Are you preparing for a trip to Japan in April? We have collected all the relevant information about weather conditions, seasonal events and overall expenses for anybody visiting this time of year.
Enchanting landscapes with blue skies, a sea of pink cherry trees stretching out against the backdrop of Mt Fuji and the scent of flowers lingering in the air. April is one of the most popular months to visit Japan.
If you’re considering visiting Japan in April, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will answer all your questions about weather conditions and clothing, give you some travel tips & tricks, and teach you about the best festivals.
Is April a Good Time to Visit Japan?
Overall, April is a great month to visit Japan.
From around mid-March, thousands of blooming cherry trees turn the country into a beautiful sea of pink. The annual “cherry blossom front” takes off on Japan’s southernmost main island Kyūshū (excluding Okinawa) and gradually moves northwards until it reaches Tōhoku (mid-April) and Hokkaidō (late April to early May).
Cherry blossoms are known for their volatility. If you’re travelling to Japan in March or April, it’s best to keep an eye on the cherry blossom forecasts as fickle temperatures and rain affect the flowering period.
The first blooming forecast for the 2024 cherry blossom season was announced at the end of January. Regular updates are planned for the following weeks.
Depending on the weather, cherry blossom season in each place lasts for a total span of around two weeks. It’s divided into three stages: the opening of the first blossoms (kaika, 開花), the period of full bloom (mankai, 満開) and the petals drifting from the trees, which the Japanese like to compare to a snowstorm (sakura fubuki, 桜吹雪).
However, travelling around Japan in April also means dealing with huge crowds of people and higher prices for flights and accommodations than other months.
Good weather, cherry blossom season and Golden Week (a series of four national holidays) make April one of the busiest and most expensive months to visit Japan (see below for more).
Weather in Japan in April
Japan is an archipelago that stretches over 3.000 kilometres from its northernmost to southernmost point. This means temperatures vary greatly depending on the prefectures you’re planning to visit during your trip.
In April, spring fully arrives in most areas of Japan. Mild days of up to 20°C make exploring cities like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka a gratifying experience. During cherry blossom season, people love gathering in parks for a picnic underneath the blooming trees and enjoying time with family and friends.
Tōhoku and Hokkaidō in Northern Japan are still colder, while Japan’s tropical getaway Okinawa awaits visitors with almost summery weather around this time of year. Below, you can find the average daily temperatures for Japan in April:
| Mean temperature | Max. temperature | Min. temperature | |
| Sapporo, Hokkaidō | 7.3°C | 11.7°C | 3.4°C |
| Tokyo | 14.3°C | 19.4°C | 9.8°C |
| Osaka | 15.2°C | 19.9°C | 10.9°C |
| Fukuoka, Kyūshū | 15.4°C | 19.9°C | 11.5°C |
| Naha, Okinawa | 21.5°C | 24.3°C | 19.1°C |
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (averages between 1991–2020)
The probability of rain on Honshū (which includes cities like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka) in April is around 30%. But you don’t need to be too worried. There might be a few rainy days, but April is not Japan’s rainy season. Overall, you can expect clear skies and moderate rainfall:
| Sunshine hours | Rain (in mm) | |
| Sapporo, Hokkaidō | 175.8 | 54.6 |
| Tokyo | 178.8 | 133.7 |
| Osaka | 192.6 | 101.9 |
| Fukuoka, Kyūshū | 188.1 | 118.2 |
| Naha, Okinawa | 120.9 | 161.0 |
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (averages between 1991–2020)
What to Wear in Japan in April?
When visiting Japan in April, you’re ideally prepared with a layered look.
Following the “Golden Route” between Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima, you can expect pleasant temperatures of up to 20°C during the day. Days with few clouds and plenty of sunshine feel warm but not hot yet.
Bring some T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts and sweaters, long trousers, and comfortable shoes/sneakers.
Temperatures drop quickly as soon as the sun goes down. In April, the nights are still chilly at around 10°C. Ideally, you always have a light (waterproof) jacket in your bag. If you tend to get cold quickly, bringing a light scarf and hat/beanie can be a lifesaver.
The above-listed things are essentials for a trip to cities like Tokyo, Osaka or Fukuoka in April. Make sure to adjust your wardrobe according to your destination within Japan.
Is Japan Crowded in April?
