Seoul in January
Cold, crisp and quiet
- Temperature
- -7–2°C
- Crowds
- Low
- Prices
- $$
+Quiet streets and lower prices
–Very cold temperatures and short days
January is Seoul’s coldest month, with generally dry conditions and relatively few visitors.
Seoul vs Tokyo in January
Tokyo edges it in January. Seoul averages -7–2°C with low crowds; Tokyo 1–10°C with very low crowds.
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
Seoul and Tokyo
The verdict for January
- WeatherTokyo has the better weather3/10 vs 7/10
- CrowdsTokyo is quieterLow vs Very Low
- PricesTokyo is cheaper$$ vs $$
- OverallTokyo comes out ahead4.4/10 vs 8/10
Tokyo in January
Clear, cold, quiet and cheap
- Temperature
- 1–10°C
- Crowds
- Very Low
- Prices
- $$
+Dry blue skies, the lowest rates of the year and almost no queues.
–Cold mornings and a near-shutdown during the first days of the month.
Crisp light, empty museums and easy reservations at the hard tables.
Scores and crowd levels are my own judgement; temperatures are monthly averages. Higher scores are better: quieter, cheaper and more pleasant.
Another month