Japan · Visit or make it home

Tokyo

Tokyo is a city in Japan. Compare its dated local facts and monthly climate before choosing a time to visit or planning a move. Housing references and national earnings describe different populations; verify the costs of your own home and job before deciding.

Tokyo — Skyscrapers of Shinjuku 2009 January

Get to know Tokyo

A sense of the place

Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital and most populous city of Japan. The population of the city proper was over 14 million as of 2023. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo and parts of six neighboring prefectures, is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 33 million residents as of 2025. Lying at the head of Tokyo Bay, Tokyo is part of the Kantō region, on the central coast of Honshu, Japan's largest island. It is Japan's economic center and the seat of the Japanese government and the Emperor of Japan. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government administers Tokyo's central 23 special wards, which formerly made up Tokyo City; various commuter towns and suburbs in its western area; and two outlying island chains, the Tokyo Islands. Although most of the world recognizes Tokyo as a city, since 1943 its governing structure has been more akin to that of a prefecture, with an accompanying Governor and Assembly taking precedence over the smaller municipal governments that make up the metropolis.

Weather through the year

When to visit Tokyo

Temperature

August has the warmest monthly average (26.9°C); January is coolest (4.7°C). These averages include nights, so daytime highs can be considerably warmer.

Rain and outdoor plans

October averages about 246 mm of rain, compared with 75 mm in February. For an outdoor-focused trip, compare the drier months before choosing dates.

Planning time outdoors

Monthly mean temperatures reach at least 25°C in July, August. For sightseeing, plan shade, water breaks and accommodation cooling into your day; daytime temperatures can be higher than these day-and-night averages.

January have monthly means below 5°C. For a stay then, compare accommodation heating and keep indoor options in your itinerary. These figures do not establish snow cover or ski conditions.

Monthly climate averages — 2001-2020
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average °C4.75.68.813.518.221.825.526.923.618.112.77.3
Rain, mm807512413514818515313421124612083

Source: NASA POWER climatology · Reference period: 2001-2020. Long-term averages for the surrounding grid area. Conditions vary within a city; monthly averages are neither a forecast nor a guarantee of dry days.

Places around Tokyo

Build your shortlist for a day out. Distances are straight-line from the city centre; check routes and opening times before setting off.

Museum

Memorial Museum for Soldiers, Detainees in Siberia, and Postwar Repatriates

Less than 1 km from the city centre

Compare with another city

Average rent in Tokyo

What is the average rent in Tokyo?

A verified average rent for Tokyo is not available in the evidence shown here. Do not substitute another city’s price or a national estimate. Compare current properties for the same home size and neighbourhood, then include utilities, deposits and daily transport when building a budget for a visit or move.

Average salary in Tokyo

What is the average salary in Tokyo?

2,800.8 USD/month is the gross employee-pay reference dated 2021. It describes Japan, not average salary in Tokyo. Gross pay is before deductions; household earnings depend on the household model. Use a current offer and your own tax circumstances for take-home budgeting.

Source: ILO — Average gross monthly earnings of employees · Reference date: 2021 · CC BY 4.0 (ILO datasets published from 3 May 2023)

How should I compare Tokyo with another city?

Compare the same dated measures for both cities, keeping local observations separate from national context. Start with rent, your expected income and the journeys you will make regularly. Then adjust the comparison weights to your priorities. Missing measurements do not prove an advantage; verify decisive costs and services with current local sources.

  1. Choose a comparison below and read its sources and dates.
  2. Set priorities for housing, work, transport and climate.
  3. Check current listings and your own income before making a decision.

Data sources, licences & reuse terms

Plan your stay

Budget and everyday decisions

A holiday budget

Compare accommodation for your actual dates in Tokyo, then add the journey here, airport transfers, meals and the activities you want. A cheap room outside the centre can cost more overall if it adds daily transport.

Compare holiday preferences →

A relocation budget

Use the planner below to compare housing, daily spending and the cost of your move.

Include the deposit, utilities, internet and commuting. Compare those costs with your own expected take-home income.

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Your relocation planning budget

Build a monthly budget for Tokyo in euros. Totals are calculated from the amounts below, not live quotes. Enter a housing amount for your chosen home.

Monthly total: Enter all five monthly amounts

First month including move: Enter your moving costs too

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Compare the details

Tokyo at a glance

Japan: the wider context

These are country-level figures, not measurements of Tokyo. Use them to compare national conditions; neighbourhoods, salaries and individual services can differ substantially.

See 10 national indicators
What to check before deciding

Comparable figures are not available here for: Annual sunshine hours; Public-transport provision (ordinal proxy); Distance to nearest sea / coastline; Monthly rent, 1-bedroom, city centre; Seismic hazard (ordinal 0 very-low to 4 high); Distance to nearest mountains (>1500 m). Check the items that affect your plans with local providers. They are not treated as zero or as an advantage in recommendations.

Compare Tokyo with other cities

Read the source dates, choose your priorities and keep unavailable values separate from costs you know.

All maintained comparisons →

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