March–May)
Mild and busy. Cherry trees bloom in Yoyogi Park and along the Meguro River, a short hop from Shibuya, in late March and early April. Shibuya Sky tickets are at their scarcest.
Summer (June–August)
Hot and humid, with the rainy season in June and early July. Start at Meiji Jingu early, when the forest is cool, and spend the middle of the day indoors. Rooftops can close during thunderstorms.
Autumn (September–November)
Comfortable from October. The ginkgo avenue at nearby Meiji Jingu Gaien turns gold in late November. Halloween (31 October) brings restrictions around the crossing rather than a party.
Winter (December–February)
Cold, dry and clear: the best season for seeing Mount Fuji from Shibuya Sky. Omotesando and Shibuya’s “Blue Cave” illuminations run in December. Meiji Jingu receives around three million visitors in the first days of January.
Month by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10°C | 1°C | 60 mm | Busy |
| February | 11°C | 2°C | 57 mm | Quiet |
| March | 14°C | 5°C | 116 mm | Very busy |
| April | 19°C | 10°C | 134 mm | Very busy |
| May | 24°C | 15°C | 140 mm | Very busy |
| June | 26°C | 19°C | 168 mm | Busy |
| July | 30°C | 22°C | 156 mm | Busy |
| August | 31°C | 24°C | 155 mm | Busy |
| September | 28°C | 20°C | 225 mm | Busy |
| October | 22°C | 15°C | 235 mm | Very busy |
| November | 17°C | 9°C | 96 mm | Very busy |
| December | 12°C | 4°C | 58 mm | Busy |
Temperatures are approximate long-term averages; individual years vary.
Festivals & events
- 1–3 January: hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year, at Meiji Jingu — the busiest in Japan
- Late March–early April: cherry blossom in Yoyogi Park
- Late April–May: spring grand festival at Meiji Jingu, with traditional music and dance
- Early November: autumn grand festival at Meiji Jingu, with yabusame horseback archery and martial arts
- December: winter illuminations along Omotesando and in Shibuya
Our advice
Do Harajuku first and Shibuya last. The shrine is at its best early in the morning, Takeshita Street is tolerable before noon, and the crossing and skyline only come alive at dusk. Avoid weekend afternoons on Takeshita Street if you dislike crowds.
