Is the air quality good in Tokyo?
On August 25, 2025, at 8:20 AM PT, Tokyo, Japan, experienced unusually poor air quality. The AQI is classified as "moderate" and bordering on the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" range.
Some neighborhoods were in the higher range, where concentrations of PM2.5 were the dominant pollutant.
Air quality is dynamic and, like the weather, can change frequently. On Monday morning, Tokyo ranked as the ninth most polluted major city, with Osaka, Oita, and Nagoya also experiencing moderate air quality.
Click here for a real-time air quality map of Tokyo.
While the air quality conditions on August 25 are unusually poor, the broader picture is more favorable; in 2024, the average PM2.5 concentration in Tokyo was 9 µg/m3. This corresponds to an AQI of 50, which falls into the “good” category and was 10 times the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m3.
Tokyo, Japan ranked as the 9th most polluted major city on Aug 25, 2025, 8:20 AM PT. Source: IQAir.
When will air quality improve in Tokyo?
Air quality is forecasted to gradually improve on Wednesday and Thursday, though it will likely remain in the moderate air quality range.
Hourly air quality forecast for Tokyo, Japan on Aug 25, 2025,8:20 AM PT. Source: IQAir.
Air quality map of Tokyo, Japan on Aug 25, 2025, 8:20 AM PT. Source: IQAir.
What is causing poor air quality in Tokyo?
Poor air quality in Tokyo is currently being driven by a combination of industrial pollution, traffic, and summer temperatures. Other possibly contributing factors may be sea salt blown in from the Pacific and Japan's mountainous geography causing pollutants to be trapped in valleys and basins, preventing pollutant dispersal.
Although it is not a major contributing factor on the morning of August 25, dust from Gobi Desert and other transboundary pollutants can often contribute to poor air quality in Japan.
How can I protect myself from poor air quality?
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.
