Tokyo Private Tours
What Happens If It Rains on Your Tokyo Tour?
What Happens If It Rains on Your Tokyo Tour?
Tokyo gets rain. Sometimes it's a light drizzle, sometimes it's a downpour. Here's how your guide adjusts, what indoor alternatives exist, and why rainy tours can still be excellent.
July 27, 2025
5 mins read
table of contents
Rain Doesn't Cancel Your Tour—But It Does Change What We Can Show You.
Rain Doesn't Cancel Your Tour—But It Does Change What We Can Show You.
Rain Doesn't Cancel Your Tour—But It Does Change What We Can Show You.
You check the forecast three days before your tour: rain, all day. Does your tour get cancelled? Are you stuck under an umbrella for six hours? Neither. Rain changes what your guide shows you, but it doesn't ruin your tour. Tokyo has covered markets, underground shopping streets, museums, and indoor experiences most tourists never see. Your guide pivots to these spaces, provides rain gear, and uses taxis to minimize outdoor time. Rainy tours aren't the same as perfect weather, but they often reveal sides of Tokyo that sunny days miss.
What Actually Happens When Rain Is Forecasted
What Actually Happens When Rain Is Forecasted
What Actually Happens When Rain Is Forecasted
What Actually Happens When Rain Is Forecasted
We don't cancel for rain. Tokyo gets rain regularly, especially June-July (rainy season) and September (typhoon season). If we cancelled for rain, half our tours wouldn't happen.
Your guide contacts you beforehand to confirm you're comfortable touring, explain the adjusted route, and coordinate logistics.
The route gets redesigned to prioritize covered spaces: indoor markets, museums, underground shopping, covered temple corridors, and indoor food experiences.
We provide rain gear. Umbrellas and ponchos if you need them. Convenience stores also sell cheap umbrellas (¥500-1,000).
We use taxis more. Instead of outdoor walking or train stations requiring outdoor navigation, your guide calls taxis to minimize rain exposure.
How Routes Change for Rain
How Routes Change for Rain
How Routes Change for Rain
How Routes Change for Rain
Sunny-Day Plan:
Meiji Shrine grounds (outdoor)
Harajuku street walking
Yoyogi Park
Shibuya Crossing and streets
Shinjuku Golden Gai (outdoor alleys)
Rainy-Day Adjusted Plan:
Meiji Shrine briefly (covered corridors only)
Harajuku underground shopping
Tokyu Hands or Don Quijote (multi-floor indoor)
Shibuya underground network
Shinjuku department stores and food halls
Edo-Tokyo Museum (comprehensive history exhibits)
Different Tokyo, but still excellent Tokyo.
Indoor Alternatives Your Guide Uses
Indoor Alternatives Your Guide Uses
Indoor Alternatives Your Guide Uses
Indoor Alternatives Your Guide Uses
Covered Markets
Nakamise Shopping Street (Asakusa) is fully covered approaching Sensoji Temple. Ameya-Yokocho (Ueno) is partially covered with food vendors and energy that increases in rain.
Museums
Edo-Tokyo Museum: Tokyo's history from Edo period through modern times. Scale models, interactive exhibits, 2-3 hours of content.
Tokyo National Museum: Japan's largest museum, extensive art and cultural collections.
Mori Art Museum: Contemporary art with city views from indoor observation deck.
teamLab Borderless/Planets: Digital art museums, entirely indoor, immersive.
Department Store Food Halls (Depachika)
Basement floors of Takashimaya, Isetan, Mitsukoshi contain elaborate food halls with prepared foods, specialty ingredients, and free samples. Your guide explains food culture while you stay completely dry.
Underground Shopping Networks
Tokyo Station, Shinjuku, and Shibuya have extensive underground shopping streets. You can walk kilometers without going outside—these aren't just transit, they're shopping districts and restaurant zones.
