Japan in April – 15 Things to See and Do in 2025

Japan in April is a celebration of springtime and one of the best times of year to visit. Flowers are in full bloom, including the stunning cherry blossoms, and the weather is mostly mild and pleasant, making it an ideal time of year for sightseeing and outdoor activities.

Because April is one of the most popular times to visit Japan, public transport is busy and accommodation is in high demand, so it can be more expensive. Dates to try and avoid traveling are during Golden Week, one of the busiest holiday periods of the year in Japan, at the end of the month.

The best advice I can give you for traveling in Apil is to be organized and book any must-do experiences as you can as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment.

Planning a trip to Japan? Check out my Best Hotels with View of Tokyo Tower article for top tips on hotels with the most scenic views in Tokyo.

Average Temperatures in May across Japan

The weather in Japan in April is mild and pleasant. The temperatures are warm and mostly sunny, with occasional spring showers. Like May, public travel and outdoor areas can become extremely busy with tourists enjoying the last of the good weather before the rainy season begins in June.

Popular tourist destinations, such as Tokyo and Kyoto, are generally between 50F and 68F (10-20C), while Hokkaido in the north can be anywhere between 37F and 55F (3-13C). The further south you go, the warmer the weather, with popular warmer spots like Okinawa hovering between 64F and 77F (18-25C).

In general, temperatures during the day are still warm enough to enjoy without a coat, but you may still want something to throw over your shoulders in the evenings when the temperature drops slightly.

Japan In April – 15 Things to See and Do in 2025

1. Asakusa Yabusame – Tokyo

This annual event in Asakusa is a rare chance to watch archers in historical samurai attire perform horseback archery in central Tokyo. It takes place in Sumida Park on the third Saturday of the month. The festival begins with a ritual Shinto purification ceremony. Then it includes Kusajishi, a standard archery demonstration in the morning between 11:45 AM and 12:45 PM, and Yabusame, horseback archery that follows from 1 PM to 2 PM.

Asakusa Yabusame is unusual in that it blends traditional Shinto rituals with samurai tradition. While there are other better-known Yabusame events throughout Japan, this is a unique event for Tokyo.

• WHERE & When: Yamayabori Square, Sumida Park, Taito City, Tokyo. 1 PM-2 PM, Saturday, April 19, 2025

• More Information: City.taito.jp

2. Kameido Wisteria Festival – Tokyo

From mid-April, Kameido Tenjin Shrine in Tokyo celebrates the blooming of Wisteria plants throughout the temple grounds with their Wisteria Festival. Considered one of Tokyo’s best Wisteria viewing spots, the event is often packed with visitors hoping to catch the beautiful blossoms at their peak.  

The 300-year-old shrine has been famous for its Wisteria since the Edo period, with large trellises, colorful arched bridges over ponds, and night illuminations creating a magical atmosphere. In recent years, many festival stalls have started to appear, selling souvenirs and traditional Japanese festival snacks. The picturesque event is an ideal spot for photography or Hanami.

• WHERE & When: Kameido Tenjin Shrine, Koto Ward, Tokyo. From Mid to late April

• More Information: Kameidotenjin.co.jp

3. Hana Matsuri – Nationwide

Hana Matsuri is a celebration of Buddha’s birthday. Buddhist temples throughout Japan decorate temples with hundreds of colorful flowers, giving rise to the name ‘The Flower Festival.’ Festive activities for this serene and spiritual event can include tea drinking, monks performing chants and sutras, decorating altars, burning incense, and making offerings.

The festival is celebrated in temples across Japan with rituals, prayers, and many flower decorations; several prominent examples of temples that host particularly large ceremonies include Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo, Tōdai-ji in Nara, Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto, and Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Pavillion), and  Ginkaku-ji (The Silver Pavillion), both also in Kyoto.

• When: April 8th

4. Meiji Shrine Spring Grand Festival – Tokyo

In late April, Meiji Shrine holds its annual week-long spring festival during Golden Week in dedication to Emperor Meiji and his wife Empress Shoken, who are enshrined there, hosting various dance, theater, and music performances.

