Maibara, located in Shiga Prefecture near Lake Biwa and the Ibuki Mountains, features a humid subtropical climate with warm, humid summers and cool winters known for heavy snowfall. The city experiences significant rainfall, especially in summer, and enjoys distinct seasonal changes, making it a year-round destination for nature and outdoor enthusiasts.
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.
Maibara’s climate is classified as humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa), offering four distinct seasons. Summers (June–August) are warm to hot and humid, with average highs of 26–32°C and lows around 18–24°C. July is the wettest month, often recording over 200 mm of rainfall and frequent rainy days, while August is the hottest month. Humidity peaks in July, reaching 84%, and summer winds are generally light, though breezes from Lake Biwa can provide relief.
Winters (December–February) are cool to cold, with average highs of 5–10°C and lows near 0°C. Maibara is notable for its heavy snowfall, especially in January, with snow depths sometimes exceeding 8 cm. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are mild and comfortable, with highs ranging from 13–23°C and moderate rainfall. Sunshine is most abundant in spring and summer, with daylight hours peaking at 14.6 in June. The city receives around 1,800 mm of precipitation annually and about 1,865 hours of sunshine per year. Winds are usually light, with the windiest period in winter, averaging up to 9.4 km/h in January.
| Average climate data for Maibara, Japan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 5 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 21 | 24 | 28 | 30 | 26 | 20 | 14 | 8 | 30 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 0 | -0 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 12 | 7 | 3 | -0 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 46 | 50 | 75 | 101 | 96 | 138 | 222 | 122 | 125 | 114 | 43 | 48 | 1,179 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 12 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 23 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 181 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 82 | 60 | 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 (%) | 83 | 82 | 78 | 77 | 75 | 82 | 84 | 79 | 83 | 81 | 80 | 82 | 81 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 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 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 53 | 50 | 45 | 44 | 41 | 46 | 52 | 43 | 47 | 43 | 41 | 50 | 46 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
The best time to visit Maibara is in spring (late March to early June) and autumn (late September to November). These seasons offer mild, comfortable temperatures, lower humidity, and beautiful cherry blossoms or autumn foliage. Outdoor activities and sightseeing are especially enjoyable, with fewer weather extremes and abundant sunshine.
The least favourable time to visit Maibara is from late June to August, when the city experiences its rainy season and peak summer heat. High humidity, frequent heavy rainfall, and the risk of typhoons can disrupt travel plans and make outdoor activities less pleasant. Winter can also be challenging for those unaccustomed to snow.
Maibara has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and cool winters with heavy snowfall. Spring and autumn are mild and pleasant, making them ideal for outdoor activities and sightseeing.
The rainy season in Maibara typically occurs from June to July, with July being the wettest month. Expect frequent rain, high humidity, and occasional thunderstorms during this period.
Yes, Maibara is known for heavy snowfall in winter, especially in January. Snow can accumulate significantly, making it a good spot for winter scenery and snow activities.
Summer temperatures in Maibara range from 18°C at night to 32°C during the day. Humidity is high, particularly in July, so lightweight, breathable clothing is recommended.
Cherry blossoms in Maibara usually bloom from late March to early April. This period offers mild weather and is ideal for sightseeing and hanami (flower viewing) parties.
Winds in Maibara are generally light, with the windiest months being January and February, averaging up to 9.4 km/h. Summer winds are lighter, but breezes from Lake Biwa can be refreshing.
Maibara receives about 1,800 mm of precipitation each year, with July and September being the wettest months. Winter is drier but features frequent snowfall.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (30.3 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (5.3 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 17.4 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (22.2 °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 (221.7 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is November (43.3 mm). Over the whole year there are 1,179.1 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 181.1 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (81.7 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 185 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (7.1 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are July, September and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 18.1 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is July (84.2 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is May (74.9 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 80.5 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is January (9.3 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is July (6.1 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 7.8 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is January (53.2 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is May (41 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 46.3 %.
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: 10.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 4 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: 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.
