Travel Insights

Rainy season in Japan is something else. As spring rolled around in April and May and the cherry blossoms began to bloom, you may have found yourself breathing a sigh of relief over having escaped Japan's bone-dry winter air.

But be careful what you wish for, as Japan stands poised to over-deliver some much-needed moisture in the next few weeks with the start of what the locals commonly refer to as “Tsuyu” – the Japanese monsoon season.

Japan’s rainy season rolls in gradually from south to north, and the 2025 season has already begun in some areas. Okinawa officially entered its rainy season on May 22, which is considered quite late—12 days later than average and one day later than last year. In contrast, southern Kyushu saw an unusually early start on May 16, a full 14 days ahead of the average and 23 days earlier than in 2024.

In Tokyo, the rainy season in 2024 began around June 21 and ended on July 18. In 2025, it’s expected to start earlier—around June 7—and finish around July 19.

Find out what this means for your trip below!