At a Glance
Compared to this destination's peak season March splits sharply: first 3 weeks moderate (winter’s tail end + Hinamatsuri Mar 3 + TAAF mid-month), final week explodes as cherry blossom peak hits (Mar 28 in 2026; usually the last days of March or the first days of April). Hotels near Ueno + Shinjuku Gyoen + Chidorigafuchi double in price for the final week; book 3-4 months ahead. Tokyo Marathon 2027 = Sun Mar 7 (20th anniversary + Abbott WMM Age Group World Championships); ~38,773 starters + 1.5M spectators citywide. Cedar pollen (sugi kafunsho) peaks mid-March through early April. Tokyo accommodation tax stays at ¥100-200/night until it becomes 3% on Apr 1 2027; the departure tax rose to ¥3,000 on Jul 1 2026.
Tokyo in March — Travel Guide
By Harry Nara · Last updated
Tokyo in March offers some of the best conditions of the year, ideal for Sakura chasers, marathon spectators & anime fans. Expect temperatures of 4–17°C, around 10 days of rain, and medium-high crowds across the city. Daily budgets typically land around ¥6,000–60,000+ for mid-range travellers. Book accommodation two to three months ahead — the most popular rooms sell out fast during peak visiting windows.
Contents14 sections
#Weather in Tokyo in March
Tokyo in March averages 4–17°C (39–63°F) with around 10 days of rain, and crowds are medium-high.
| Measure | March in Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Daytime high | 13°C / 55°F in early March, warming to 17°C / 63°F by month-end |
| Overnight low | 4°C / 39°F, warming to 8°C / 46°F |
| Cherry blossom | Usually peaks in the last days of March or the first days of April (28 March in 2026); the first 2027 forecasts appear in January |
| Character | The year's most changeable month: winter for two weeks, spring for two |
Figures are JMA Otemachi 1991–2020 normals.
What that actually means for your trip:
- The first and last halves are different trips. Winter keeps its grip for a fortnight, then spring arrives unmistakeably. Book late March if the blossom matters at all.
- The light changes before the temperature does. It shifts from winter grey to something that genuinely deserves the word golden, which is why photographers rate March over April.
- You get the anticipation without the crush. The city buzzes with potential in March but the extreme crowds do not land until early April.
- Coats give way to layered jackets and terraces reopen. By the final week, outdoor café seating is usable again on a sunny afternoon.
Should you come in March? Go in the second half. Late March now catches the cherry peak that used to belong to early April, and it does so with smaller crowds and lower rates than the first week of the new month. Combined with the yen, this is one of the best-value windows in the Tokyo year.
#What to Do in Tokyo in March
Tokyo Marathon 2027 (20th Anniversary Edition + Abbott WMM MTT Age Group World Championships, Sunday March 7, 2027): Tokyo's biggest single-event spectator day of the year, and the 20th edition of one of the world's six Abbott World Marathon Majors.
2027 carries additional global prestige: the race hosts the Abbott WMM Major Tour MTT Age Group World Championships, meaning the best amateur runners across age categories worldwide will be competing in Tokyo.
~38,773 starting places out of 300,000+ applicants (10-12% acceptance rate via the lottery).
Race start 9:10am at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (Shinjuku) → Iidabashi → Imperial Palace → Nihonbashi → Asakusa (past Sensoji Temple) → Ginza → finish at Tokyo Station / Gyoko-dori Avenue.
Best free spectating points along the course: Iidabashi (4km mark, early excitement), Ueno + Asakusa (16-18km, halfway energy), Ginza 4-chome intersection (mid-race, packed but spectacular), Marunouchi Naka-dori for the final 2km finish-line approach.
If you want to run it: entry is by a lottery held the summer before. The 2027 ballot has closed (ONE TOKYO members applied Jul 31 - Aug 13, 2026, general entry ran Aug 14-31, results came out in September); expect the 2028 ballot on a similar timetable.
Charity Entry is the high-cost alternative (guaranteed bib for ¥100K+ fundraising commitment).
Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival, Wednesday March 3, 2027): Hinamatsuri is the annual Doll Festival, celebrating girls and wishing them health and happiness.
