Shiga Weather in January

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

Thinking about venturing to Shiga, 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 Shiga in January

Shiga, Japan is a region in Japan. January in Shiga generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. The month of January is in the winter season.

Temperatures

You can expect cold maximum daytime temperatures of around 9°C (48°F) and nighttime temperatures around 0°C (32°F) in Otsu. On average, January is the coldest month of the year in Shiga, Japan. So be prepared and make sure to pack winter cloths.

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

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Koka with an average of 69 mm (2.7 in) to high rainfall in Takashima with 104 mm (4.1 in).

Average sunshine

Most places get a reasonable amount of sunshine. Take Otsu as an example - it receives around 124 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 Shiga by month

Best Places to Visit in Shiga in January

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

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 Shiga

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

Temperature range in Shiga (January)

Precipitation variation in Shiga (January)

Otsu

In January Otsu generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 0°C (32°F) and moderate monthly 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 rainfall
68 mm (2.7 in)
71 mm (2.8 in)
84 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
21 days
21 days
Weather conditions

Hikone

In January Hikone generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 0°C (32°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
0°C (32°F)
0°C (32°F)
Monthly sun hours
138 hours
124 hours
120 hours
Monthly rainfall
79 mm (3.1 in)
83 mm (3.3 in)
94 mm (3.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
23 days
22 days
Weather conditions

Kusatsu

In January Kusatsu generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 0°C (32°F) and moderate monthly 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 rainfall
68 mm (2.7 in)
73 mm (2.9 in)
84 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
21 days
21 days
Weather conditions

Nagahama

In January Nagahama generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 0°C (32°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
7°C (45°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
0°C (32°F)
0°C (32°F)
Monthly sun hours
138 hours
124 hours
120 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
100 mm (3.9 in)
104 mm (4.1 in)
109 mm (4.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
24 days
22 days
Weather conditions

Omihachiman

In January Omihachiman generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 0°C (32°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
0°C (32°F)
0°C (32°F)
Monthly sun hours
138 hours
124 hours
120 hours
Monthly rainfall
75 mm (3 in)
81 mm (3.2 in)
90 mm (3.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
23 days
22 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Shiga, 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 Shiga in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Otsu 9°C (48°F) 0°C (32°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Hikone 8°C (46°F) 0°C (32°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Kusatsu 9°C (48°F) 0°C (32°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Nagahama 7°C (45°F) 0°C (32°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Omihachiman 8°C (46°F) 0°C (32°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Higashiomi 8°C (46°F) 0°C (32°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)

Shiga weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Shiga, Japan in January?

January in Shiga, Japan brings poor weather. In Otsu, daytime temperatures are typically around 9°C (48°F) and nighttime lows hover near 0°C (32°F).

What is the average temperature in Shiga, Japan in January?

Otsu averages a daytime maximum of 9°C (48°F) in January, with overnight lows close to 0°C (32°F).

Does Shiga, Japan get a lot of rain in January?

Rain is generally moderate to light in Shiga, Japan during January, with Otsu averaging close to 71 mm (2.8 in).

Is January a Good Time to Visit Shiga, Japan?

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

Generally speaking, May and October provide pleasant weather in Otsu. The weather in January, February, July and August, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Shiga.

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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