Your March weather guide
CoolWeather in Tokyo in March
Tokyo in March suits a city break if you are happy with cool days and properly chilly evenings, rather than a warm-weather holiday. Average daytime highs are 12.4°C, nights fall to 3.5°C, and about 12 days have rain. Walking around can be comfortable with layers, but you will want waterproofs and a coat. Go for time outdoors without heat being a concern; the catch is needing to plan around both cold and wet weather.
Long-term climate averages for Tokyo, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Tokyo, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Tokyo.
- Average daytime high
- 12.4°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 17°C
- Average night-time low
- 3.5°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -0°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +1.9°C
- London averages 10.5°C in March
- Sea temperature
- 13.6°C
- year to year: 12°C to 15°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.9h
- 42% of 11.7 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 12
- 114 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 71%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 22.6°C
- 2013-03-10
- Record low 1991-2020
- -4.4°C
- 1998-03-02
- Flight from London
- ≈ 12 h 42 min
- 9595 km, long-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How March compares
March is the 9th warmest month of the year in Tokyo and ranks 122nd of 134 destinations we compare for March - see where else is hot in March. Against London's average high of 10.5°C in March, Tokyo is 1.9°C warmer by day and 0.2°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in March
The typical March day in Tokyo peaks at 12.4°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 17.4°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 3.5°C; one night in ten drops to -0.3°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day here reached 22.6°C (2013-03-10) and the coldest night -4.4°C (1998-03-02).
Rain in March
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 12 days with 1 mm or more, 114 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest March was 2018 with 186 mm, the driest 2013 with 59 mm. Humidity averages 71%.
Sea temperature in March
The sea averages 13.6°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 12.1°C to 15.0°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.7°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.9 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.7 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 05:52 and sets about 17:48 local time in mid-March. Average cloud cover is 58%.
Is March a good time to visit Tokyo?
March is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Tokyo on our scoring are August, September, July; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug, Sep.
Pack for chilly evenings, not just mild afternoons
The daytime average is mild enough for walking in a coat, but it does not tell the whole story. The warmest days can reach 17.4°C or more, while the coldest nights fall to -0.3°C or below. Wear layers you can remove if an afternoon turns mild, and keep a warm outer layer for heading out after dark. A jumper, long trousers and closed shoes are more useful than clothes chosen for heat. March is a reasonable choice if hot city weather puts you off, but less convincing if you want to sit outside comfortably without thinking about what to wear.
Leave room to change plans when it rains
Rain is a meaningful part of the March trade-off, so avoid making every day depend on staying outdoors. Carry a compact umbrella or waterproof jacket, and choose shoes that can cope with wet pavements. There are about 4.9 hours of sunshine within 11.7 hours of daylight: enough daylight for unhurried outings, but not a promise of bright skies throughout. Keep outdoor plans flexible and have an indoor alternative ready when conditions turn wet. This month works better for travellers who can adjust their day than for those whose main priority is reliable sunshine or spending most of their time outside.
A little perspective
Tokyo through the year
March is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8.1°C | -0.4°C | 13.6°C | 5.9 | 67 | 7 | 0% |
| February | 9.0°C | 0.1°C | 13.2°C | 5.5 | 63 | 8 | 0% |
| MarchSelected | 12.4°C | 3.5°C | 13.6°C | 4.9 | 114 | 12 | 0% |
| April | 17.2°C | 8.6°C | 15.2°C | 5.0 | 113 | 11 | 0% |
| May | 21.7°C | 14.0°C | 18.4°C | 4.4 | 131 | 12 | 13% |
| June | 24.5°C | 18.0°C | 21.3°C | 2.8 | 164 | 14 | 44% |
| Julybest | 28.1°C | 22.0°C | 24.7°C | 3.5 | 151 | 13 | 84% |
| Augustbest | 29.7°C | 23.4°C | 26.7°C | 4.7 | 114 | 11 | 93% |
| Septemberbest | 26.0°C | 20.0°C | 25.1°C | 4.0 | 185 | 14 | 64% |
| October | 20.6°C | 14.1°C | 21.6°C | 4.2 | 211 | 13 | 8% |
| November | 15.5°C | 8.0°C | 18.7°C | 4.7 | 90 | 10 | 0% |
| December | 10.5°C | 2.5°C | 15.6°C | 5.5 | 60 | 8 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in March
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Greece · 13°C by day · sea 14°C
Halkidiki
Greece · 13°C by day · sea 14°C
Alonissos
Greece · 13°C by day · sea 14°C
Skiathos
Greece · 12°C by day · sea 12°C
Thassos
Italy · 14°C by day · sea 14°C
Amalfi Coast
A little more detail
Tokyo in March FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Tokyo hot in March?
Tokyo is cool in March: the average daytime high is 12.4°C and nights average 3.5°C. Days over 25°C are rare in March.
Can you swim in the sea in Tokyo in March?
The sea around Tokyo averages 13.6°C in March, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 12°C to 15°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Tokyo in March?
Tokyo sees about 12 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 114 mm of rain in a typical March. The wettest March between 1991 and 2020 was 2018 (186 mm) and the driest was 2013 (59 mm).
How sunny is Tokyo in March?
Tokyo gets around 4.9 hours of sunshine a day in March out of 11.7 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Tokyo compare with the UK in March?
Tokyo is on average 1.9°C warmer than London by day in March (12.4°C against 10.5°C).
What is the hottest March on record in Tokyo?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day in Tokyo reached 22.6°C on 2013-03-10, and the coldest night dropped to -4.4°C on 1998-03-02.
Is Tokyo warmer than London in March?
Yes, but only modestly. Tokyo's average daytime high is 12.4°C, compared with London's 10.5°C, a difference of 1.9°C. That is not enough to make it feel like a warm-weather trip, especially with Tokyo's average night low of 3.5°C.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming?
The sea is cold in March, averaging 13.6°C, with a year-to-year range of 12°C to 15°C. That is well below the 22°C threshold for comfortable swimming, so do not choose this month with a conventional swimming holiday in mind.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Tokyo. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 14.8 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C