Families display tiered platforms of ornate imperial court dolls (hina ningyo) in their homes, and restaurants, cafés, and department stores throughout the city set up elaborate doll displays through the first week of March.
Visually arresting and entirely ignored by most international tourists. Look for displays in the lobbies of major hotels, in the basement floors of department stores (Isetan Shinjuku + Mitsukoshi Ginza + Takashimaya Nihombashi best), and in neighbourhood shotengai (traditional shopping streets). The associated food (chirashi sushi, clam soup ushio-jiru, and hishi mochi rice cakes coloured pink, white, and green) appears on menus throughout the month.
Tokyo Anime Award Festival (mid-March, Ikebukuro): TAAF is Tokyo's flagship anime celebration. Held over 4 days in Ikebukuro (Toshima Ward), the festival features competition screenings, retrospective programmes, panel discussions with industry creators, and award ceremonies.
Single-day passes ~¥1,500-2,500; festival passes ¥4,000-6,000. The competition programme includes both feature-length animation (Anime of the Year category) and short animation work.
TAAF2027 dates are not yet announced (it usually runs over four days in mid-March).
The Ikebukuro location pairs well with Otome Road (anime/manga shopping for female fans) and the Sunshine City complex for non-festival activities. Check animefestival.jp/en/ 4-6 weeks ahead for the year's specific programme.
Early Cherry Blossom Spotting (Final 10 Days of March). Tokyo's bloom usually peaks in the last days of March or the first days of April (Mar 28 in 2026); the first 2027 forecasts appear in January.
Final 10 days of March is when measurable early blossoms appear at central Tokyo's specialist gardens:
- Yasukuni Shrine: Tokyo's official "bloom declaration" sakura tree; the JMA monitors this single tree as the regional bloom marker. Final-week-of-March visit gets the tree at first declaration if conditions align
- Shinjuku Gyoen: the Kanzakura (winter cherry variety) blooms 2-3 weeks before standard Somei Yoshino. By March 20, this variety is in full pink; by March 28, the Somei Yoshino starts opening across the garden (¥500 entry; 70+ sakura varieties total)
- Chidorigafuchi (Imperial Palace moat): late-March early activity along the 700m moat-side walking path.
Free; Hanami Boats available from late March (¥500/30 min) for cherry-blossom-from-water viewing
- Meguro River (Nakameguro): 4km of cherry trees along the canal with a famous chochin (paper lantern) illumination from approximately Mar 25-Apr 5. Lanterns light up the 800 trees nightly at sunset
- Yoyogi Park: first sakura activity around the central lawn from late March
- Sumida Park (Asakusa): the year's most photographed sakura location when combined with Tokyo Skytree in the same frame. Hanami picnics line the Sumida River from final-week-of-March opening
Kamakura Day Trip (Before the April Crowds): The ancient former capital of Japan (90 minutes by train from Shinjuku) is on the cusp of its spring peak in late March.
The Great Buddha (Kamakura Daibutsu, 11.3m bronze, since 1252) sits in a valley framed by early greenery; the hiking trails between temples are crisp + quiet; local restaurants serve spring vegetables like takenoko (bamboo shoots) + fresh wasabi from Izu that have just come into season.
March crowds at Kamakura are manageable; April crowds require early-morning arrival. Combine with Hokoku-ji (the bamboo grove temple), Hase-dera (with its sweeping view over Yuigahama Beach), and lunch at Mar do Inferno-style seafood restaurants near Yuigahama Beach.
Nikko Day Trip (Pre-Bloom Window): The ornate shrine complex at Nikko (2 hours from Asakusa on the Tobu Nikko Line) sees far fewer visitors in March than in autumn.
The gilded Tosho-gu shrine, the waterfall at Kegon-no-taki, and the cedar avenues leading to the complex are strikingly beautiful in early spring light.
Pack an extra layer: Nikko sits at altitude and runs 5-7°C colder than Tokyo.
Tosho-gu entry ¥1,300; Kegon Falls observation deck ¥600.
Tobu Nikko Free Pass ¥4,160 (covers Tobu trains + Nikko bus + free entry to several shrine-area attractions).