Highlights of the week-long event include several performances of traditional performing arts such as Noh theater, and Bugaku traditional dance. There are also several live martial arts demonstrations of Yabusame (traditional horseback archery), and Kendo. Visitors can take part in flower arranging sessions or tea ceremonies, for a chance to experience traditional Japanese hospitality. While the event is a must-see, it also coincides with Golden Week, making it a particularly difficult time to travel, if you are not already closeby.

• WHERE & When: Meiji Shrine, Shibuya City, Tokyo, April 29 to May 5, 2025

• More Information: Meijijingu.or.jp

5. Cherry Blossom Viewing (Hanami)

Cherry blossom viewing, or Hanami as it is best known, is the popular spring tradition of seeing cherry blossoms in full bloom. Below are some of the best spots for hanami in Japan.

Early April

• Tokyo – One of the best places in Japan for hanami due to its abundance of parks and scenic beauty spots that include Ueno Park, which features more than 1,000 cherry trees, Sumida Park, close to the Tokyo Skytree, and along the Meguro River, which has stunning illuminations at night 

• Kyoto – With its historic temples and shrines, there’s no shortage of unique and beautiful places to view Sakura in Kyoto. Popular locations include Maruyama Park, with its famous weeping cherry tree, Kiyomizu-dera, a UNESCO heritage site that offers panoramic views of the city below, and on the grounds of Nijō Castle

• Osaka – There are so many places to visit in Osaka it can be difficult to pick just a few, but perhaps the most popular locations include Osaka Castle Park, which contains more than 3,000 cherry trees, Kema Sakuranomiya Park, with cherry trees stretching more than four kilometers alongside the Ogawa River, and Expo 70 Commemorative Park

• Nara – This city of cultural treasures features some unique and beautiful hanami spots, including Nara Park, with wild deer roaming among 1,700 cherry trees, Mount Yoshino, with a sea of more than 30,000 cherry trees covering its slopes, and around the walls and moat of the Koriyama Castle Ruins

Late April

• Hokkaido – Hanami season comes a little later in the far north of Japan, around late April, making it a great location if you missed the Sakura in Tokyo. Goryokaku Park is a star-shaped fort in Hakodate City, surrounded by more than 1,600 cherry trees. Maruyama Park, located close to Hokkaido Shrine in Sapporo City, is one of the more popular locations on the island, and Matsumae Park in Matsumae town features more than 10,000 cherry trees

• Sendai – Cherry blossoms typically reach peak bloom in Sendai City, in the northern Miyagi Prefecture around mid-to-late April. The city has several popular viewing spots including Mikamine Park, a larvae public park with several hundred cherry trees, and Tsutsujigaoka Park, known for its exotic variety of weeping cherry trees that line the walkways.

• Kakunodate – The best time of year to see cherry blossoms in this former samurai stronghold town in Akita Prefecture is between late April and early May. Cherry blossoms generally bloom slightly later in the northern prefecture due to the cooler climate. Popular visiting spots include the weeping cherry trees of the historic Samurai District, and Hinokinai Riverbank, a 2km-long tunnel of sakura alongside the river

6. Takayama Spring Festival – Takayama

This festival takes place in mid-April over two days in the old town of Takayama, a small mountain city in Gifu prefecture with historic Edo-period buildings and narrow streets. It celebrates the coming of spring and the main attractions include a parade of festival floats, a marionette show, and a nighttime procession that lights up the streets of the old town district.

The festival is an extremely popular event, visited by thousands of people each year, so if you are planning on staying in the area in mid-April, it is recommended you book as far in advance as possible.

• WHERE & When: Hie Shrine, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. April 14-15, 2025

• More Information: Hida.jp

7. Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival – Hirosaki

One of the most popular cherry blossom viewing locations in Aomori Prefecture, the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival takes place every year around late April to early May due to its northern location meaning cherry blossoms bloom later in the year. There are many highlights during the event, including more than 2,500 cherry trees scattered throughout the grounds of Hirosaki Castle.