As tempting as taking a trip to Japan in April may be thanks to favourable weather conditions, there is one major drawback. April is Japan’s peak travel season. Some places become insanely crowded at the beginning and end of the month.
Cherry Blossom Season
First and foremost, the cherry blossom season attracts millions of tourists from all around the globe each year. Late March to early April is usually the best time to see the pretty white-pink flowers in full bloom around Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.
During these weeks, popular cherry blossom spots like Osaka Castle Park, Ueno Park in Tokyo, and the Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto are usually packed with people. The same applies to day trip destinations outside Japan’s main cities like Himeji Castle and some areas around Mt. Fuji (including Hakone).
One way to avoid the crowds is to visit lesser-known cherry blossom spots in the surrounding prefectures. But even here you should always expect the parks to be busier than usual.
Golden Week
In late April, the so-called Golden Week further spurs tourism in Japan. This term refers to a series of four national holidays within a seven-day window starting with the Showa Day on April 29th and ending with the Children’s Day on May 5th.
During Golden Week, many Japanese take the opportunity to travel. Not only domestic hotels and means of transportation such as the Shinkansen get booked up quickly (if you travel during this time, it’s advised to pre-book tickets for the Shinkansen). Prices for international flights to and from Japan also skyrocket around this time of year.
Travelling to Japan during Golden Week is possible but not advisable. Schedule your flights for the weeks before or after Golden Week if you want to save money and avoid large crowds.
Costs of Travelling to Japan in April
As stated above, April is one of Japan’s peak seasons for domestic tourism. Prices for flights to Japan are higher than usual between mid-March and early April (when most international visitors schedule their flights for cherry blossom season).
Before Golden Week (see above), flight prices usually rise even more. Due to the numerous national holidays between the end of April and the beginning of May, many Japanese people travel both within and outside Japan.
This makes finding affordable flights extremely difficult. Again, it’s best to avoid coming to Japan during Golden Week.
On top of that, accommodation will also be a lot more expensive compared to other months. The more demand, the more expensive the hotels. If you want to go to Japan on a budget, it’s best to avoid April.
Best Things to Do in Japan in April
Sunny days, eating hanami dango under blooming cherry trees and walking through enchanting landscapes with colourful flowers in abundance – April is the month that sees Japan finally awake from its winter slumber.
Thousands of people celebrate spring and the beauty of nature through flower festivals with cherry blossom events being the most popular among them. Want to have a picnic underneath the blooming cherry trees?
Japan’s spring nights become even more scenic through illumination events during cherry blossom season (also known as yozakura (夜桜) or “night cherry blossoms”) everywhere across the country.
Here’s an overview of some popular things to do in Japan in April:
- Enjoy hanami: Hanami (meaning “cherry blossom viewing”) is one of the most beloved Japanese traditions during the spring season. Grab yourself a blue picnic sheet, some snacks and drinks and head out to a park that allows visitors to sit underneath the blooming cherry trees. Don’t forget to adhere to the basic rules mentioned below while enjoying the swaying pink flowers above you.
- Try seasonal cherry blossom sweets: No hanami experience is complete without trying some of the creative limited-edition sweets, snacks and drinks Japanese food companies come up with for sakura season every year. Watch out for pink packaging and wrapping when visiting convenience stores and supermarkets in March and early April. You should find a lot of cherry blossom-flavoured stuff. Many cafés and restaurants offer limited-edition spring menus, too.
- Visit Japan’s various flower parks and fields: Shibazakura, nemophila, wisteria, azalea, peonies, tulips – many other flowers besides cherry blossoms embellish April in Japan. Flower festivals take place all over the country throughout spring. Check out our list of selected seasonal events below for some inspiration.
- Go strawberry picking: Although strawberry season in Japan starts in December, strawberry picking is a popular activity during the warm spring months. Strawberry farms can be found all over Japan, but the prefectures of Tochigi, Fukuoka and Kumamoto are the top-producing regions.
- Travel to Okinawa: April is one of the best months to visit Okinawa. Average temperatures well above 20°C make for a perfect early summer getaway. The rainy season hits Okinawa around mid-May, a few weeks before Honshū.
Basic Rules for Cherry Blossom Viewing
Before heading out for cherry blossom viewing yourself, you should keep some basic rules in mind:
- Cherry blossoms are there for everyone to enjoy. Plucking the flowers off the trees and touching or forcefully bending the twigs is frowned upon. Admire them from a slight distance instead.