Shunbun no Hi (Vernal Equinox Day, Sunday March 21, 2027, with Monday March 22 off in lieu): Shunbun no Hi is a national public holiday + a traditional day for families to visit ancestral graves. Parks are busier than usual on this day; use it as an opportunity to visit Yanaka cemetery-garden: one of Tokyo's most beautiful old graveyards, lined with sakura trees and home to dozens of cats. By mid-to-late March it may already have early blossoms.
Government offices + banks closed; tourist sights stay open.
The traditional Shunbun no Hi food is higan ohagi (sweet rice ball with red bean paste); convenience stores stock special editions throughout the week.
Tohoku Earthquake Memorial (Thursday March 11, 2027): March 11 is the anniversary of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake + tsunami; 2027 is the 16th. The day is one of quiet national reflection, with a moment of silence at 2:46pm, the minute the earthquake struck.
Memorial events at the National Theatre (Hayabusa-cho), the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatories, and various shrines. Be respectful and subdued on March 11. Major media coverage of survivors and memorial ceremonies in coastal Tohoku.
#Getting Around
Tokyo's transport network is the world's most efficient.
Narita Airport connects to central Tokyo via the Narita Express (90 min, ¥3,070) or the Keisei Skyliner to Ueno (53 min, ¥2,570).
Haneda Airport is closer: the Keikyu Line reaches Shinagawa in 35 minutes (¥600).
Pick up a Suica or Pasmo IC card at the airport (¥500 deposit): works on every train, subway, bus, and convenience store nationwide. Tokyo Metro + Toei Subway connect the entire city across 13 lines and 280+ stations.
Spring weekends see platform congestion at Ueno, Shinjuku, and Shinjuku Gyoen stations during cherry blossom peak: travel before 9am or after 7pm to avoid the worst crush.
#Budget & Costs
| Travel style | Per day | Per night |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | ~¥6,000–10,000 | Hostel ¥2,500–5,000 |
| Mid-range | ~¥15,000-28,000 | Business hotel ¥8,000-18,000 |
| Luxury | ~¥45,000+ | Premium sakura-view hotels |
March straddles low and peak season: early March is still affordable, but prices climb sharply once cherry blossom forecasts confirm timing, usually in the last week of the month. Hotels near popular hanami spots can double in late March, so book at least 3-4 months ahead for blossom week.
Street food runs ¥500-800, convenience-store meals ¥300-600, casual lunches ¥1,000-1,500, dinners ¥3,000-5,000 and fine dining from ¥10,000, with IC card transit at ¥800-1,200/day.
What things cost:
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Shinjuku Gyoen | ¥500 |
| Sakura konbini snacks | ¥150-400 |
| Most parks and shrines | Free |
Where the money actually goes:
- The month has two prices and one dividing line. Early March is low season; the last week doubles hotels near hanami spots.
- Forecasts arrive after the rooms have gone. By the time bloom timing is confirmed, blossom-week accommodation is booked.
3-4 months ahead is the working lead time.
- Sakura-flavoured everything is cheap. Convenience-store seasonal snacks run ¥150-400 and are genuinely part of the experience.
- Tipping is not customary. Leave nothing extra; it may be refused or cause confusion.
March is the month where arriving early is worth more than arriving prepared. The first three weeks give you a low-season city with plum blossom still out, early-flowering cherries in a few spots, and hotel rates that belong to February. The final week gives you the main event and a doubled bill. Both are legitimate trips. What does not work is planning for the first and drifting into the second, because in Tokyo the calendar moves faster than most booking decisions do.
#Food & Dining
Chirashi Sushi for Hinamatsuri: Through early March, chirashi don (a bowl of seasoned rice scattered with raw fish, tamagoyaki, lotus root, and garnished with peas and roe) appears on lunch and dinner menus as the traditional Hinamatsuri dish. It is one of the most photogenic and satisfying Japanese meals for under ¥1,500.
Sakura-Flavoured Everything: From mid-March, the annual sakura-flavour food wave hits every convenience store, chain café, and supermarket in Japan. Starbucks releases its sakura Frappuccino, Häagen-Dazs produces a sakura ice cream, Family Mart stocks sakura mochi in every size, and even Kit Kat releases a cherry blossom edition. This is a specifically Japanese seasonal phenomenon; lean into it.