Other highlights include the thousands of fallen sakura petals that form a pink carpet on the castle moat, boat rentals where visitors can row along the petal-covered moat, and night time illuminations giving the castle, bridges, and trees a warm pink glow. There are also hundreds of festival stalls offering delicious street food that will bring your sakura experience to life.

• WHERE & When: Hirosaki Park, Shimoshiroganecho, Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture. April 18 to May 5, 2025

• More Information: Hirosaki-kanko.or.jp

8. Miyako Odori – Kyoto

Each year, during April, something special happens when the city’s geiko and maiko come together for one of the most celebrated public geisha performances in Japan, the Miyako Odori. Featuring up to 32 maikos and geisha, this series of special public performances held near the Yasaka Shrine, showcases traditional Japanese dance, music, and theater.

Additional similar style performances include Kyo Odori, a lively series of concerts performed by geiko and maiko of the Miyagawa district of Kyoto at the Miyagawacho Kaburenjo Theater, and Kitano Odori, beautiful and elaborate dances performed by the griko and maiko of the Kamishichiken district at the Kamishichiken Kaburenjo Theater.

• WHERE & When: Gion Kōbu Kaburenjō, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto. April 1-30, 2025

• More Information: Miyako-odori.jp

9. Fuji Shibazakura Festival – Fujikawaguchiko

This popular spring festival is one of the best opportunities to see fields of more than 500,000 incredible pink moss flowers called Shibazakura. Located at Fuji Motosuko Lake Resort, close to the famous Fuji Five Lakes region, visitors can browse festival stalls selling hot food and shibazakura-themed sweets, and enjoy the beautifully arranged patterns of these vivid pink, white, and purple flowers with views of Mount Fuji in the background on a clear day.

While the exact dates of full bloom vary year to year, the festival is held from mid-April until the end of May, so expect crowds, especially during the Golden Week holiday due to the festival’s popularity.

• WHERE & When: Fuji Motosuko Lake Resort, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi prefecture. April 12 to May 25, 2025

• More Information: Fujimotosuko-resort.jp

10. Bunkyō Azalea Festival – Tokyo

Another popular spring flower festival is the Bunkyō Azalea Festival at Nezu Shrine in Tokyo. It is a celebration of the shrine’s 300-year-old azalea garden, which features over 6,000 azalea bushes of around 100 varieties. 

Highlights of the festival include the stunning hillside shrine garden, where visitors can explore footpaths offering panoramic views of the entire garden, and wander through the many beautiful vermilion torii gates. When you are done wandering, explore the festival stalls that offer traditional sweet and savoury snacks, or pick up a good luck charm at the shrine store.

• WHERE & When: Nezu Shrine, Bunkyo City, Tokyo. April 1-30, 2025

• More Information: Bunkyo City Tourism Website

11. The 391st Inuyama Festival – Inuyama

During this two-day Edo-period festival, huge floats make their way from locations scattered throughout the grounds of Inuyama Castle through their respective neighborhoods to the beat of heavy drums and lively music towards Haritsuna Shrine. The festival is best known for its impressive and detailed three-storey floats and nighttime lantern displays.

Each 8-meter-tall float also features unique performances by karakuri puppets as they parade through the streets. Then, as the floats head along the historic Honmachi-dori Street, they are illuminated by hundreds of paper lanterns. Visitors may also want to combine their visit with a stop at the nearby Inumiya Castle for an unforgettable hanami experience.

• WHERE & When: Inuyama Castle, Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture. April 6, 2025

• More Information: Inuyama-matsuri.com

12. Opening of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route – Tateyama

This annual event marks the beginning of the season for many hikers or tourists escaping the big cities for a breathtaking view of the alpine mountain range. The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is a seasonal sightseeing route that connects Tateyama, Toyama Prefecture, and Ōmachi, Nagano Prefecture.

