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Best time to visit Takayama: month by month
Short answer
April–May and October–November are the best months, with highs of about 14–20°C and spring blossom or autumn colours, plus the famous festivals on 14–15 April and 9–10 October. Summer is warm and humid (about 29°C), and winter is cold, with highs of 3–6°C and snow.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3°C | -6°C | 17 | medium |
| Feb | 4°C | -4°C | 15 | medium |
| Mar | 12°C | 1°C | 13 | medium |
| Apr | 17°C | 5°C | 12 | very high |
| May | 20°C | 10°C | 14 | high |
| Jun | 25°C | 15°C | 19 | medium |
| Jul | 29°C | 20°C | 22 | medium |
| Aug | 29°C | 21°C | 22 | high |
| Sep | 26°C | 18°C | 15 | medium |
| Oct | 19°C | 9°C | 11 | very high |
| Nov | 14°C | 4°C | 12 | high |
| Dec | 6°C | -2°C | 18 | medium |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Highs rise from about 12°C in March to 20°C in May, with lows of 1–10°C; cherry blossom in April and the spring festival on 14–15 April.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Average highs of 25–29°C and lows of 15–21°C, with 19–22 rain days a month; rainy season in June–July, humid and green.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Highs fall from about 26°C in September to 14°C in November; autumn festival on 9–10 October and colours in the hills.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Highs of about 3–6°C and lows of −6 to −2°C, with 15–18 snow or rain days a month; snowy streets and Shirakawa-go under snow.
Events worth planning around
- Takayama Spring Festival (Sanno Matsuri) — 14–15 April
- Takayama Autumn Festival (Hachiman Matsuri) — 9–10 October
- Shirakawa-go winter illuminations — selected evenings in January–February, reservation required
When to avoid
Avoid festival dates unless you book months ahead, and Golden Week (late April–early May) if you dislike crowds. June–July is the rainy season.
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Common questions
What is the best time to visit Takayama?
April–May or October–November, with mild weather and blossom or autumn colours.
When is the Takayama Festival?
The spring festival is on 14–15 April and the autumn festival on 9–10 October. Book hotels months ahead.
Is Takayama worth visiting in winter?
Yes, for snowy streets and Shirakawa-go under snow, but highs are only about 3–6°C.