Tokyo vs Osaka: Weather & Climate Compared

The short answer

If warmth is the deciding factor, Osaka wins: 61°F (16°C) on the annual mean against 60°F (16°C) in Tokyo, a gap of 1.1°F (0.6°C).

Head to head

• Sunshine: Osaka collects 8.6 hours of daily sun across the year; Tokyo manages 8.1.
• Rain: umbrellas get more use in Tokyo - about 137 wet days a year versus 128 in Osaka.
• Snow: only Tokyo sees regular snowfall - roughly 3 days of it annually.
• Peak heat: the hottest stretch lands in August for Tokyo (88°F (31°C)) and August for Osaka (90°F (32°C)).
• Coldest nights: winter bottoms out at 32°F (0°C) in Tokyo (January) and 34°F (1°C) in Osaka (January).

Who's warmer, month by month?

These two trade places through the year - Tokyo leads in 2 months, Osaka in 10, so the better-weather answer depends on when you ask. The starkest contrast comes in September, when Osaka runs about 3°F (1°C) warmer; January is the great equalizer.

Best months for sightseeing

Counting months with average highs between 64°F and 82°F (18-28°C) and fewer than 12 wet days:

• Tokyo: April, May (2 months)
• Osaka: April, May, October (3 months)

Both cities are at their most comfortable in April, May, the easiest window for a trip that takes in both.

Records, distance and time difference

• Tokyo records (2015-2024): high of 103° in July, low of 18° in January.
• Osaka records (2015-2024): high of 103° in August, low of 19° in January.
• Distance: Tokyo and Osaka are about 247 miles (397 km) apart as the crow flies.
• Time difference: the two cities share the same local time right now.