Shimoda, on the southern Izu Peninsula, enjoys a humid subtropical climate with mild winters and warm, humid summers. The city experiences significant rainfall year-round, lush greenery, and a long beach season. Seasonal changes bring cherry blossoms in spring, typhoon risks in late summer, and clear, crisp days in winter, making Shimoda a versatile destination.
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.
Shimoda’s climate is shaped by its coastal location, resulting in four distinct seasons, high humidity, and abundant rainfall. Winters (December–February) are mild and mostly clear, with average highs of 11–14°C and lows of 5–9°C. Snow is extremely rare, and December is the driest month, with about 41–98 mm of rain over 7–10 days. Winter sees 5–6 hours of sunshine daily and brisk winds, but frost is uncommon. The sea remains cool, with water temperatures around 13–15°C.
Summers (June–September) are warm, humid, and wet, with average highs of 25–29°C and lows of 20–26°C. June and September are the wettest months, each with 260–361 mm of rain and up to 19–23 rainy days, often due to the rainy season (tsuyu) and typhoon activity. July and August are warmer (27–28°C), sunnier, and see fewer rainy days, making them popular for beach activities. The sea warms to 24–28°C in August, ideal for swimming. Spring (March–May) and autumn (October–November) are transitional, with mild to warm temperatures (14–22°C), moderate to heavy rainfall, and lush landscapes. May and October are particularly pleasant, with blooming flowers or autumn foliage and comfortable weather. Annual precipitation is high, around 1,800–2,300 mm, and Shimoda enjoys about 2,000 hours of sunshine per year. Winds are moderate, with stronger gusts during storms and typhoons.
| Average climate data for Shimoda, Japan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 11 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 22 | 18 | 13 | 28 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 8 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 20 | 24 | 26 | 23 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 8 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 49 | 76 | 115 | 117 | 106 | 170 | 201 | 79 | 158 | 152 | 86 | 63 | 1,373 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 9 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 165 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 64 | 67 | 69 | 73 | 77 | 83 | 86 | 82 | 79 | 75 | 71 | 67 | 74 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 29 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 24 | 22 | 29 | 23 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 20 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 6 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 26 | 39 | 38 | 42 | 36 | 45 | 40 | 29 | 34 | 41 | 35 | 30 | 36 |
| Average UV index | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
The best time to visit Shimoda is from late May to early July and September to early November, when temperatures are warm (20–27°C), rainfall is moderate, and the sea is pleasant for swimming. These periods offer fewer crowds, comfortable weather, and vibrant scenery, making them ideal for sightseeing, hiking, and beach activities.
The least favourable time is from late June to early September, when the rainy season and typhoon risk bring heavy rainfall, high humidity, and occasional travel disruptions. While July and August are popular for beaches, sudden storms and oppressive humidity can affect outdoor plans.
Shimoda’s annual average temperature is about 17°C. January is the coldest month (highs 11°C, lows 5°C), while August is the hottest (highs 28–29°C, lows 25–26°C).
Shimoda receives 1,800–2,300 mm of rain annually, with June and September being the wettest months. Snow is extremely rare, and rain falls year-round, but December is typically driest.
Shimoda enjoys about 2,000 hours of sunshine per year. July and August are the sunniest months (up to 6 hours/day), while winter also sees bright, clear days.
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October) are best for outdoor activities, with warm temperatures, moderate rainfall, and lush scenery. Summer is great for beaches, but can be humid and stormy.
Shimoda itself is not a winter sports destination. Winters are mild, and snow is almost unknown. For winter sports, head to the mountains in central or northern Japan.
Swimming outdoors is most comfortable from July to September, when air temperatures reach 27–29°C and sea temperatures rise to 24–28°C.
Pack layers for spring and autumn, light clothing and sun protection for summer, and a light jacket for winter. An umbrella is useful year-round, especially from June to September.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (27.8 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (10.9 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 19 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (25.8 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (7.8 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 16.3 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (26.3 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is February (15.2 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 20.4 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is July (201.3 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is January (48.8 mm). Over the whole year there are 1,372.8 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (16.4 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is January (8.6 days). Over the whole year there are 164.8 days of rain on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is August (0.1 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are January, March, June, September and November (0 days). Over the whole year there are 0.6 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is July (86.3 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is January (63.6 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 74.4 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is December (29 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (18.1 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 22.9 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is June (45 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is January (25.9 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 36.3 %.
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: 10.9 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is February (Average sunshine: 5 h). Over the whole year there are 7.4 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, February and December (UV index: 3). Over the whole year the average UV index is 4.8.
