Weather in Tokyo in January

How January compares

January is the 12th warmest month of the year in Tokyo and ranks 121st of 134 destinations we compare for January - see where else is hot in January. Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Tokyo is 0.7°C warmer by day and 2.6°C cooler at night.

Daytime and night-time in January

The typical January day in Tokyo peaks at 8.1°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 11.6°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average -0.4°C; one night in ten drops to -3.1°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day here reached 17.4°C (2020-01-29) and the coldest night -10.4°C (1994-01-31).

Rain in January

Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 7 days with 1 mm or more, 67 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 2001 with 144 mm, the driest 2011 with 7 mm. Humidity averages 69%.

Sea temperature in January

The sea averages 13.6°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 11.7°C to 15.0°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.7°C).

Sunshine and daylight

Around 5.9 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.8 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:51 and sets about 16:50 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 40%.

Is January a good time to visit Tokyo?

January is not the strongest month here: cool days. The best months for Tokyo on our scoring are August, September, July; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug, Sep.

Expect familiar daytime cold, then colder evenings

Tokyo's January daytime high is only 0.7°C above London's, so the journey does not buy you a meaningful improvement in warmth. Pack a winter coat, layers, gloves and comfortable closed shoes rather than relying on sunshine to keep you warm. The warmest 10% of days reach 11.6°C or more, which can make daytime walks more comfortable, but the coldest 10% of nights fall to -3.1°C or below. Keep your warm layers with you if you plan to stay out into the evening. This weather suits travellers content to alternate outdoor time with indoor stops; it is less appealing if you want to spend long periods sitting outside.

Use the daylight, but leave room for wet weather

With about 9.8 hours of daylight, it makes sense to put your longer outdoor plans in the middle of the day and leave indoor activities for later. Sunshine averages 5.9 hours daily, so January is not simply a choice between cold and grey. Rain is still part of the picture: about 7 days have measurable rainfall, enough to justify a compact umbrella and shoes that cope with wet pavements. Keep your plans flexible rather than assuming every day will be dry. The balance is workable for a winter city break, as long as you are comfortable shortening an outdoor outing when conditions feel less inviting.