Matsuyama, located on Shikoku Island, enjoys a mild, humid subtropical climate influenced by the Seto Inland Sea. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are cool but rarely severe. The city receives abundant sunshine, moderate rainfall, and very little snow, making it an attractive destination for travellers seeking varied seasonal experiences.
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.
Matsuyama’s climate is classified as humid subtropical, with four distinct seasons and a yearly average temperature of around 16.5°C. Summers (June–September) are hot and humid, with average highs peaking at 32°C in August. The rainy season occurs in June and July, bringing the highest monthly precipitation – up to 229 mm. Typhoons may occasionally affect the city from late summer into early autumn, though Matsuyama is somewhat sheltered by its inland sea location.
Winters (December–February) are cool but generally mild, with average highs around 10–13°C and lows near 2–5°C. Snowfall is rare, and most winter days are clear with moderate sunshine. Spring and autumn are particularly pleasant, with comfortable temperatures (15–24°C), lower humidity, and abundant sunshine – ideal for outdoor activities and sightseeing. Matsuyama enjoys over 2,000 hours of sunshine annually, with daily daylight ranging from 10 hours in winter to 14–15 hours in summer. Winds are usually light, with only occasional breezy days, most notably in late winter and early spring.
The Seto Inland Sea moderates extreme temperatures, and the city’s climate supports a vibrant natural landscape, including famous cherry blossoms in spring and colourful foliage in autumn. The sea is warm enough for swimming from July to October, with temperatures peaking at 27.5°C in August. Overall, Matsuyama’s climate is mild, with notable seasonal contrasts but few weather extremes.
| Average climate data for Matsuyama, Japan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 8 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 29 | 25 | 21 | 16 | 10 | 29 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 3 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 24 | 36 | 40 | 45 | 66 | 149 | 134 | 68 | 66 | 51 | 29 | 38 | 747 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 8 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 163 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 72 | 73 | 71 | 74 | 76 | 83 | 83 | 79 | 81 | 77 | 75 | 75 | 77 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 9 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 16 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 18 | 21 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 43 | 43 | 39 | 36 | 31 | 41 | 39 | 30 | 35 | 33 | 33 | 41 | 37 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
The best time to visit Matsuyama is during spring (late March to May) and autumn (late September to November). These seasons offer mild temperatures, low humidity, and abundant sunshine, making them ideal 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 Matsuyama 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.
Matsuyama’s average annual temperature is about 16.5°C. The coldest month is January (average high 10°C, low 2°C), while August is the hottest (average high 32°C, low 24°C).
Matsuyama receives about 1,300–1,400 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 Matsuyama. Winters are generally mild 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 Matsuyama. This is a popular time for visitors, with many parks and scenic spots hosting hanami (blossom viewing) events.
Typhoons can occasionally impact Matsuyama, especially from August to early October. While the city is somewhat sheltered, travellers should monitor weather forecasts during this period.
The Seto Inland Sea near Matsuyama is warm enough for swimming from July to October, with sea temperatures peaking at around 27.5°C in August.
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.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (29.2 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (7.9 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 18.1 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (23.4 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (2.9 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 12.5 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (27.2 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is February (14.8 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 20.5 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is June (149.3 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is January (23.9 mm). Over the whole year there are 747 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (21.4 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is January (8.4 days). Over the whole year there are 163 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is December (6 mm). The months with the least snowfall are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 12.9 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is December (1.3 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are September and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 3.6 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is July (83.4 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is March (71.4 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 76.5 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is January (12.4 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is June (6.6 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 9.3 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is February (43.1 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is August (30.2 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 36.9 %.
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: 10 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: 10.2 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 5 h). Over the whole year there are 7.5 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 and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 4.2.
