Himeji has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons, featuring hot, humid summers and mild, mostly dry winters. Rainfall is significant, especially during the summer rainy season, while spring and autumn offer comfortable temperatures and abundant sunshine. These seasonal contrasts make Himeji an attractive destination for visitors year-round.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colors of the months:
The color shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the color is shows the travel season: full color means high season, soft color means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The gray info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Himeji experiences a humid subtropical climate (Cfa), characterized by hot, muggy summers and mild, relatively dry winters. Average daytime temperatures range from a chilly 10°C in January to a very warm 31°C in August. Winters are generally mild, with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing and snowfall being a rare occurrence. Spring and autumn are particularly pleasant, with comfortable temperatures and vibrant cherry blossoms or colorful autumn foliage.
The city receives significant rainfall, averaging around 1,400–1,600 mm annually. The wettest months are June, July, and September, with September often seeing the highest precipitation. Summers are not only hot but also humid, with July and August highs frequently exceeding 30°C. Sunshine is plentiful, with daily sunshine ranging from about 4.6 hours in February to over 10 hours in August. Himeji’s coastal location also means moderate winds, and the swimming season typically lasts from June to October, when sea temperatures exceed 20°C.
| Average climate data for Himeji, Japan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°F) | 45 | 46 | 53 | 61 | 70 | 76 | 82 | 85 | 78 | 69 | 59 | 49 | 85 |
| Average minimum temperature (°F) | 36 | 36 | 41 | 48 | 56 | 64 | 72 | 75 | 67 | 59 | 49 | 40 | 36 |
| Average precipitation (inch) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 19 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 10 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 21 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 152 |
| Average snowfall (inch) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 75 | 75 | 73 | 74 | 74 | 81 | 85 | 80 | 79 | 77 | 75 | 77 | 77 |
| Average wind speed (mph) | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
| Average water temperature (°F) | 59 | 57 | 57 | 60 | 65 | 72 | 79 | 82 | 79 | 74 | 70 | 63 | 68 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 5 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 42 | 44 | 39 | 38 | 34 | 41 | 42 | 34 | 38 | 35 | 33 | 41 | 38 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
The best time to visit Himeji is during spring (late March to May) and autumn (late September to November). These seasons offer mild, comfortable temperatures, lower humidity, and beautiful scenery from cherry blossoms or autumn leaves. Outdoor activities, castle visits, and festivals are especially enjoyable during these periods.
The least favorable time to visit Himeji is from June to early September, when the city experiences its rainy season and peak summer heat. High humidity, heavy rainfall, and occasional typhoons can disrupt travel plans and make outdoor activities less pleasant.
Himeji has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild, mostly dry winters. Rainfall is significant in summer, while spring and autumn are comfortable and sunny.
The rainy season in Himeji typically occurs from June to July, bringing heavy rainfall and high humidity. September also sees significant rain, sometimes due to typhoons.
Snowfall in Himeji is rare and usually light. Winters are mild, with temperatures rarely falling below freezing, making it comfortable for winter visits.
During summer, average daytime temperatures in Himeji range from 29°C to 34°C. Nights remain warm, and humidity is high, especially in July and August.
Cherry blossoms in Himeji typically bloom from late March to early April. This period is popular for hanami (flower viewing) and offers pleasant weather for outdoor activities.
Yes, the swimming season in Himeji lasts from June to October, when sea temperatures are above 20°C and suitable for swimming and other water activities.
Typhoons can affect Himeji, especially from late summer to early autumn (August to September), bringing heavy rain and strong winds. Travelers should monitor weather forecasts during this time.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (85.5 °F). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (44.7 °F). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 64.6 °F.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (74.6 °F). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (35.9 °F). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 53.5 °F.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (81.6 °F). The month with the lowest average water temperature is March (57 °F). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 68 °F.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is July (3.8 inch). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is January (0.5 inch). Over the whole year there are 19.4 inch of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (21.2 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is November (8.5 days). Over the whole year there are 152.2 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (0.5 inch). The months with the least snowfall are April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November (0 inch). Over the whole year there are 1.1 inch of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (4.2 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are May, July, August, September and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 11.1 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is July (84.6 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is March (73.4 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 77.2 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is January (8.6 mph). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is June (5.2 mph). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 6.7 mph.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is February (44.4 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is November (32.9 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 38.5 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 14 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 9.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.9 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is August (Average sunshine: 10 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is February (Average sunshine: 4.1 h). Over the whole year there are 7.3 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are July and August (UV index: 7). The months with the lowest average UV index are January and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 4.2.
