Japan

Japan Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Japan in January.

Thinking about venturing to Japan this January and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in Japan in January

Japan has a wide variety of climate types. During January, you can expect temperatures that range from very cold to warm and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. January falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from very cold in Kamikawa at -6°C (21°F) to warm in Ishigaki Island at 22°C (72°F). At night it cools down to 19°C (66°F) in Ishigaki Island and -14°C (7°F) in Kamikawa. In general, this month stands out as the coldest period throughout the year. Given the lower temperatures, it's essential to be well-prepared. Packing the right winter clothing and necessary accessories can make a significant difference in ensuring your comfort and well-being during this chilly season.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Japan, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Fukuyama with an average of 50 mm (2 in) to heavy rainfall in Itoigawa with 309 mm (12 in).

Average sunshine

Most places get a reasonable amount of sunshine. Take Tokyo as an example - it receives around 189 hours of sunlight, offering a nice mix of sunny and partly cloudy days. Want to compare this with brighter destinations? Try our weather planner to explore your options.

Explore Japan by month

Best Places to Visit in Japan in January

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Japan.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Japan

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Japan?

Temperature range in Japan (January)

Precipitation variation in Japan (January)

Tokyo

In January Tokyo generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
10°C (50°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
177 hours
189 hours
170 hours
Monthly rainfall
62 mm (2.4 in)
72 mm (2.8 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
9 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Kyoto

In January Kyoto generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 0°C (32°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
0°C (32°F)
0°C (32°F)
Monthly sun hours
138 hours
124 hours
120 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
71 mm (2.8 in)
73 mm (2.9 in)
88 mm (3.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
21 days
21 days
Weather conditions

Osaka

In January Osaka generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
13°C (55°F)
10°C (50°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
151 hours
142 hours
140 hours
Monthly rainfall
67 mm (2.6 in)
64 mm (2.5 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
18 days
19 days
Weather conditions

Hakuba

In January Hakuba generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 0°C (32°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -7°C (19°F) and heavy monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
3°C (37°F)
0°C (32°F)
1°C (34°F)
Min temperature
-5°C (23°F)
-7°C (19°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Monthly sun hours
86 hours
80 hours
104 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
221 mm (8.7 in)
223 mm (8.8 in)
206 mm (8.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
23 days
26 days
23 days
Weather conditions

Hakone

In January Hakone generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
9°C (48°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly rainfall
94 mm (3.7 in)
103 mm (4.1 in)
128 mm (5 in)
Monthly rainy days
8 days
10 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Japan.

In our records: Japan January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Japan in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • In our records, the coldest January daytime high in Japan was -15°C (5°F) in Mount Fuji on January 18, 2004.

Popular cities in January

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Japan in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Tokyo 10°C (50°F) 2°C (36°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Osaka 10°C (50°F) 2°C (36°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Kyoto 9°C (48°F) 0°C (32°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Hakone 9°C (48°F) 2°C (36°F) 103 mm (4.1 in)
Hiroshima 10°C (50°F) 2°C (36°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Nara 10°C (50°F) 1°C (34°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)

Japan weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Japan in January?

January in Japan brings poor weather. In Tokyo, daytime temperatures are typically around 10°C (50°F) and nighttime lows hover near 2°C (36°F).

What is the average temperature in Japan in January?

Daytime temperatures in Tokyo peak at roughly 10°C (50°F) in January, dropping to about 2°C (36°F) overnight.

Does Japan get a lot of rain in January?

Not particularly. Tokyo averages just 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain in January, making it a mostly dry month for Japan.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Japan?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Tokyo, January may not be the ideal time to visit Japan.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in May, June and November offering mostly pleasant weather in Tokyo. On the other hand, the month of January tends to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Japan.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Japan? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Japan.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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