Best time to visit Tokyo

Tokyo has four distinct seasons, and two of them, spring and autumn, are the reason most people come. Cherry blossom in late March and early April and the autumn leaves of late November are the most beautiful and most expensive weeks of the year, with hotels booked out months ahead. June is the rainy season, July and August are hot and humid with the Obon holiday in mid-August, and September carries typhoon risk. Winter is dry, sunny and cold, surprisingly pleasant for sightseeing and the cheapest time outside the New Year week.

The one period to avoid is Golden Week from 29 April to 5 May, when the whole country travels and trains and hotels sell out. Three practical points apply all year: most museums close on Mondays, or Tuesdays if Monday is a holiday; the Ghibli Museum and teamLab sell timed tickets that go on sale a month ahead; and the New Year closures from 29 December to 3 January shut many restaurants and shops. For the best weather at normal prices, take late May or early October.