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Last and first frost dates in Tokyo

Japan

In Tokyo the last spring frost usually comes around 17 March and the first autumn frost around 14 December, which leaves about 272 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 4 April to 24 August.

Last spring frostaround 17 March
First autumn frostaround 14 December
Frost-free days272 days

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Tokyo?

The last frost in Tokyo usually comes around 17 March: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 24 February, while corn waits until 24 March. The first autumn frost follows around 14 December, about 272 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha22 January – 5 September3 March – 15 October24 March – 15 October
Ageratumfrom 17 January—from 4 April
Arugula——sow 24 February – 9 November
Basil28 February – 12 October7 April – 19 November28 April – 19 November
Beet——sow 24 February – 15 October
Bell Pepper6 February – 25 June7 April – 24 August28 April – 24 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 31 December—from 24 March
Bok Choy27 January – 23 October3 March – 27 November24 March – 27 November
Borage——sow 24 March – 20 October
Broad bean——sow 24 February – 5 September
Broccoli——sow 24 February – 29 August
Brussels Sprouts20 December – 27 July3 February – 10 September24 February – 10 September
Busy Lizziefrom 30 December—from 24 March
Cabbage——sow 24 February – 6 August
Calendula——sow from 24 February
Carrot——sow 24 February – 21 September
Cauliflower23 December – 29 August3 February – 10 October24 February – 10 October
Celeriac16 December – 26 June3 March – 11 September24 March – 11 September
Celery16 December – 6 July3 March – 21 September24 March – 21 September
Celosiafrom 4 Februaryfrom 21 Marchfrom 11 April
Chamomile——sow 24 February – 10 October
Chayote5 December – 19 June3 March – 15 September24 March – 15 September
Chickpea——sow 24 February – 26 August
Chicory9 January – 20 September—24 February – 15 October
Chili Pepper6 February – 1 August7 April – 30 September28 April – 30 September
China asterfrom 14 Februaryfrom 7 Aprilfrom 28 April
Chives——sow 24 February – 1 October
Cilantro——sow 24 February – 11 October
Corn——sow 24 March – 26 August
Corn poppy——sow from 24 February
Cosmosfrom 4 Februaryfrom 21 Marchfrom 11 April
Cucumber10 March – 1 September7 April – 29 September28 April – 29 September
Daikon——sow 24 February – 8 October
Delphiniumfrom 6 December—from 24 February
Dill——sow 24 February – 21 October
Edging lobeliafrom 30 December—from 24 March
Eggplant6 February – 25 June7 April – 24 August28 April – 24 August
Florence fennel17 January – 5 September3 March – 20 October24 March – 20 October
Foxglovefrom 18 November—from 24 February
Garden sorrel——sow 24 February – 9 October
Green Beans——sow 11 April – 3 September
Hollyhock——sow from 24 February
Hyssop——sow 24 February – 1 September
Kale——sow 24 February – 3 October
Kiwano10 February – 8 September14 March – 10 October4 April – 10 October
Kohlrabi——sow 24 February – 13 October
Leek25 November – 17 June3 February – 26 August24 February – 26 August
Lemon balm——sow 24 February – 5 October
Lettuce——sow 24 February – 18 October
Lisianthusfrom 8 Novemberfrom 3 Februaryfrom 24 February
Lovage——sow from 24 February
Luffa24 February – 3 July7 April – 14 August28 April – 14 August
Marigoldfrom 20 Januaryfrom 3 Marchfrom 24 March
Marjoram6 February – 20 September—28 April – 19 November
Melon10 March – 19 August7 April – 16 September28 April – 16 September
Microgreens——sow 11 April – 30 November
Moringa22 February – 25 September18 April – 19 November9 May – 19 November
Moss rosefrom 6 January—from 24 March
Mustard greens——sow 24 February – 30 October
Napa cabbage29 January – 30 September3 March – 2 November24 March – 2 November
Nasturtiumfrom 24 Januaryfrom 3 Marchfrom 24 March
Okra24 February – 13 September7 April – 25 October28 April – 25 October
Oregano5 December – 10 September3 February – 9 November24 February – 9 November
Pansyfrom 9 Decemberfrom 3 Februaryfrom 24 February
Parsley——sow 24 February – 29 September
Parsnip——sow 24 February – 18 August
Peanut1 March – 9 August7 April – 15 September28 April – 15 September
Peas——sow 24 February – 1 October
Petuniafrom 3 Februaryfrom 7 Aprilfrom 28 April
Physalis28 January – 6 August14 March – 20 September4 April – 20 September
Pumpkin24 February – 8 July7 April – 19 August28 April – 19 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 3 December—from 24 February
Radish——sow 24 February – 14 November
Sage16 December – 6 September3 February – 25 October24 February – 25 October
Scarlet sagefrom 21 January—from 4 April
Snapdragonfrom 30 Novemberfrom 3 Februaryfrom 24 February
Soybean——sow 28 April – 25 September
Spinach——sow 24 February – 20 October
Stevia24 January – 28 July14 March – 15 September4 April – 15 September
Stock——sow from 24 February
Sunflower——sow from 11 April
Sweet alyssum——sow from 24 February
Sweet Corn13 February – 20 September7 March – 12 October28 March – 12 October
Sweet peafrom 23 Decemberfrom 3 Februaryfrom 24 February
Sweet William——sow from 24 February
Swiss Chard——sow 24 February – 15 October
Thyme——sow 24 February – 26 August
Tomato21 January – 3 July14 March – 24 August4 April – 24 August
Turnip——sow 24 February – 17 October
Watercress——sow 24 February – 28 October
Watermelon10 March – 7 August7 April – 4 September28 April – 4 September
Zinniafrom 14 Marchfrom 18 Aprilfrom 9 May
Zucchini17 March – 6 September7 April – 27 September28 April – 27 September

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

When the soil warms up in Tokyo

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 9 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 18 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C8 January68 days earlier
10 °C8 March9 days earlier
15 °C4 April18 days later
18 °C28 April42 days later

Frost dates near Tokyo

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Hamamatsu (24 February) and latest in Sendai (31 March).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Hamamatsu209 km24 February18 December
Niigata255 km8 March20 December
Nagoya259 km22 March10 December
Sendai305 km31 March23 November
Kyoto363 km22 March7 December

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Tokyo

Within 15 km of Tokyo OpenStreetMap lists 30 garden centres, 3 farm-supply shops, 1 plant nursery, 28 markets and 31 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is JA東京むさし 三鷹緑化センター, 11 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Tokyo

Frosts in Tokyo usually come from about 14 December to about 17 March. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Tokyo by month

Average weather in Tokyo over 2016–2025: the warmest month is August. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: May–October (21.9–32 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: July (30.6 °C) and August (32 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in January (-0.1 °C). About 1548 mm of rain falls in a year, on 137 days; October is the wettest month (195 mm) and December the driest (51 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January9.3-0.1525
February10.71.1556
March14.65.114012
April19.210.112712
May23.514.815113
June26.719.218816
July30.623.417016
August3224.513914
September28.121.119415
October21.914.319513
November16.88.1869
December11.62.2516

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 14 November
Crocus14 November – end of December
Daffodil14 November – end of December
Garlic14 November – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 14 November
Helleboreby 14 November
Hyacinth14 November – end of December
Lilyby 14 November
Ornamental onionby 14 November
Peonyby 14 November
Saffronby 14 November
Snowdropby 14 November
Tulip14 November – end of December
Wild garlicby 14 November

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).