Yokohama works year-round but the best window for weather is mid-October to November and April to mid-May. You’ll get daytime highs of 17-22°C (63-72°F), low humidity, and minimal rain outside of the early October typhoon tail. Cherry blossom season (late March to early April) is the most scenic period but also the most expensive, with hotel rates 30-50% higher and crowds packing Sankeien Garden. Here’s the seasonal breakdown with specific dates, price swings, and what you’re trading off. See our weather by month guide for more details.
Best Time to Visit Yokohama: Spring (March to May)
Spring is Yokohama’s peak tourist season for good reason. Cherry blossoms bloom from roughly March 25 to April 5, transforming Sankeien Garden, Mitsuike Park, and the Yamashita Park waterfront promenade into pink canopies. Daytime temperatures climb from 13°C (55°F) in March to 22°C (72°F) in May. Rainfall is moderate at 120-140 mm monthly. The downside is cost: 4-star hotels in Minato Mirai jump from 18,000 yen/night to 28,000-35,000 yen during sakura peak. Golden Week (April 29 to May 5) brings a second surge of domestic travelers. For the best balance of good weather and reasonable prices, target the second half of April (after cherry blossoms, before Golden Week) or mid-to-late May. See our things to do guide for more details.
Best Time to Visit Yokohama: Summer (June to August)
Summer in Yokohama splits into two distinct phases. The rainy season (tsuyu) runs from roughly June 8 to July 18, bringing 14-16 rainy days per month and humidity above 78%. You’ll save 30-40% on hotels compared to spring but you’ll need an umbrella daily. By late July, the rain stops and the heat arrives: August averages 31°C (88°F) with humidity making it feel like 36-38°C. The Pikachu Outbreak event fills Minato Mirai with Pokemon parades in early August, and the Kanagawa Shimbun Fireworks Festival on August 1 draws 200,000 people. If you can handle the heat and humidity, summer offers the best hotel deals of the year and lively evening waterfront atmosphere. Budget travelers should target late June to early July. See our events calendar for more details.
Best Time to Visit Yokohama: Autumn (September to November)
Early autumn is dominated by typhoon season. September averages 240 mm of rain, the wettest month of the year, with 2-3 typhoon disruptions causing train delays and outdoor closures. Things improve dramatically in October: after the 15th, typhoon risk drops sharply and you get clear skies, 22°C (72°F) days, and the Yokohama Oktoberfest and Jazz Promenade. November is arguably the single best month: 17°C (63°F) highs, 100 mm of rain across just 8 days, and stunning autumn foliage at Sankeien Garden (peak around November 20-25). Hotel rates are 10-20% above summer lows but well below spring peaks. For the best weather-to-price ratio of the entire year, target November. See our neighborhoods guide for more details.
Best Time to Visit Yokohama: Winter (December to February)
Winter is Yokohama’s quiet season and a legitimate option for travelers who don’t mind 10°C (50°F) highs. December is dry (65 mm, 6 rainy days) and festive with Minato Mirai illuminations and the Christmas Market at the Red Brick Warehouse. January and February are the coldest and driest months, with clear skies and Mount Fuji visible from the Landmark Tower observation deck on crisp mornings. Hotels drop to their lowest rates of the year except around New Year’s (December 29 to January 3) when domestic travel peaks. You’ll need a warm coat but you’ll have museums, ramen shops, and Chinatown largely to yourself. Not ideal for outdoor sightseeing but excellent for budget travelers and those who want to experience Yokohama without crowds. See our where to stay guide for more details.
Best Time to Visit Yokohama: Month-by-Month Pricing Guide
Hotel prices in Yokohama swing significantly by season. Here’s the rough pattern for a standard double room in Minato Mirai or Kannai: January-February 10,000-16,000 yen (low season), March 16,000-25,000 yen (cherry blossom spike), April 18,000-35,000 yen (sakura peak), May 14,000-22,000 yen (post-Golden Week drop), June-July 10,000-16,000 yen (rainy season lows), August 12,000-18,000 yen (summer), September 11,000-16,000 yen (typhoon season), October 14,000-22,000 yen (recovery), November 18,000-28,000 yen (autumn foliage peak), December 12,000-20,000 yen (holiday bump). The cheapest times to visit are late June through mid-July and late January through February. The most expensive are the cherry blossom week and New Year’s. See our travel tips guide for more details.