Indoor Food Experiences
Rain improves certain experiences:
Ramen shops: Cozy, steamy, perfect warmth
Izakayas: Indoor drinking culture makes more sense when rain falls outside
Department store restaurants: Intimate atmosphere on high floors
Covered standing bars: Protected from rain but still open-air feel
What We Provide
What We Provide
What We Provide
What We Provide
Rain gear: Umbrellas and ponchos
Flexibility: If rain becomes miserable, pause at cafes or end early
Taxi assistance: Guide calls taxis when needed (you pay, but only for bad segments)
Towels/tissues: For staying comfortable
When Rain Actually Cancels Tours
When Rain Actually Cancels Tours
When Rain Actually Cancels Tours
When Rain Actually Cancels Tours
Typhoons with transit warnings: Rare, mostly September.
Extreme weather warnings: When government advises staying indoors.
Your preference: If you're uncomfortable touring in rain, reschedule. Our 24-hour cancellation policy applies.
Regular rain—even heavy rain—doesn't cancel tours.
Should You Tour in Rain or Reschedule?
Should You Tour in Rain or Reschedule?
Should You Tour in Rain or Reschedule?
Should You Tour in Rain or Reschedule?
Tour in rain if:
Limited Tokyo days (rain day beats no tour)
Curious about indoor experiences
Don't mind weather unpredictability
Tour is later in trip (outdoor sights already seen)
Reschedule if:
You have schedule flexibility
Outdoor experiences were primary reason for booking
Extreme rain forecasted (all-day downpour)
Very sensitive to cold/wet weather
Our 24-hour cancellation policy lets you decide once you see the actual forecast.
Rainy Season Reality
Rainy Season Reality
Rainy Season Reality
June through early July is rainy season (tsuyu)—persistent drizzle and grey skies, not tropical downpours. If visiting during this period, expect rain.
Book tours early in your trip rather than late. If your first day is rainy, you can explore independently later using guide knowledge. Waiting until the end means missing out if it rains.
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
Rain changes Tokyo tours—it doesn't ruin them.
You trade:
Outdoor temples/parks → Covered markets/museums
Street walking → Underground shopping
Scenic neighborhoods → Department store food halls
Photo-perfect weather → Intimate, cozy experiences
You keep:
Guide expertise and cultural interpretation
Food experiences (often enhanced)
Transportation efficiency (more taxis)
Flexibility and customization
Tour in rain with adjusted expectations and you'll have a good day. Expect sunny-weather experiences and you'll be disappointed. The key is embracing rainy-day Tokyo rather than resenting the weather.
Worried about rain? Contact our concierge team to discuss indoor-focused options and whether rescheduling makes sense for your situation. We'll be honest about what rain means for your Tokyo Essentials, Tokyo Trifecta, or Infinite Tokyo tour.
TOKYO PRIVATE TOURS
Discover the hidden layers of Tokyo most never see.
Our private Tokyo tours are designed for travelers who want to connect — not just check boxes. With a local guide by your side, you’ll experience the city’s contrasts at your own pace: tranquil shrines, vibrant street food, hidden backstreets, and bold modern culture.
TOKYO PRIVATE TOURS
Discover the hidden layers of Tokyo most never see.
Our private Tokyo tours are designed for travelers who want to connect — not just check boxes. With a local guide by your side, you’ll experience the city’s contrasts at your own pace: tranquil shrines, vibrant street food, hidden backstreets, and bold modern culture.
TOKYO PRIVATE TOURS
Discover the hidden layers of Tokyo most never see.
Our private Tokyo tours are designed for travelers who want to connect — not just check boxes. With a local guide by your side, you’ll experience the city’s contrasts at your own pace: tranquil shrines, vibrant street food, hidden backstreets, and bold modern culture.
TOKYO PRIVATE TOURS
Discover the hidden layers of Tokyo most never see.
Our private Tokyo tours are designed for travelers who want to connect — not just check boxes. With a local guide by your side, you’ll experience the city’s contrasts at your own pace: tranquil shrines, vibrant street food, hidden backstreets, and bold modern culture.
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