01Weather
Tokyo weather in May
Afternoons in May average 24.1 °C (75 °F) and nights cool to 15.7 °C (60 °F). The month brings about 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain spread over roughly 9 days. Compared with April it is 4.2 °C warmer; June is 2.7 °C warmer again.
What the averages hide
| In a typical May | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Warm afternoons (90th percentile) | 28 °C / 82 °F | one day in ten is at least this warm |
| Cool afternoons (10th percentile) | 20 °C / 68 °F | one day in ten stays below this |
| Cold nights (10th percentile) | 12 °C / 54 °F | one night in ten is colder than this |
| Days above 30 °C (86 °F) | 1.0 | per month, average 2016–2025 |
| Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F) | 0.0 | frost mornings per month |
| Chance of rain on any given day | 30 % | at least 1 mm |
| Hottest / coldest May day 2016–2025 | 32.6 °C / 7.9 °C | extremes in the ten-year record |
02Daylight
Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May | 04:48 | 18:27 | 13.6 h |
| 15 May | 04:35 | 18:38 | 14.1 h |
| 31 May | 04:26 | 18:50 | 14.4 h |
Daylight grows by about 48 minutes over the month. Times are local (Asia/Tokyo).
03Crowds
How busy Tokyo is in May
busy The main sights are busy in May. What drives it:
- Golden Week until 5 May
- Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa
- pleasant weather
04Public holidays
Public holidays in May 2027
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 3 May 2027 | Constitution Memorial Day |
| 4 May 2027 | Greenery Day |
| 5 May 2027 | Children's Day |
On public holidays many shops close and museums run on Sunday hours; check opening times for the day before and after as well.
05Events
What's on in Tokyo in May
Every year in May
| Event | When | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Sanja Matsuri | third weekend of May, Asakusa | festival |
07Packing
What to pack for Tokyo in May
- layers: t-shirt plus a light jacket for evenings
- comfortable walking shoes
- a compact umbrella or hooded rain jacket, rain falls on roughly one day in three
08Editor's notes
What the numbers don't tell you
May is warm, mostly dry and among the most comfortable months, once Golden Week ends on 5 May. Afternoons average 23 °C with low humidity, and the fresh green of the parks and the Imperial Palace gardens is at its brightest. The Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa on the third weekend is the city's wildest festival, with portable shrines carried through the streets by crowds of a million. The Kanda Matsuri falls in mid-May in odd years.
Later May is a quiet window between the spring peak and the rainy season, with hotel prices back to normal and the Ghibli Museum and teamLab tickets easier to get. Rain falls on about ten days, increasing in the final week as the rainy front approaches. The Tokyo Grand Sumo tournament runs for fifteen days from the second Sunday at the Ryogoku Kokugikan; tickets sell out for weekends. June brings the rains; see June.
09Compare
Tokyo month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun h | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10 °C | 2 °C | 4 | – | moderate | Good |
| February | 12 °C | 3 °C | 7 | – | quiet | Good |
| March | 16 °C | 7 °C | 9 | – | busy | Mixed |
| April | 20 °C | 11 °C | 10 | – | very busy | Good |
| May | 24 °C | 16 °C | 9 | – | busy | Good |
| June | 27 °C | 20 °C | 12 | – | moderate | Excellent |
| July | 31 °C | 24 °C | 12 | – | busy | Mixed |
| August | 32 °C | 25 °C | 8 | – | busy | Good |
| September | 28 °C | 22 °C | 12 | – | moderate | Excellent |
| October | 22 °C | 16 °C | 10 | – | busy | Good |
| November | 17 °C | 10 °C | 8 | – | very busy | Good |
| December | 12 °C | 4 °C | 6 | – | busy | Good |
Not sure about May? See the best time to visit Tokyo.
10Elsewhere
May in nearby cities
| City | High | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| Kyoto in May | 25 °C | 8 |
| Seoul in May | 24 °C | – |
| Shanghai in May | 26 °C | 10 |
| Beijing in May | 29 °C | 6 |
| Bangkok in May | 36 °C | 22 |
| Singapore in May | 32 °C | 12 |
11FAQ
Tokyo in May: your questions
Is May a good time to visit Tokyo?
May is a good month to visit Tokyo. Daytime highs average 24 °C (75 °F), rain falls on about 9 days, and hotel arrivals run above the yearly average, so the main sights are busy.
What is the weather like in Tokyo in May?
Expect warm days around 24 °C (75 °F) and nights near 16 °C (60 °F). One May in ten brings afternoons above 28 °C, and one in ten stays below 20 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Tokyo in May?
May brings about 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain over roughly 9 days, which is showery by Tokyo standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 30 percent.
What should I wear in Tokyo in May?
Pack layers: t-shirt plus a light jacket for evenings, comfortable walking shoes, a compact umbrella or hooded rain jacket, rain falls on roughly one day in three.
Is Tokyo crowded in May?
The main sights are busy in May. Main drivers: Golden Week until 5 May; Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa; pleasant weather.
What time does it get dark in Tokyo in May?
Around the middle of May the sun sets at about 18:38 and rises at 04:35, giving 14.1 hours of daylight.