- Lay out your hanami blankets only in areas where it’s permitted. Sitting underneath the cherry trees is forbidden in some parks.
- Don’t take up more space than you need with your picnic blanket. Don’t be too noisy. Take your trash back home with you when leaving the park. Many other people also want to spend a pleasant time with their family and friends.
Festivals and Events in Japan in April 2024
Here are some festivals and events that will take place in Japan in April 2024:
- NAKED Sakura Festival in Nijō Castle, Kyoto (08/03/2024 – 07/04/2024): This digital art exhibition is ideal for everyone who wants to add a little extra magic to their cherry blossom experience in Japan. Even though the exhibition itself is set to start in early March, the best time to visit will be when the cherry blossoms in the gardens of Nijō Castle are in full bloom between late March and early April. Entrance starts at 6 PM and ends at 9 PM (closure at 10 PM).
- Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival in Ueno Park, Tokyo (mid-March to early April): Ueno Park is known as one of the most popular cherry blossom spots in Tokyo and attracts a large number of visitors with its cherry blossom avenue comprising over 800 trees each year. At night, the trees are illuminated by lanterns.
- Osaka Castle Park Cherry Blossom Festival in Osaka (late March to mid-April): With around 3,000 cherry trees, Osaka Castle Park is one of the most popular cherry blossom spots in Kansai. At Nishinomaru Garden, the cherry blossoms are lit by lanterns at night.
- Beppu Hattō Onsen Festival & Mt. Ōgi Fire Festival in Beppu, Oita Prefecture (01/04/2024 – 07/04/2024): Known as Japan’s onsen capital, Beppu hosts a festival to celebrate its hot springs each year in early April. In addition to parades and free entry to some of the city’s hot springs, a huge bonfire is lit the same week in Mt. Ōgi. If you’ve always been curious about Japan’s hot spring culture, this festival is the perfect choice.
- Sakura Tulip Festa in Sakura, Chiba Prefecture (early April to late April): Over half a million tulips adorn the flower fields at the annual Tulip Festa in Sakura City throughout April. During the festival, you can dig up tulip bulbs, enjoy street food or take a boat ride on Lake Inba.
- Nemophila Harmony at Hitachi Seaside Park, Ibaraki Prefecture (mid-April to early May): Every year between mid-April and early May, Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture sees a sharp rise in visitors when a sea of blue nemophila flowers covers Miharashi Hill. Check out the blooming forecasts before visiting for the best experience.
- Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture (19/04/2024 – 05/05/2024): Even if you are too late for cherry blossom season in Central Honshū, you can still see them blooming when travelling up north to Tōhoku in late April. Hirosaki City in Aomori Prefecture hosts a famous annual cherry blossom festival with lots of street food and an illumination event at night. The dates announced are subject to change depending on the blooming forecasts of the cherry blossoms.
- Ashikaga Flower Park Great Wisteria Festival in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture (mid-April to mid-May): Ashikaga Flower Park is one of the most acclaimed travel destinations to witness the beauty of wisteria in Japan. Aside from plenty of wisteria, you can also see azalea flowers and peonies blooming around the same period. At night, the park hosts a wisteria light-up event. Don’t forget to check out the blooming forecasts before visiting.
- Fuji Shibazakura Festival in Fuji Motosuko Resort, Yamanashi Prefecture (mid-April to late May): During the Fuji Shibazakura Festival, you can see around 500,000 Shibazakura plants (known as “moss phlox” in English) turning huge fields in front of Mt. Fuji into a pink dreamscape. Again, take a look at the weather and blooming forecasts before visiting!
Conclusion – Visiting Japan in April
April is one of the busiest and most popular travel periods in Japan. Great weather, plenty of blooming flowers such as cherry blossoms and many great festivals make this time of year fantastic for a trip.
Although touristy spots in popular cities are more crowded than usual, the beautiful spring landscapes make visiting Japan in April definitely worth it. Just avoid Golden Week at the end of the month if possible. A severe increase in domestic tourism makes Golden Week even busier than cherry blossom season.
If you want to benefit from excellent weather conditions and the beautiful colours of nature with fewer crowds, the autumn foliage season in November is a good alternative. Japan is busy in November, yet not nearly as swamped with tourists as in April. Ultimately, it all depends on your personal preferences.
