Oita, located on Kyushu’s northeast coast, enjoys a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and cool, mild winters. The region is known for its abundant rainfall, particularly during the summer rainy season, and experiences four distinct seasons. Oita’s climate supports lush greenery, vibrant festivals, and is ideal for hot spring experiences 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.
Oita’s climate is classified as humid subtropical, with notable seasonal variation. Summers (June–September) are hot, humid, and often wet, with average highs peaking at 31°C in August and lows around 24°C. The rainy season typically occurs in June and July, bringing the heaviest precipitation – up to 317 mm per month. Typhoons may occasionally affect the region from late summer to early autumn, resulting in intense but short-lived storms. Humidity levels are high, often exceeding 80% in summer, which can make temperatures feel even warmer.
Winters (December–February) are cool and mostly dry, with average highs around 10–12°C and lows near 2–4°C. Snow is rare, and most winter days are clear with moderate sunshine. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are especially pleasant, offering mild temperatures (15–24°C), lower humidity, and abundant sunshine – ideal for outdoor activities and sightseeing. Oita receives about 1,600 mm of rainfall annually, with the wettest months being June and July and the driest in winter. Sunshine hours range from 4–6 hours per day, peaking in late spring and summer, while daylight varies from about 10 hours in winter to over 14 hours in June. Winds are generally light to moderate, but can be brisk during storms or typhoons.
The climate supports Oita’s reputation as Japan’s onsen (hot spring) capital, with lush landscapes, vibrant cherry blossoms in spring, and colourful autumn foliage. The region’s weather is dynamic but generally comfortable for travel most of the year.
| Average climate data for Oita, Japan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 7 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 19 | 21 | 26 | 26 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 26 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 115 | 71 | 77 | 62 | 40 | 29 | 10 | 14 | 38 | 89 | 97 | 120 | 763 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 18 | 16 | 20 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 173 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 32 | 57 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 127 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 86 | 86 | 83 | 79 | 74 | 74 | 69 | 69 | 75 | 80 | 86 | 88 | 79 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 18 | 20 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 58 | 56 | 56 | 52 | 45 | 44 | 28 | 27 | 35 | 45 | 55 | 58 | 47 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The best times to visit Oita are in spring (April to May) and autumn (October to November). These months offer mild temperatures, low humidity, and abundant sunshine, making them perfect for sightseeing, enjoying cherry blossoms or autumn foliage, and outdoor activities. Rainfall is moderate and weather conditions are generally stable.
The least favourable time to visit Oita is during the rainy season in June and July, when humidity and rainfall are at their highest. Summer (July–August) can also be uncomfortably hot and humid, with occasional typhoons disrupting travel plans. Winter, while mild, is less attractive for those seeking warm-weather activities.
Oita’s average annual temperature is about 16.7°C. The coldest month is January (average high 10–11°C, low 2–4°C), while August is the hottest (average high 31°C, low 24°C).
Oita receives about 1,600 mm of rain annually. The wettest months are June and July, with heavy rainfall during the rainy season. Winter months are much drier.
Snow is rare in Oita. Winters are generally cool and dry with little to no snowfall, making the city accessible year-round without concerns about snow disruption.
Cherry blossoms typically bloom from late March to early April in Oita. This is a popular time for visitors, with many parks and scenic spots hosting hanami (blossom viewing) events.
Typhoons can occasionally impact Oita, especially from August to September. While direct hits are rare, travellers should monitor weather forecasts during this period.
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.
Oita enjoys 4–6 hours of sunshine daily, with the sunniest months from April to August. Winter months are cloudier but still have bright days.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (25.6 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is December (6.5 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 15.4 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (11.6 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (1.3 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 5.7 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (26.9 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is February (13.6 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 19.9 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is December (120 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is July (9.9 mm). Over the whole year there are 762.7 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is March (20.1 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is August (4.9 days). Over the whole year there are 172.6 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is February (57.1 mm). The months with the least snowfall are April, May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 126.7 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (3.1 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are June, July, August, September and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 8.9 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (87.7 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is July (69 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 79 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is November (8.2 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (6 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 7.2 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is January (58.3 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is August (26.6 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 46.6 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 15.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 8.1 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 July (Average sunshine: 10.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 3.9 h). Over the whole year there are 6.7 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is July (UV index: 6). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February, November and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.3.
