Tokyo vs Seoul: Weather & Climate Compared
🇯🇵 Tokyo, Japan · 🇰🇷 Seoul, South Korea
Warmer overall
Tokyo
Sunnier
Seoul
More rainy days
Tokyo
Tokyo vs Seoul weather right now
At this moment, Tokyo is the warmer of the two by 13°F (7°C).
The short answer
If warmth is the deciding factor, Tokyo wins: 60°F (16°C) on the annual mean against 53°F (12°C) in Seoul, a gap of 6.7°F (3.7°C).
Head to head
- Sunshine: Seoul 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 98 in Seoul.
- Snow: Seoul is the snowy one, averaging about 5 snow days a year.
- Peak heat: Tokyo tops out in August (88°F (31°C) highs); Seoul peaks in August (85°F (29°C)).
- Coldest nights: January lows of 32°F (0°C) in Tokyo; January lows of 20°F (-7°C) in Seoul.
Tokyo vs Seoul month by month
| Month | Tokyo high / low | Seoul high / low | Tokyo rain days | Seoul rain days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 48° / 32° | 36° / 20° | 5 | 3 |
| February | 51° / 34° | 41° / 23° | 7 | 4 |
| March | 58° / 40° | 53° / 32° | 12 | 6 |
| April | 65° / 49° | 64° / 44° | 12 | 7 |
| May | 74° / 58° | 73° / 53° | 11 | 8 |
| June | 79° / 65° | 81° / 64° | 15 | 10 |
| July | 86° / 73° | 84° / 72° | 16 | 18 |
| August | 88° / 76° | 85° / 72° | 14 | 16 |
| September | 81° / 69° | 78° / 63° | 15 | 9 |
| October | 71° / 58° | 65° / 49° | 12 | 6 |
| November | 62° / 47° | 52° / 35° | 10 | 7 |
| December | 53° / 36° | 38° / 23° | 7 | 4 |
Who's warmer, month by month?
These two trade places through the year - Tokyo leads in 11 months, Seoul in 1, so the better-weather answer depends on when you ask. The starkest contrast comes in December, when Tokyo runs about 15°F (8°C) warmer; May is the great equalizer.
Sunshine, daylight and rain chance
| Month | Tokyo sun | Seoul sun | Tokyo daylight | Seoul daylight | Tokyo wet-day chance | Seoul wet-day chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.8 h | 7.8 h | 10.0 h | 9.8 h | 17% | 10% |
| February | 7.9 h | 8.4 h | 10.8 h | 10.8 h | 26% | 16% |
| March | 8.1 h | 9.1 h | 11.9 h | 11.9 h | 38% | 19% |
| April | 8.6 h | 9.3 h | 13.1 h | 13.1 h | 38% | 24% |
| May | 8.9 h | 10.0 h | 14.0 h | 14.2 h | 36% | 26% |
| June | 8.2 h | 9.8 h | 14.6 h | 14.7 h | 50% | 33% |
| July | 8.7 h | 8.2 h | 14.3 h | 14.5 h | 52% | 57% |
| August | 10.0 h | 9.2 h | 13.5 h | 13.6 h | 46% | 51% |
| September | 7.4 h | 8.6 h | 12.3 h | 12.4 h | 51% | 29% |
| October | 7.0 h | 8.3 h | 11.2 h | 11.1 h | 40% | 20% |
| November | 7.3 h | 7.2 h | 10.2 h | 10.1 h | 32% | 24% |
| December | 7.5 h | 7.2 h | 9.7 h | 9.6 h | 21% | 15% |
Seasons compared
| Months | Tokyo high / low | Seoul high / low | Tokyo rain days | Seoul rain days | Tokyo sun | Seoul sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December - February | 50° / 34° | 38° / 22° | 19 | 12 | 7.7 h | 7.8 h |
| March - May | 66° / 49° | 63° / 43° | 34 | 21 | 8.5 h | 9.5 h |
| June - August | 84° / 71° | 83° / 69° | 46 | 43 | 9.0 h | 9.1 h |
| September - November | 71° / 58° | 65° / 49° | 37 | 22 | 7.2 h | 8.0 h |
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)
- Seoul: May, June, September, October (4 months)
Both cities are at their most comfortable in 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.
- Seoul records (2015-2024): high of 97° in August, low of -3° in January.
- Distance: Tokyo and Seoul are about 716 miles (1,153 km) apart as the crow flies.
- Time difference: the two cities share the same local time right now.
Tokyo vs Seoul: quick answers
Is Tokyo warmer than Seoul?
On the annual mean, Tokyo is the warmer city by roughly 6.7°F (3.7°C), though the margin shifts with the seasons.
Which city is sunnier, Tokyo or Seoul?
Seoul, with 8.6 hours of average daily sunshine against 8.1 in Tokyo.
Which city gets more rain?
Tokyo is the wetter city, logging about 137 rain days annually to Seoul's 98.
Dig deeper
More comparisons with Tokyo