One of the most popular highlights is the Yuki-no-Otani, or snow wall, a corridor that is carved through the snow creating sheer 18-meter-high walls of snow on either side. Other attractions include the Tateyama Ropeway, a mile-long ropeway that forms part of the alpine route and offers unbeatable views of the surrounding mountains, and the Mikurigaike Pond, a clear blue lake inside a volcanic crater, considered to be one of the most beautiful in the Japanese alps.

• WHERE & When: Tateyama Station, Tateyama, Nakaniikawa District, Toyama Prefecture. Open from April 15 to November 30, 2025

• More Information: Alpen-route.com

13. Kurayami Darkness Festival – Tokyo

The Darkness Festival of Tokyo is an old and mysterious ceremony held at Okunitama Shrine, one at Tokyo’s oldest shrines, every year at the end of April. Dating back more than 1,000 years, the festival’s name comes from a tradition of carrying portable shrines through the town at night, surrounded by complete darkness, due to the belief that the Shinto gods should not be seen by human eyes.

While the darkness procession is a serious and powerful event, there are also many fun and visible highlights, which include the banging of massive taiko drums that create a powerful and chilling atmosphere to kick-off the event. There is also a procession of warriors dressed in samurai armor, and more than 500 festival food stalls offering grilled meats, sweets, and local sake brews.

• WHERE & When: Okunitama-jinja Shrine, Fuchu, Tokyo. April 30 to May 6, 2025

• More Information: Ookunitamajinja.or.jp

14. Beppu Hot Spring Festival – Beppu

Each year, the city of Beppu on Kyushu Island gives thanks to its abundance of hot springs with a week-long festival featuring a fire festival, a parade, and various local events throughout the city. 

The festivities begin on April 1, Onsen Appreciation Day. During the week, the Ogiyama Fire Festival sees locals burning dried grass on the slopes of Mount Ohira to promote new growth and welcome the arrival of spring. The festival concludes with the Yubukkake Festival, where portable shrines are paraded past Beppu Station as attendants splash hot water on the crowd. The entire week is a lively celebration of spring that is not to be missed.

• WHERE & When: Beppu Station, Ekimaecho, Beppu City, Oita. April 1-6, (Ogiyama Fire Festival, April 2, & Yubukkake Festival, April 6) 2025

• More Information: Beppu-event.jp

15. Toyama Tulip Fair – Tonami

The Tonami Tulip Park in Toyama Prefecture is perhaps one of the best places to see tulips in Japan. The gardens here contain more than 3 million tulips carefully cultivated for the annual event. Some of the fair’s highlights include a wide variety of colorful and elaborate flowerbeds, a Tulip Tower, offering a panoramic view of the park, a Tulip Skywalk, and the Valley of Flowers, which all feature their unusual displays.

The tulips are also illuminated at night, adding a magical touch to the colorful designs and patterns. The festival also includes live music and dance performances, as well as tulip-themed treats and souvenirs.

• WHERE & When: Tonami Tulip Park, Hanazonomachi, Tonami, Toyama Prefecture. April 22 to May 5, 2025. 9 AM to 5:30 PM

• More Information: Fair.tulipfair.or.jp

Dates to Avoid Traveling Around Japan in April

Golden Week – Tuesday, April 29 to Monday, May 5, 2025

Whatever you do, try to avoid going to Japan during Golden Week, which is Tuesday, April 29 to Monday, May 5. 

The Golden Week holiday is a series of back-to-back national holidays in Japan that includes Shōwa Day (April 29), which celebrates the birthday of the emperor Shōwa, Constitution Memorial Day (May 3), which marks the anniversary of the 1947 democratic constitution, Greenery Day (May 4) a day to appreciate nature and the environment, and Children’s Day (May 5), to celebrate the happiness and health of children.

It is one of the busiest and most expensive times of the year for travel, as many businesses and schools are closed for the week, making it a popular vacation week. Events and hotels get booked up fast, so if possible, avoid these dates for travel or plan as far in advance as possible if you are traveling during this period.