Kumamoto, located on Kyushu Island, features a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot, humid, and rainy, while winters are cool and mostly dry. The city receives abundant rainfall, especially during the summer rainy season, and enjoys moderate sunshine and mild transitions in spring and autumn, making it a year-round destination for travelers.
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.
Kumamoto’s climate is characterized by hot, humid summers and cool, relatively dry winters. Summer (June–August) brings average highs of 28–33°C and lows of 19–24°C, with July and August being the hottest and most humid months. The rainy season, known as 'tsuyu,' peaks in June and July, with monthly rainfall often exceeding 390 mm and frequent downpours. Typhoons can also bring heavy rain and strong winds, especially in late summer and early autumn. Despite the rain, July and August are the sunniest months, each averaging 6–7 hours of sunshine per day. Sea temperatures reach 26–27°C in mid-summer, ideal for swimming.
Winters (December–February) are cool but generally mild, with average highs of 10–13°C and lows near 0–3°C. Snowfall is rare and usually light, though the nearby mountains may see more frequent snow. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) offer the most comfortable weather, with mild temperatures (15–25°C), moderate rainfall, and abundant sunshine. These seasons are perfect for outdoor activities and sightseeing, with cherry blossoms in late March to early April and vibrant autumn foliage from late October through November. Kumamoto receives around 1,900–2,000 mm of precipitation annually and about 2,000 hours of sunshine per year. Winds are generally light to moderate, but can pick up during storms or typhoons.
| Average climate data for Kumamoto, Japan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°F) | 47 | 51 | 56 | 65 | 74 | 77 | 83 | 87 | 81 | 72 | 62 | 51 | 87 |
| Average minimum temperature (°F) | 35 | 38 | 42 | 50 | 58 | 65 | 72 | 74 | 67 | 59 | 50 | 40 | 35 |
| Average precipitation (inch) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 40 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 11 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 180 |
| Average snowfall (inch) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 74 | 74 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 82 | 84 | 78 | 78 | 73 | 75 | 76 | 76 |
| Average wind speed (mph) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Average water temperature (°F) | 66 | 64 | 64 | 66 | 70 | 73 | 79 | 83 | 80 | 77 | 74 | 70 | 72 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 42 | 44 | 41 | 37 | 35 | 51 | 47 | 33 | 37 | 31 | 33 | 40 | 39 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
The best time to visit Kumamoto is in spring (late March to May) and autumn (late September to November). These periods offer mild temperatures, lower humidity, and the city’s most beautiful scenery – cherry blossoms or vibrant autumn leaves. Outdoor activities, sightseeing, and festivals are especially enjoyable during these clear, pleasant months.
The least favorable time to visit Kumamoto is from June to early September, when the city experiences its rainy season, peak summer heat, and high humidity. Typhoons may also occur in late summer, bringing heavy rain and possible travel disruptions. Outdoor activities can be uncomfortable during this period.
Kumamoto has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and cool, mostly dry winters. Rainfall is abundant, especially from June to September, while spring and autumn are mild and pleasant.
The rainy season, or tsuyu, in Kumamoto typically lasts from June to July, bringing frequent heavy rain and high humidity. Typhoons can also bring rain in August and September.
Snowfall in Kumamoto is rare and usually light. Winters are generally cool, with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing, but the nearby mountains may see more frequent snow.
Summer temperatures in Kumamoto range from 19°C at night to 33°C during the day. Humidity is high, making it feel hotter, especially in July and August.
Yes, Kumamoto can be affected by typhoons, mainly from August to September. Typhoons bring heavy rain and strong winds, so travelers should monitor weather forecasts during this period.
Cherry blossoms in Kumamoto usually bloom from late March to early April. This period offers mild weather and is ideal for outdoor activities and hanami (flower viewing) parties.
The sea around Kumamoto is suitable for swimming from July to October, with water temperatures peaking at 26–27°C in August. Earlier and later months are cooler, so swimming is less common.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (86.7 °F). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (46.9 °F). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 67.1 °F.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (74.2 °F). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (35.3 °F). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 54.2 °F.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (82.6 °F). The month with the lowest average water temperature is March (64.3 °F). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 72.2 °F.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is June (8.4 inch). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is January (1.4 inch). Over the whole year there are 40.3 inch of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (23.5 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is January (10.5 days). Over the whole year there are 180 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (0.6 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 1.5 inch of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (3.3 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are July and September (0 days). Over the whole year there are 7.5 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is July (84 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is March (71.9 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 76 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is March (5.3 mph). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is June (4.3 mph). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 4.8 mph.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is June (50.9 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is October (31.5 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 39.4 %.
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: 10 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 December (Average sunshine: 5.1 h). Over the whole year there are 7.3 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is July (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.
