Hikone, situated on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, experiences a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm, humid, and rainy, while winters are cold, windy, and often cloudy, with occasional snowfall. The city sees significant precipitation year-round and enjoys comfortable spring and autumn weather, ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
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 colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour 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 grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Hikone’s climate is marked by notable seasonal variation, influenced by its proximity to Lake Biwa and the Ibuki Mountains. Summers (June–September) are warm to hot, humid, and wet, with average highs reaching 30–32°C in August and lows near 22–24°C. July and August are the wettest months, each receiving over 200 mm of rainfall, and the rainy season extends from May to October. Humidity peaks in July at around 77–84%, making the heat feel more intense. Thunderstorms and heavy showers are common in summer, but the lake’s influence helps moderate temperature extremes.
Winters (December–February) are cold and windy, with average highs of 7–10°C and lows near 0°C. Snowfall occurs, especially in January and February, but is usually light in the city centre. The northwest seasonal wind can be strong, contributing to the chill. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the most pleasant seasons, with mild temperatures (14–24°C), lower humidity, and abundant sunshine. These periods are ideal for cherry blossom viewing in April and enjoying colourful foliage in November. Hikone receives about 1,600–1,850 mm of precipitation annually, with December being the driest month. Sunshine is moderate, with daily averages ranging from 4 hours in winter to 8–9 hours in late spring. Daylight varies from about 10 hours in winter to 14 hours in summer.
The city’s dynamic weather supports lush greenery in summer, vibrant cherry blossoms in spring, and scenic autumn colours. While rain and humidity can be high in summer, Hikone’s climate is generally comfortable for travel most of the year, especially in spring and autumn.
| Average climate data for Hikone, Japan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 5 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 21 | 25 | 29 | 30 | 26 | 20 | 14 | 8 | 30 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 47 | 51 | 74 | 102 | 94 | 138 | 222 | 122 | 137 | 113 | 43 | 48 | 1,189 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 12 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 23 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 182 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 82 | 59 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 185 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 18 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 82 | 81 | 79 | 77 | 76 | 80 | 83 | 78 | 82 | 80 | 79 | 80 | 80 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 54 | 51 | 45 | 45 | 40 | 48 | 52 | 43 | 48 | 42 | 39 | 50 | 46 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
The best times to visit Hikone are in spring (April to May) and autumn (October to November). These months offer mild temperatures, lower humidity, and abundant sunshine, making them perfect for sightseeing, cherry blossom or autumn foliage viewing, and outdoor activities. Rainfall is moderate and weather conditions are generally stable.
The least favourable time to visit Hikone is during the rainy season from June to September, when humidity and rainfall are at their highest. Summer can be uncomfortably hot and humid, with frequent rain and thunderstorms. Winter, while less wet, is cold and windy, with occasional snow.
Hikone’s average annual temperature is around 15°C. The hottest month is August (average high 30–32°C), while January is the coldest (average high 7–8°C, low 0°C).
Yes, Hikone receives about 1,600–1,850 mm of precipitation annually. The wettest months are July and August, each with over 200 mm of rain. December is the driest month.
Snow is possible in Hikone, especially in January and February, but it is usually light in the city centre. The surrounding mountains may see heavier snowfall.
Cherry blossoms typically bloom from early to mid-April in Hikone. This is a popular time for visitors, with many parks and castle grounds hosting hanami (blossom viewing) events.
Pack light layers for spring and autumn, breathable clothing and rain gear for summer, and a warm jacket for winter. An umbrella is essential if visiting during the rainy season.
Hikone enjoys moderate sunshine, with daily averages ranging from 4 hours in winter to 8–9 hours in late spring. May is the sunniest month, while winter months are cloudier.
Humidity is high in summer, especially from June to August, reaching up to 84%. Spring and autumn are less humid and more comfortable for outdoor activities.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (30.4 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (5.3 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 17.5 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (22.1 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (0 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 10.1 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is July (221.9 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is November (42.7 mm). Over the whole year there are 1,189.3 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (23.2 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (10.1 days). Over the whole year there are 181.9 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (82.2 mm). The months with the least snowfall are April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 184.7 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (7 days). The month with the fewest days of snowfall is August (0 days). Over the whole year there are 18.3 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is July (83.5 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is May (75.6 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 79.8 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is January (9.5 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is July (6.2 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 7.9 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is January (53.6 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is November (38.8 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 46.4 %.
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: 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: 10.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is February (Average sunshine: 3.9 h). Over the whole year there are 6.6 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, February and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 4.1.