Takenoko (Bamboo Shoots): Fresh bamboo shoots come into season in late March. They appear in everything: simmered in dashi broth with mitsuba (Japanese parsley), stir-fried with miso paste, or as the filling in takikomi gohan (seasoned rice cooked with ingredients). Depachika (department store basement food halls) have the best prepared versions. Isetan's basement in Shinjuku is worth a visit purely for the seasonal produce section.
Spring Dining on Terraces: Late March is when Tokyo's outdoor café terraces, canal-side restaurants, and rooftop bars open for the season. The Nakameguro canal area is especially pleasant when the first green buds appear on the trees above; still quiet in March, magnificent in April.
#Nightlife
March nightlife shifts gears from February's winter hibernation to spring anticipation. By the third week of the month, evenings are warm enough to linger outside: the outdoor seating at Yoyogi Park's café kiosks, the Nakameguro canal bars, and the rooftop bars of Shibuya begin to fill. Club Camelot in Shibuya and the Womb in the same neighbourhood host their spring opening events in mid-to-late March.
For a specifically March experience: hanami preview parties. Japanese office groups begin booking riverside food and drink spots in advance of the cherry blossom peak, but in late March the trees are just starting and the parties are smaller, friendlier, and more spontaneous than the enormous April hanami gatherings. Bring convenience store onigiri and a can of chu-hai (canned cocktail, available everywhere for ¥150–250) and join in.
#Shopping
Spring Collections Arrive: March is when Japanese fashion brands launch their spring-summer lines. Harajuku's independent boutiques (Kiddy Land aside, look at smaller stores on Cat Street and Ura-Harajuku side streets) and the floors of BEAMS, Ships, and United Arrows bring in new stock. Prices are full retail but the spring designs are fresh and the selection is at its largest before summer sells through.
Spring Stationery Season: March is the start of the Japanese school and business year (which runs April to March, like the academic calendar). Stationary shops (Loft in Shibuya, Itoya in Ginza) have seasonal new-year stationery collections and limited editions. Japanese stationery is world-class and makes excellent gifts.
#Culture & Etiquette
March 11th is the anniversary of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. It is a day of quiet national reflection; you may notice a moment of silence at 2:46pm, the minute the earthquake struck. Be respectful and subdued on this day.
The Japanese academic and corporate year ends on March 31st, which means late March is graduation and farewell season. You'll see groups of university students in hakama and kimono at shrines and in parks, and office workers at farewell parties (sotsugyou-kai and soukai) in izakayas. The mood is celebratory and slightly melancholy in the distinctly Japanese way: beautiful to observe from the periphery.
#Essential Local Phrases
| Phrase | Japanese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| The cherry blossoms are beautiful | 桜がきれいですね | Sakura ga kirei desu ne |
| Thank you | ありがとうございます | Arigatou gozaimasu |
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみません | Sumimasen |
| Where is...? | ...はどこですか？ | ...wa doko desu ka? |
| How much? | いくらですか？ | Ikura desu ka? |
| One beer please | ビールを一つください | Biiru wo hitotsu kudasai |
| Delicious | おいしい | Oishii |
| Do you have English menus? | 英語のメニューはありますか？ | Eigo no menyu wa arimasu ka? |
#Packing List
- A medium-weight jacket for most of March; early mornings and evenings still require warmth
- Light layers underneath: the temperature swings between 7°C mornings and 15°C afternoons
- Compact umbrella: spring showers are frequent and often sudden
- Comfortable walking shoes: March day trips to Kamakura, Nikko, or Kawaguchiko involve significant walking on uneven paths
- One formal-ish outfit if you want to photograph well against the first cherry blossoms or doll festival displays
- A small bag for combini snacks: the sakura food wave means every convenience store run is a seasonal taste event
#Backup Plans
If the cherry blossoms haven't opened yet: March is specifically good for activities that are better without cherry blossom crowds: the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum in Koganei (Meiji and Taisho-era buildings relocated to a quiet park), the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno (world's largest collection of Japanese art, uncrowded on weekday mornings), and a full day in Yanaka (the most intact old neighbourhood left in central Tokyo).
