January in Tokyo averages highs of 9 °C (48 °F) and lows of 0 °C (31 °F), with about 5 rainy days and 9 h 59 min of daylight.
January weather in Tokyo at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is January a good time to visit Tokyo?
Mixed weather: cold and fairly dry. January is usually low season in Tokyo: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper.
Our rule: a month scores 2 points for comfortable average highs of 18–28 °C (1 point for 14–18 or 28–32 °C) and 2 points for 5 or fewer rainy days (1 point for 6–10). Average highs above 35 °C or below 8 °C make it a tough month whatever the rain. A rainy day here means 2 mm of rain or more. 4 points = great, 3 = good, 2 = mixed, 0–1 = tough.
Holidays and events in January 2026
- Thu 1 Jan: New Year's Day (元日) public holiday
- Mon 12 Jan: Coming of Age Day (成人の日) public holiday
Banks and many shops close on public holidays, and museums may change their hours, so check before you go.
Things to do in Tokyo in January
January's weather suits a mix of outdoor sights and museums, so the open-air ones come first.
- Senso-ji and Asakusa — early morning outdoors
- Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya Sky — dusk outdoors
- Meiji Shrine and Harajuku outdoors
- Shinjuku Gyoen — gardens, great in blossom season outdoors
- teamLab Planets or Borderless — timed tickets indoors
- Tsukiji Outer Market — breakfast indoors
Where to stay: Shinjuku or Shibuya for energy and trains; Asakusa for old Tokyo and value; Ginza for upmarket.
What to pack for Tokyo in January
- A warm jacket and layers; evenings drop to around 0 °C (31 °F).
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in Tokyo costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | €60–130 | €160–330 |
Excluding flights. January is usually low season in Tokyo: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper.
January in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyoto | 8° / -1° | 5 | Tough month |
| Bangkok | 31° / 22° | 2 | Good time to go |
| Singapore | 29° / 24° | 20 | Tough month |
Want the whole trip planned? Join the Journey waitlist: tell it where, when and your budget, and it plans every day hour by hour.
FAQ
Is January a good time to visit Tokyo?
By the numbers, January is a mixed month: cold and fairly dry, with average highs of 9 °C (48 °F) and about 5 rainy days. January is usually low season in Tokyo: rooms are typically easier to find and cheaper. The best months for weather are April, May.
How warm is Tokyo in January?
Average highs are 9 °C (48 °F) and lows 0 °C (31 °F) (2015–2024 averages).
Does it rain a lot in Tokyo in January?
Expect about 5 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 57 mm in total. It is the driest month of the year in Tokyo.
Sources: climate averages from Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, 2015–2024); sea temperatures from the Open-Meteo marine API (2023–2024); public holidays from Nager.Date. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of the month. Averages are a guide, not a forecast. Costs are typical ranges per person per day, excluding flights.