Things to Do in Japan in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Japan
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + Late March flips the switch on cherry blossom season, the first sakura pop in Tokyo around March 25, turning the Meguro River into that pink tunnel postcard photographers have circled on their calendars since January.
- + Hotel rates are still shoulder-season pricing, you'll pay roughly 30% less than peak sakura weeks in early April, and far less than the chaos of Golden Week.
- + Daylight stretches to 12 full hours by mid-March, giving you 6 AM sunrises over Mt. Fuji from Kawaguchiko and 6 PM golden hour shots at Senso-ji without freezing in the dark.
- + March is the last month before Japan's humidity cranks up, Tokyo mornings feel crisp and dry, good for 10 km (6.2 mile) walks through Asakusa's temple district without the sweat-soaked shirts that April brings.
- − Weather swings like a pendulum, one day you'll be shedding layers in 18°C (64°F) sunshine in Kyoto, the next you'll be huddled under a kotatsu table heater as temperatures drop to 5°C (41°F) with sideways rain.
- − Plum blossom crowds at Kairakuen Garden in Mito create hour-long queues for the 3,000 white and pink plum trees, beautiful, but you'll be shoulder-to-shoulder with domestic tourists wielding selfie sticks the size of fishing rods.
- − Many ryokans in the Japanese Alps are still in winter hibernation, places like Takayama's traditional inns won't reopen until late March, limiting your onsen options to larger hotel chains.
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
March is your only chance to photograph cherry blossoms without Golden Week crowds. The blossoms start in Tokyo's Shinjuku Gyoen around March 22, then move northward. Morning light hitting the pale pink petals creates that soft, diffused glow photographers chase. But only if you're there at 7 AM before the tour buses arrive.
Hokkaido's ski season peaks in March, Niseko's powder snow stays dry and fluffy while temperatures hover around -5°C (23°F) on the slopes. The famous backcountry gates open wider in March as avalanche risk drops, giving you access to those waist-deep runs that made Japanese powder legendary.
March evenings hit that perfect 12°C (54°F) temperature where you can linger over takoyaki without freezing or sweating. Dotonbori's canal district comes alive after 8 PM when locals finish work, the smell of octopus balls sizzling in cast-iron pans mixes with grilled eel smoke from 70-year-old restaurants that don't appear in guidebooks.
March's mild temperatures make cycling between Kyoto's temples enjoyable, no summer humidity soaking your shirt, no winter winds freezing your fingers. The Philosopher's Path stays quiet until cherry blossoms peak, letting you ride from Ginkaku-ji to Nanzen-ji through small neighborhoods where wooden houses haven't changed since the 1950s.
March nights were made for Japanese whisky, the air carries enough chill to justify sinking into leather chairs at Shinjuku's Golden Gai bars, where 8-seat counters serve 18-year Yamazaki that tastes like liquid smoke and honey. These tiny bars (some converted closets) don't have space for summer tourist crowds.
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
March 3rd transforms homes across Japan into displays of elaborate doll sets representing the imperial court. In Kyoto's Kamishichiken district, geiko unveil their family's 7-tier doll displays, the only day of the year you'll see these heirloom sets outside private homes. The air smells faintly of peach blossoms and traditional sweets.
Osaka hosts the March Grand Sumo Tournament from mid-March, where you'll witness yokozuna grand champions up close in an arena that seats just 8,000, intimate enough to hear the salt hitting the ring and smell the wrestlers' hair oil. Day tickets sell out by 9 AM for weekend matches.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Book Experiences in Japan
Top-rated things to do in Japan this March
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Japan.
See All Japan Tours on Viator