Comparison
Where to travel in April — cherry blossoms, tulips, spring city walks and dry-season islands
Eight April picks — cherry blossoms, tulips, spring city walks and dry-season islands — from climate normals and our guides, plus holiday crowds.
Published
How to choose an April trip
April brings flowers and good walking weather together. You can go for cherry blossoms or tulips, walk a mild spring city, or head for a warm island as its dry season begins.
This article uses the 'best time to go' in each city guide and the April normals (average high, average low and rainfall) stored in our guides. Normals are averages over many years, so they don't tell you this year's weather, and the source agency and period differ by city. Paris uses 1971–2000 and Bali and Bangkok use 1961–1990, older periods, so treat them as rough figures. Check the forecast before you go.
Temperatures are in °C and rainfall in mm. The sources are listed below; Amsterdam has no normals in our guides, so it appears without figures. Bloom dates change every year, so check the official bloom forecast.
- Japan Meteorological Agency, 1991–2020: Kyoto, Himeji and Hakodate stations
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: New York (Central Park station), Honolulu (Honolulu International Airport station)
- WMO World Weather Information Service, 1971–2000: Paris (Le Bourget; Météo-France)
- WMO World Weather Information Service, 1961–1990: Bali (Denpasar; Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics, BMKG), Bangkok (Thai Meteorological Department, TMD)
Cherry blossoms — Kyoto and Himeji
Kyoto is at its most beautiful in the late March to early April cherry blossom season. The canal-side Philosopher's Path is especially lovely then. The April normals are a high of 20.1°C, a low of 9.2°C and 117 mm of rain (JMA, 1991–2020). It is extremely crowded with higher hotel prices, so plan early.
Over 1,000 cherry trees grow in the grounds of Himeji Castle. The outer areas are free, the inner castle needs an admission ticket, and it is most crowded in cherry blossom season. April has a high of 19.1°C, a low of 8.2°C and 104.7 mm of rain (JMA, 1991–2020).
Bloom dates change every year. Check the official bloom forecast before you fix your dates.
Late cherry blossoms — Hakodate and Sapporo
Cherry blossoms come late in Hokkaido. In Hakodate, late April to early May, when Goryokaku Park's cherry trees bloom, is a good time for walking. The April normals are a high of 12°C, a low of 2.8°C and 71.9 mm of precipitation (JMA, 1991–2020).
Sapporo's cherry blossoms also come later than elsewhere, around late April to early May. If you missed the blossoms on Honshu in early April, compare Hokkaido in late April.
Tulips and spring city walks — Amsterdam, Paris, New York
Amsterdam's tourist board names mid-March to early May (especially late April to early May) as tulip season. Rain is frequent and the weather changes often within a day, so bring a jacket. Hotels fill up fast around King's Day on 27 April.
Paris is most pleasant for walking in April-June. The April normals are a high of 14.7°C, a low of 6.8°C and 53 mm of rain (WMO/Météo-France, 1971–2000, Le Bourget). They come from an older period, so treat them as rough figures.
New York also offers its most pleasant walking weather in April-June. April has a high of 16.6°C, a low of 7.5°C and 103.9 mm of precipitation (NOAA NCEI, 1991–2020, Central Park).
Warm islands — Bali and Honolulu
Bali's April-October dry season brings the most sunny days. The April normals are a high of 34.4°C, a low of 24.8°C and 88 mm of rain, much less than March's 234 mm (WMO/BMKG, 1961–1990, Denpasar). Nyepi can fall in April in some years, so check the official date.
Honolulu is warm all year, and April-May and September-October are quieter with pleasant weather. April has a high of 28.4°C, a low of 21.2°C and 19.6 mm of rain (NOAA NCEI, 1991–2020, Honolulu International Airport).
Think twice in April — New Year water festivals, holidays and closures
Several Southeast Asian countries celebrate New Year in mid-April. In Bangkok, Songkran (the mid-April water festival) is fun but crowded and pricier. Luang Prabang holds the Lao New Year (Pi Mai) water festival in mid-April, and Phnom Penh holds Khmer New Year events for three days from around 14 April every year. Check official information for exact dates. Bangkok is very hot in March-May, with an April average high of 34.9°C (WMO/TMD, 1961–1990).
Check holidays too. Tokyo and Osaka are crowded and pricey during Golden Week (late April to early May), and Fukuoka is busy then as well. Rome is very crowded around the Vatican at Easter, and Manila's traffic is heavy during Holy Week. Easter moves every year, so check the official dates.
In Chiang Mai, smoke from forest fires can make the air very poor in March-April. Chengdu's Jinsha Site Museum is closed until 30 April 2027.
At a glance — April by city
A quick April summary. Figures are 'high/low temperature and rainfall'; sources and periods differ, so the comparison is rough.
- Cherry blossoms: Kyoto 20.1/9.2°C, Himeji 19.1/8.2°C, Hakodate 12/2.8°C (late April to early May) (all JMA, 1991–2020; check the official bloom forecast)
- Tulips and spring cities: Amsterdam (tulips, especially late April to early May), Paris 14.7/6.8°C (WMO/Météo-France, 1971–2000), New York 16.6/7.5°C (NOAA NCEI, 1991–2020)
- Warm islands: Bali 34.4/24.8°C, 88 mm (WMO/BMKG, 1961–1990); Honolulu 28.4/21.2°C, 19.6 mm (NOAA NCEI, 1991–2020)
- New Year water festival crowds: Bangkok (Songkran), Luang Prabang (Pi Mai), Phnom Penh (Khmer New Year)
- Holiday crowds: Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka (Golden Week), Rome and Manila (Easter), Amsterdam (King's Day, 27 April)
- Air and closures: Chiang Mai (forest-fire smoke), Chengdu's Jinsha Site Museum (closed until 30 April 2027)
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FAQ
Where can I see cherry blossoms in April?
According to our guides, Kyoto's cherry blossoms come in late March to early April, and Hakodate's and Sapporo's in late April to early May. Bloom dates change every year, so check the official bloom forecast.
What is Bali like in April?
The April-October dry season begins. The April rainfall normal is 88 mm, less than March's 234 mm (WMO/BMKG, 1961–1990, Denpasar). Nyepi can fall in April, so check the official date.
Is it OK to visit Bangkok during Songkran?
Songkran in mid-April is fun but crowded and pricier. Check the official dates and book your hotel early.
Is Japan crowded in late April?
Tokyo and Osaka are crowded and pricey during Golden Week, from late April to early May. Avoid it or book early.
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