If it rains: The covered market of Ameyoko in Ueno is one of the most atmospheric places in the city in the rain, with its corrugated metal roofs, fish vendors, and spice stalls. The Mori Art Museum in Roppongi Hills is another excellent wet-day choice; the rotating contemporary exhibitions are consistently strong, and the city-view observatory attached to the museum is one of the best in Tokyo.
If you're caught between early and late sakura timings: Follow the Japan Meteorological Corporation's bloom map online; it tracks blossoms tree by tree across the city and is updated daily. Tokyo's earliest-blooming tree (at the Yasukuni Shrine) is used as the official "bloom declaration" marker; when that tree is announced at five-petals open, full bloom across the city typically follows within seven to ten days.
#Safety & Health
March marks the peak of cedar pollen season (sugi kafunsho) in Tokyo: pollen counts are among the highest of the year from mid-March through early April.
Even visitors without prior allergy history may experience symptoms. Stock up on antihistamines before arrival, as Japanese pharmacies carry local brands (アレグラ/Allegra is available over the counter) but stronger options may be restricted (see Yunyu Kakunin-sho in Getting Around for the import certificate context).
Masks are widely worn during pollen season. Temperatures range from 8-15°C: comfortable for walking but still cool in the evenings. The transition from winter to spring means variable weather; pack layers and a compact umbrella.
Earthquakes are a background possibility in Japan: note hotel emergency exits on arrival and download the Japan Meteorological Agency app for alerts. Tap water is safe everywhere. Japan's crime rate is among the world's lowest. Crowded hanami weekends mean packed trains: keep bags close and be prepared for platform congestion at Ueno and Shinjuku stations.
Emergency numbers: 110 (police), 119 (ambulance/fire). Travel insurance is strongly recommended, particularly during peak season when cancellation costs are high.
#What's New for March 2027
- Tokyo Marathon 2027 = Sun March 7, 2027: 20th anniversary edition + Abbott WMM MTT Age Group World Championships hosted in Tokyo (race starts Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Shinjuku 9:10am → Iidabashi → Imperial Palace → Asakusa → Ginza → Tokyo Station finish; ~38,773 places from 300K+ applicants)
- Tokyo Marathon Expo Thu-Sat Mar 4-6, 2027 at Tokyo Big Sight Odaiba (free entry; race-bib collection + sports brand booths)
- Tokyo cherry blossom usually peaks in the last days of March or the first days of April (Mar 28 in 2026); the first 2027 forecasts come out in January
- Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival) 2027 = Wed Mar 3 (department store displays Mar 1-7; chirashi sushi + ushio-jiru + hishi mochi)
- Tokyo Anime Award Festival in Ikebukuro, usually four days in mid-March; 2027 dates not yet announced ( competition + retrospective + panel discussions; single-day passes ¥1,500-2,500)
- Shunbun no Hi 2027 = Sun Mar 21, with Mon Mar 22 as the substitute holiday (Vernal Equinox public holiday; higan ohagi tradition)
- Tohoku earthquake anniversary = Thu Mar 11, 2027 (national reflection day; a moment of silence at 2:46pm)
- Meguro River chochin (paper lantern) illumination runs approximately Mar 25 - Apr 5 each year (800 trees + 4km canal lit at sunset)
- Imperial Palace Inui Street opens for 9 days a year around cherry-blossom peak (2026 window was Mar 21-29; 2027 window announced ~February; free entry, ~100 cherry trees; 9am-3:30pm; enter Sakashita-mon Gate, exit Inui-mon Gate)
- Tokyo's accommodation tax changes on April 1, 2027: from a flat ¥100-200 a night to 3% of the room rate per person per night, with stays under ¥13,000 per person exempt and hostels and private rentals newly included. March 2027 stays are still on the old rates (free under ¥10,000/night/person, ¥100 from ¥10,000-14,999, ¥200 at ¥15,000+)
- Departure tax tripled on July 1, 2026: Japan's "Sayonara Tax" is now ¥3,000 per person, up from ¥1,000, and is usually folded into the air fare
- Yunyu Kakunin-sho medication import certificate continues (pseudoephedrine + codeine + ADHD stimulants restricted; 4-6 week MHLW application required)
- TAAF 2027 dates TBD (typically mid-March); check animefestival.jp 4-6 weeks ahead
#About This Guide
This guide draws on Tokyo Marathon 2027 official race information, Tokyo Marathon 20th Anniversary Project, Tokyo Anime Award Festival (TAAF), Tokyo Cheapo TAAF 2026 listing, Imperial Palace Inui Street opening, Japan Tourism Agency departure-tax notice, Tokyo Bureau of Taxation accommodation-tax revision, National Astronomical Observatory 2027 calendar, JMA Otemachi climate normals, Tenki.jp sakura forecast, Bank of Japan FX rates, and Embassy of Japan Yunyu Kakunin-sho import-certificate guidance. Dates re-verified September 26, 2026.
