Your May weather guide
WarmWeather in Tokyo in May
May is a good choice for Tokyo if you want warm days rather than strong heat, but you need to accept regular rain. Average highs are around 22°C, nights fall to 14°C, and about 12 days have measurable rain. For a UK traveller, that means lighter daytime clothing than you would usually need at home, with a jacket and waterproof still earning their place in your luggage. Go for comfortable city weather, not guaranteed sunshine.
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
- 21.7°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 25°C
- Average night-time low
- 14.0°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 11°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +5.1°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sea temperature
- 18.4°C
- year to year: 18°C to 19°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.4h
- 32% of 13.9 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 12
- 131 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 77%
- Days over 25°C
- 13%
- 0% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 30.0°C
- 2015-05-31
- Record low 1991-2020
- 5.3°C
- 1991-05-04
- 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 May compares
May is the 5th warmest month of the year in Tokyo and ranks 86th of 134 destinations we compare for May - see where else is hot in May. Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Tokyo is 5.1°C warmer by day and 5.7°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Tokyo peaks at 21.7°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 25.4°C or more. Roughly 1 in 8 days top 25°C and 1 in 1000 pass 30°C. Nights average 14.0°C; one night in ten drops to 10.5°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 30.0°C (2015-05-31) and the coldest night 5.3°C (1991-05-04).
Rain in May
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 12 days with 1 mm or more, 131 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2008 with 232 mm, the driest 2013 with 60 mm. Humidity averages 77%.
Sea temperature in May
The sea averages 18.4°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 17.6°C to 19.4°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.7°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.4 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 13.9 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 04:36 and sets about 18:39 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 69%.
Is May a good time to visit Tokyo?
May is not the strongest month here: warm 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.
Warm enough for light clothing, with cooler evenings
Tokyo's May temperatures suit travellers who want to spend time outdoors without planning everything around intense heat. A light top is a sensible starting point during the day, with a layer to add after dark. Days reach 25°C about 12% of the time, so warmer afternoons are possible, but they are not the norm. On those days, take a break from walking at midday if you feel hot rather than assuming every afternoon will be mild. Cooler nights can fall to 10.5°C or below, so do not pack only summer clothes. A jumper or light jacket gives you more flexibility than relying on the average night temperature alone.
Plan for rain, not all-day sunshine
Rain is the main catch in May: about 12 days receive measurable rainfall, making a waterproof layer or compact umbrella sensible everyday kit. That does not tell you how long each wet spell will last, so keep outdoor plans flexible rather than writing off whole days in advance. There are about 13.9 hours of daylight, but only 4.4 hours of sunshine on average, so long days should not be confused with reliably clear skies. Humidity averages 77%, which may make warmer spells feel clammy; breathable clothes are a practical choice. May suits you better if you are happy to adjust plans around showers than if sunshine is the main reason for travelling.
A little perspective
Tokyo through the year
May 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% |
| March | 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% |
| MaySelected | 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 May
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Italy · 21°C by day · sea 18°C
Lido di Jesolo
Italy · 21°C by day · sea 18°C
Venice
Montenegro · 22°C by day · sea 19°C
Budva
Italy · 21°C by day
Lake Garda
Italy · 22°C by day
Milan
A little more detail
Tokyo in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Tokyo hot in May?
Tokyo is warm in May: the average daytime high is 21.7°C and nights average 14.0°C. Roughly 1 in 8 May days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Tokyo in May?
The sea around Tokyo averages 18.4°C in May, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 18°C to 19°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Tokyo in May?
Tokyo sees about 12 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 131 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 2008 (232 mm) and the driest was 2013 (60 mm).
How sunny is Tokyo in May?
Tokyo gets around 4.4 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 13.9 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Tokyo compare with the UK in May?
Tokyo is on average 5.1°C warmer than London by day in May (21.7°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Tokyo?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Tokyo reached 30.0°C on 2015-05-31, and the coldest night dropped to 5.3°C on 1991-05-04.
Is Tokyo warmer than London in May?
Yes. Tokyo's average daytime high is 21.7°C, compared with London's 16.6°C, a difference of 5.1°C. That is a noticeable step up in daytime warmth, though Tokyo's cooler evenings mean you should still bring a layer.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming in May?
The sea averages 18.4°C, so expect a bracing swim rather than comfortably warm water. If relaxed sea swimming is important to your trip, May is not a strong choice. Its warmth is more useful for time outdoors in the city.
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