Season by season
Spring (March–May)
Late March and early April bring huge hanami crowds to the park’s central avenue, with lanterns at night. Nezu Shrine’s azaleas follow from mid-April. The best and busiest season.
Summer (June–August)
Hot and humid; the lotus on Shinobazu Pond flowers in July and August, best seen in the morning. The air-conditioned museums come into their own.
Autumn (September–November)
Major exhibitions open, the park’s ginkgo turn yellow in late November and Yanaka’s cemetery avenue is quietly beautiful. Comfortable walking weather from October.
Winter (December–February)
Cold and clear, with few queues at the museums. Peonies bloom in the Toshogu shrine garden in January and February. Ameyoko is frantic with New Year food shoppers in the last days of December.
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
- Late March–early April: Ueno cherry-blossom festival, with evening lanterns in the park
- April: Bunkyo Azalea Festival at Nezu Shrine
- July–August: lotus season on Shinobazu Pond and the Ueno summer festival
- September: Nezu Shrine grand festival
- Late December: year-end shopping rush on Ameyoko
Our advice
Avoid Mondays, when the museums and zoo are shut. In blossom season go early in the morning on a weekday; by noon the central avenue is a slow shuffle. Yanaka is at its best in the last two hours of daylight.
