Japan weather in January

Planning a getaway to Japan this January and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What is the weather like 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.

During the day temperatures vary from very cold in Kamikawa at -6°C to warm in Ishigaki Island at 22°C. At night it cools down to 19°C in Ishigaki Island and -14°C 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.

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Fukuyama with an average of 50 mm to heavy rainfall in Itoigawa with 309 mm. Most areas experience a moderate amount of sunshine, with approximately 189 hours of sunlight expected in Tokyo. This makes it neither too gloomy nor overly bright.

For specific regional insights in Japan for January, refer to the map provided below. For an in-depth overview of the yearly weather conditions, do visit our Japan climate page.

Where to go in Japan in January

Weather conditions Weather

Temperatures

Precipitation

Map not visible? Whoops sorry! Please refresh the page.

Legend perfect weather pleasant tolerable unpleasant poor

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

Popular destinations in Japan

What is the weather like in January for the 5 most popular destinations in Japan?

Average weather in Tokyo

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

Tokyo

Max temperature Max temp

Min temperature Min temp

Monthly sun hours Sun hours

Monthly rainfall Rainfall

Monthly rainy days Rainy days

Weather conditions Weather

<<   December December
<<  

13°C 

5°C 

177 hours 

62 mm 

9 days 

unpleasant 

January January

10°C 

2°C 

189 hours 

72 mm 

9 days 

poor 

February   >> February
>>  

11°C 

2°C 

170 hours 

79 mm 

12 days 

unpleasant 

Climate in Tokyo

Average weather in Kyoto

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

Kyoto

Max temperature Max temp

Min temperature Min temp

Monthly sun hours Sun hours

Monthly snow/rainfall Snow/rainfall

Monthly rainy days Rainy days

Weather conditions Weather

<<   December December
<<  

11°C 

2°C 

138 hours 

71 mm 

18 days 

unpleasant 

January January

9°C 

-0°C 

124 hours 

73 mm 

21 days 

poor 

February   >> February
>>  

10°C 

0°C 

120 hours 

88 mm 

21 days 

poor 

Climate in Kyoto

Average weather in Osaka

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

Osaka

Max temperature Max temp

Min temperature Min temp

Monthly sun hours Sun hours

Monthly rainfall Rainfall

Monthly rainy days Rainy days

Weather conditions Weather

<<   December December
<<  

13°C 

4°C 

151 hours 

67 mm 

15 days 

unpleasant 

January January

10°C 

2°C 

142 hours 

64 mm 

18 days 

poor 

February   >> February
>>  

11°C 

2°C 

140 hours 

79 mm 

19 days 

unpleasant 

Climate in Osaka

Average weather in Hakuba

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

Hakuba

Max temperature Max temp

Min temperature Min temp

Monthly sun hours Sun hours

Monthly snow/rainfall Snow/rainfall

Monthly rainy days Rainy days

Weather conditions Weather

<<   December December
<<  

3°C 

-5°C 

86 hours 

221 mm 

23 days 

poor 

January January

0°C 

-7°C 

80 hours 

223 mm 

26 days 

poor 

February   >> February
>>  

1°C 

-7°C 

104 hours 

206 mm 

23 days 

poor 

Climate in Hakuba

Average weather in Hakone

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

Hakone

Max temperature Max temp

Min temperature Min temp

Monthly rainfall Rainfall

Monthly rainy days Rainy days

Weather conditions Weather

<<   December December
<<  

12°C 

5°C 

94 mm 

8 days 

unpleasant 

January January

9°C 

2°C 

103 mm 

10 days 

poor 

February   >> February
>>  

10°C 

2°C 

128 mm 

12 days 

poor 

Climate in Hakone

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

Is January the best 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.