By Harry Nara · written for travellers planning trips around concrete event dates and exact pricing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is Tokyo Marathon 2027 and how do I get tickets?
Tokyo Marathon 2027 = Sunday March 7, 2027 (the 20th anniversary edition + Abbott WMM MTT Age Group World Championships hosted in Tokyo). Race starts 9:10am at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Shinjuku, runs through Iidabashi, Imperial Palace, Asakusa past Sensoji Temple, Ginza, finishes at Tokyo Station / Gyoko-dori Avenue. ~38,773 places from 300,000+ applicants (10-12% acceptance via lottery). Entry was by a lottery held in summer 2026 (ONE TOKYO members Jul 31 - Aug 13, general entry Aug 14-31, results in September), so the 2027 field is set; expect the 2028 ballot on the same timetable. Charity Entry (¥100K+ fundraising commitment) is the guaranteed-bib alternative. Tokyo Marathon Expo runs Thu-Sat Mar 4-6 at Tokyo Big Sight (Odaiba), free entry for anyone.
When do cherry blossoms peak in Tokyo?
Usually in the last days of March or the first days of April; in 2026 the peak was Mar 28 (per JMA's bloom declaration). The first 2027 forecasts come out in January. Final 10 days of March is when measurable early blossoms appear. Key spots: Yasukuni Shrine (the JMA's official bloom-declaration tree), Shinjuku Gyoen (Kanzakura winter cherry blooms 2-3 weeks earlier than Somei Yoshino), Chidorigafuchi (Imperial Palace moat, with Hanami Boat rides from late March), Meguro River (4km canal with chochin paper lantern illumination from approximately Mar 25-Apr 5), Sumida Park (Tokyo Skytree framed in cherry blossoms), Yoyogi Park, and the Imperial Palace Inui Street (open 9 days/year for free, 2026 was Mar 21-29).
What other events run in Tokyo in March?
Three additional dated anchors. Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival) Wed Mar 3, 2027 with department store displays at Isetan Shinjuku + Mitsukoshi Ginza + Takashimaya Nihombashi plus chirashi sushi + hishi mochi food traditions. Tokyo Anime Award Festival (TAAF), usually four days in mid-March in Ikebukuro (competition + retrospective + panel discussions; single-day passes ¥1,500-2,500). Shunbun no Hi (Vernal Equinox Day public holiday) Sun Mar 21, 2027, with Mon Mar 22 off in lieu (higan ohagi tradition; Yanaka cemetery-garden walk recommended). The Tohoku earthquake anniversary on Thu Mar 11 is a national reflection day, with a moment of silence at 2:46pm.
How are Tokyo's hotel and departure taxes changing?
Tokyo's accommodation tax changes on April 1, 2027. Until then it is a flat charge per person per night: free under ¥10,000, ¥100 from ¥10,000-14,999 and ¥200 at ¥15,000+, so a March 2027 stay is still on those rates. From April it becomes 3% of the room rate, with stays under ¥13,000 per person exempt and hostels and private rentals included for the first time. Separately, Japan's departure tax tripled to ¥3,000 per person on July 1, 2026, and is usually folded into the air fare.
How much does it cost to visit Tokyo in March?
Budget-conscious travellers can expect daily costs of ¥6,000–60,000+, covering accommodation, food, and local transport. Prices climb during peak weeks — book early to lock in the lower end of this range.