Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
34
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day, umbrellas are imperative. When the
rain stops, it gets unbearably hot and
humid through August—you might want
to head for Hakone for a bit of fresh air.
Otherwise, you'll be most comfortable in
light cottons, and you'd be wise to pack
sunscreen and a hat (Japanese women are
also fond of sun parasols), but be sure to
pack a lightweight jacket for unexpected
cool evenings and overly air-conditioned
rooms. The period from the end of August
through September is typhoon season,
though most storms stay out at sea and
vent their fury on land as thunderstorms.
Autumn,
which lasts September
through November, is one of the best
times to visit Tokyo. The days are pleasant
and slightly cool, the skies are a brilliant
blue, and the maple trees turn scarlet.
Bring a warm jacket.
Winter
lasts from about December to
March in Tokyo, with days that are gener-
ally clear and cold with extremely low
humidity. Tokyo doesn't get much snow,
but it can, so be prepared. I remember one
winter when snow fell in a slushy mush
through March and into the cherry-blos-
som season. In any case, the temperature is
usually above freezing.
Spring
is ushered in by a magnificent
fanfare of plum and cherry blossoms in
March and April, an exquisite time of year
when all of Japan is set ablaze in whites
and pinks. The blossoms last only a few
days, symbolizing to the Japanese the frag-
ile nature of beauty and of life itself. Tokyo
may still have cool, rainy weather until
May, so be sure to bring a light raincoat or
jacket.
Tokyo's Average Daytime Temperatures & Rainfall
Jan
Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Temp. (°F)
42
45
50
61
69
71
78
81
76
68
57
48
3
Temp. (°C)
5
7
10
16
21
22
26
27
24
20
14
9
Days of Rain
4.3
6.1
8.9
10
9.6
12.1
10
8.2
10.9
8.9
6.4
3.8
HOLIDAYS
National holidays are January 1 (New
Year's Day), second Monday in January
(Coming-of-Age Day), February 11
(National Foundation Day), March 20
(Vernal Equinox Day), April 29 (Showa
Day, after the late Emperor Showa), May
3 (Constitution Memorial Day), May 4
(Greenery Day), May 5 (Children's Day),
third Monday in July (Maritime Day),
third Monday in September (Respect-for-
the-Aged Day), September 23 (Autumn
Equinox Day), second Monday in Octo-
ber (Health Sports Day), November 3
(Culture Day), November 23 (Labor
Thanksgiving Day), and December 23
(Emperor's Birthday). For more informa-
tion on holidays, see the “Tokyo Calendar
of Events,” below.
When a national holiday falls on a Sun-
day, the next day, Monday, becomes a
holiday. The most important holidays for
the Japanese are
New Year's,
Golden
Week
(Apr 29-May 5), and the
O-Bon
Festival
(about a week in mid-Aug). Avoid
traveling on these dates at all costs, since
long-distance trains and most accommo-
dations are booked solid (and are often
more expensive), including most of those
listed in chapter 11, “Side Trips from
Tokyo.” The weekends before and after
these holidays are also likely to be very
crowded. Luckily, Tokyo is an exception—
since the major exodus is back to home-
towns or the countryside, holidays such as
Golden Week can be almost blissful in the
metropolis. Another busy travel time is
during summer-school holidays, around
July 19 through August, when the Japa-
nese take vacations en masse.
Although government offices and many
businesses are closed on public holidays,
