At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, "Kikuzuki" was part of Desron 23 under Carrier Division 2 in the IJN 1st Air Fleet, and deployed from Hahajima in the Ogasawara Islands as part of the Japanese invasion force for the invasion of Guam. She returned to Truk in early January 1942 to join the invasion force for Operation R in Kavieng, New Ireland on 23 January, returning to Truk one month later. In March, "Kikuzuki" assisted in covering landings of Japanese forces during Operation SR in the northern Solomon Islands, Lae and Admiralty Islands. She was reassigned to the IJN 4th Fleet on 10 April.