Kanazawa experiences a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons, marked by hot, humid summers and cold, damp winters. The city is renowned for its abundant rainfall and snowfall, creating lush springs, vibrant autumns, and picturesque snowy winters. These dramatic seasonal contrasts make Kanazawa an attractive destination for travellers 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 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.
Kanazawa, located on the Sea of Japan coast in Ishikawa Prefecture, is one of Japan’s rainiest cities, receiving around 2,200–2,400 mm of precipitation annually. The city’s climate is defined by significant seasonal shifts. Winters (December–February) are cold, damp, and cloudy, with average highs of 6–8°C and lows near 0–3°C. Snowfall is frequent, often blanketing the city and creating a magical winter landscape. Sunshine is scarce in winter, with only 2–3 hours per day, and strong winds are common, making the season feel colder.
Spring (March–May) is the driest season, with mild temperatures ranging from 7°C in March to 22°C in May. Cherry blossoms bloom from late March to early April, and the city brightens with fresh greenery. Summers (June–August) are hot, humid, and wet, with average highs of 29–31°C in July and August and lows around 22–24°C. The rainy season peaks in June and July, but August is the warmest and sunniest month, with up to 7 hours of sunshine daily. Autumn (September–November) brings comfortable temperatures (25°C in September to 13°C in November) and vivid autumn foliage, especially in November. Rainfall remains frequent, and humidity is high year-round. The sea is warmest in August at 26°C, and daylight ranges from nearly 15 hours in June to under 10 hours in December.
| Average climate data for Kanazawa, Japan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 7 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 22 | 25 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 21 | 16 | 10 | 31 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 273 | 170 | 159 | 136 | 155 | 186 | 232 | 139 | 228 | 180 | 261 | 283 | 2,402 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 25 | 21 | 19 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 23 | 194 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 1,204 | 918 | 271 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 370 | 2,783 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 19 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 55 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 74 | 71 | 67 | 70 | 75 | 77 | 73 | 75 | 71 | 71 | 73 | 71 | 72 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 17 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
The best time to visit Kanazawa is in spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November). These seasons offer mild, comfortable temperatures, the city’s most beautiful scenery – cherry blossoms or vibrant autumn leaves – and relatively lower rainfall. Outdoor activities, sightseeing, and festivals are especially enjoyable during these clear, pleasant months.
The least favourable time to visit Kanazawa is from December to February, when the city is cold, damp, and often cloudy with frequent snow and rain. While the snowy scenery is picturesque, short daylight hours and slippery conditions can make outdoor activities and sightseeing less comfortable for some travellers.
Kanazawa has a humid continental climate with hot, humid summers and cold, damp winters. The city is known for abundant rainfall and snowfall, with four distinct seasons and dramatic weather changes.
The rainy season in Kanazawa typically occurs from mid-June to late July, bringing frequent showers and high humidity. Rain is common year-round, so carrying an umbrella is recommended.
Yes, Kanazawa experiences frequent and sometimes heavy snowfall from December to February. The city is often blanketed in snow, creating a beautiful winter atmosphere, but streets can be slippery.
Summer temperatures in Kanazawa range from 20°C at night to 31°C during the day. Humidity is high, making it feel hotter, especially in July and August.
Cherry blossoms in Kanazawa usually bloom from late March to early April. This period offers mild weather and is ideal for hanami (flower viewing) and outdoor activities.
Kanazawa receives about 2,200–2,400 mm of precipitation each year, making it one of Japan’s rainiest cities. Rain and snow are common, especially in winter and early summer.
Beach activities are best in August and September, when sea temperatures reach 24–26°C. The rest of the year, the water is too cool for comfortable swimming.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (30.9 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (6.8 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 18.5 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (23.7 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (0.6 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 11.1 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (26 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is February (10.9 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 17 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is December (282.8 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is April (136.3 mm). Over the whole year there are 2,401.7 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is January (24.8 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is August (9.9 days). Over the whole year there are 193.8 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (1,203.8 mm). The months with the least snowfall are April, May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 2,782.8 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (19 days). The month with the fewest days of snowfall is July (0 days). Over the whole year there are 55.1 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is June (76.5 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is March (67 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 72.2 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 14.1 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: 6.9 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 2.1 h). Over the whole year there are 4.3 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is July (UV index: 10). The months with the lowest average UV index are January and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 5.9.
