Nara features a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons, marked by hot, humid summers and cool to cold winters. The city experiences a pronounced rainy season in early summer, while spring and autumn offer mild, comfortable weather. These seasonal contrasts, along with abundant sunshine, make Nara a year-round destination for cultural 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.
Nara’s climate is characterised by significant seasonal variation. Summers (June–August) are hot, humid, and often oppressive, with average highs of 31–33°C and lows around 23–25°C. The rainy season, or 'tsuyu,' occurs from mid-June to late July, bringing frequent and sometimes heavy rainfall, while August remains hot and muggy with occasional typhoons. Despite the humidity, summer offers lush greenery and vibrant festivals.
Winters (December–February) are cool to cold, with average highs of 8–10°C and lows near 1–4°C. Snowfall is rare and usually light, but the season is mostly dry and clear, with crisp air and fewer crowds. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the most pleasant times, featuring mild temperatures (15–24°C), moderate rainfall, and abundant sunshine. Spring is famous for cherry blossoms, while autumn brings colourful foliage and comfortable conditions for exploring temples and parks. Nara receives about 1,300 mm of rainfall annually and enjoys 1,800–2,000 hours of sunshine per year. Humidity peaks in summer but drops in autumn and winter, making those seasons especially comfortable for visitors.
| Average climate data for Nara, Japan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 9 | 9 | 13 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 31 | 33 | 28 | 22 | 16 | 11 | 33 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -0 | -0 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 12 | 6 | 2 | -0 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 49 | 63 | 104 | 97 | 146 | 189 | 167 | 112 | 165 | 110 | 72 | 48 | 1,323 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 8 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 121 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 20 | 40 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 80 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 69 | 70 | 69 | 65 | 68 | 76 | 76 | 75 | 77 | 77 | 76 | 72 | 73 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Average UV index | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
The best time to visit Nara is in spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November). These seasons offer mild, comfortable temperatures, lower humidity, and the city’s most beautiful scenery – cherry blossoms or vibrant autumn leaves. Outdoor activities, sightseeing, and festivals are especially enjoyable during these clear, pleasant months.
The least favourable time to visit Nara is from mid-June to early September, when the city experiences its rainy season, peak summer heat, and high humidity. Typhoons may also occur in late summer, bringing heavy rain and possible travel disruptions. Outdoor activities can be uncomfortable during this period.
Nara has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and cool to cold winters. Spring and autumn are mild and pleasant, making them ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
The rainy season in Nara typically occurs from mid-June to late July, bringing frequent showers and high humidity. August can also be wet due to typhoons.
Snowfall in Nara is rare and usually light. Winters are generally cool, with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing, but snow can occasionally dust the city and its temples.
Summer temperatures in Nara range from 23°C at night to 33°C during the day. Humidity is high, making it feel hotter, especially in July and August.
Yes, Nara can be affected by typhoons, mainly from August to September. Typhoons bring heavy rain and strong winds, so travellers should monitor weather forecasts during this period.
Cherry blossoms in Nara usually bloom from late March to early April. This period offers mild weather and is ideal for outdoor activities and hanami (flower viewing) parties.
Nara receives about 1,800–2,000 hours of sunshine per year. The sunniest months are April to September, while December and January are the least sunny.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (32.6 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (8.6 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 20.4 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (22.6 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (-0.2 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 10.2 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is June (189.1 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is December (47.9 mm). Over the whole year there are 1,323.4 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is June (12.9 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is December (7.7 days). Over the whole year there are 120.7 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is February (39.9 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 79.9 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (1.8 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are June, August and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 5 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is October (77.1 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is April (64.8 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 72.5 %.
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: 6 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 3.1 h). Over the whole year there are 4.7 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is July (UV index: 11). The month with the lowest average UV index is December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 6.7.
