Yonezawa, located in Yamagata Prefecture, experiences a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and humid with frequent rain, while winters are very cold and snowy. The city’s significant seasonal contrasts and abundant precipitation make it a unique destination for both summer greenery and winter snow 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.
Yonezawa has a humid continental climate characterised by warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Summer temperatures peak in August with average highs around 28–30°C and humidity levels that can make it feel muggy. The rainy season occurs mainly in June and July, bringing frequent showers and high precipitation. Despite the rain, summer is lush and vibrant, ideal for outdoor activities and festivals.
Winters in Yonezawa are cold and snowy, with average highs around 2–5°C and lows often dropping below freezing. Snowfall is significant from December to February, creating picturesque winter landscapes and opportunities for snow sports. Spring and autumn are transitional seasons with mild temperatures and moderate rainfall. Cherry blossoms bloom in late April, while autumn foliage peaks in October and November. Yonezawa receives approximately 1,700 mm of precipitation annually and enjoys about 1,865 hours of sunshine per year. Winds are generally light, though the windiest months are March to May.
| Average climate data for Yonezawa, Japan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 0 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 20 | 23 | 27 | 28 | 23 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 28 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -6 | -6 | -3 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 3 | -2 | -6 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 53 | 30 | 49 | 58 | 54 | 74 | 137 | 92 | 61 | 99 | 34 | 65 | 806 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 5 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 21 | 21 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 148 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 320 | 146 | 117 | 81 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 300 | 1,012 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 19 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 61 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 91 | 89 | 85 | 77 | 74 | 81 | 84 | 83 | 85 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 84 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 9 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 67 | 61 | 52 | 43 | 40 | 46 | 52 | 46 | 48 | 46 | 51 | 62 | 51 |
| Average UV index | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
The best time to visit Yonezawa is during spring (late April to early June) and autumn (September to November). These seasons offer mild temperatures, lower humidity, and beautiful natural scenery such as cherry blossoms and vibrant autumn foliage, making outdoor activities and sightseeing especially enjoyable.
The worst time to visit Yonezawa is in winter (December to February) if you are unprepared for cold and heavy snow. While winter offers unique snowy landscapes and winter sports, the cold temperatures and snowy conditions can be challenging for some travellers.
Yonezawa has a humid continental climate with warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. It experiences four distinct seasons with significant temperature variations throughout the year.
The rainy season in Yonezawa typically occurs from June to July, bringing frequent rain and high humidity. July is usually the wettest month of the year.
Winter temperatures in Yonezawa often drop below freezing, with average lows around -5°C and highs near 2°C. Snowfall is common and can be heavy during this period.
Cherry blossoms usually bloom in Yonezawa in late April. This period offers mild weather and is ideal for enjoying outdoor hanami (flower viewing) events.
Yes, Yonezawa is well known for its heavy snowfall and is a popular destination for winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding, especially from December to February.
Yonezawa receives approximately 1,700 mm of precipitation annually, with rain and snow spread throughout the year, peaking during the summer rainy season and winter months.
Spring and autumn are the best seasons for sightseeing in Yonezawa due to mild temperatures, lower humidity, and beautiful natural scenery like cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (28.2 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (0 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 14.2 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (18.3 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (-6 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 5.5 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is July (136.8 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is February (30.1 mm). Over the whole year there are 806.1 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is August (21.4 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is January (5.3 days). Over the whole year there are 148.2 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (320 mm). The months with the least snowfall are May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 1,012 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (19.1 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are May, June, July, August and September (0 days). Over the whole year there are 61.3 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is January (91.5 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is May (73.7 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 83.9 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is January (12.1 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (6.3 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 9.2 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is January (67.1 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is May (39.8 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 51.3 %.
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 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is May (Average sunshine: 9.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 2.9 h). Over the whole year there are 6.3 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 and December (UV index: 1). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.3.
