Chubu & Hokuriku Weather Guide

Chubu & Hokuriku Weather in May: What to Wear & Expect

May in Chubu & Hokuriku brings lots of sunny days and beautiful fresh greenery. Nagoya's high is 24.6°C and mornings are around 15°C, with more days warm enough for short sleeves. In the mountains, though, mornings drop to around 9°C in Takayama and around 8°C in Hakuba, so the gap between daytime and morning temperatures is large. The Yuki-no-Otani Walk continues on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, and late May brings the season of fresh greenery to Kamikochi. Golden Week in early May is crowded.

Nagoya high: 24.6℃
Nagoya low: 14.9℃
Nagoya rainfall: 150.3mm
Nagoya sunset: 18:48

Overview

Chubu & Hokuriku in May: Key Points

✓Nagoya's high is 24.6°C, with mornings around 15°C. Some days are warm enough for short sleeves
✓Mornings around 9°C in Takayama and around 8°C in Hakuba. A jacket is a must
✓The Yuki-no-Otani Walk continues on Tateyama. Fresh greenery in Kamikochi from late May
✓Lots of sunny days and strong sunshine. Bring a hat and sunscreen

By Area

May Weather by Area

Temperature, precipitation, snow and sunshine are climate normals (1991-2020). Sunset is for May 15.

Nagoya→

Station: Nagoya

Nagoya, Nagoya Castle, Atsuta Jingu, Inuyama

High

24.6℃

Low

14.9℃

Precip.: 150.3mm
Sunshine: 206h
Sunset: 18:48

Highs around 25°C. A lovely season for strolling around Nagoya Castle and Inuyama's castle town

Kanazawa→

Station: Kanazawa

Kanazawa, Kenrokuen, Higashi Chaya District, 21st Century Museum

High

22.3℃

Low

13.6℃

Precip.: 138mm
Sunshine: 207h
Sunset: 18:52

Highs around 22°C. The season when Kenrokuen's fresh greenery is beautiful

Shirakawa-go→

Station: Shirakawa

Shirakawa-go, Gassho-zukuri Farmhouses, Ogimachi Observatory, Gokayama

High

21.8℃

Low

8.6℃

Precip.: 128.8mm
Sunshine: 197h
Sunset: 18:50

Mornings around 9°C. A pleasant season for walking the gassho-zukuri village amid fresh greenery

Takayama→

Station: Takayama

Takayama, Sanmachi, Miyagawa Morning Market, Okuhida Onsen

High

22.9℃

Low

9.4℃

Precip.: 125.2mm
Sunshine: 189h
Sunset: 18:49

Highs around 23°C, mornings around 9°C. Time for strolling Sanmachi and the morning markets

Gero Onsen→

Station: Hagiwara

Gero Onsen, Hida River, Gassho Village

High

22.9℃

Low

10.7℃

Precip.: 216mm
Sunshine: 201h
Sunset: 18:48

Highs around 23°C. Enjoy the fresh greenery along the Hida River and the hot springs

Toyama / Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route→

Station: Toyama

Toyama, Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, Kurobe Dam, Unazuki Onsen

High

22.7℃

Low

12.9℃

Precip.: 122.8mm
Sunshine: 200h
Sunset: 18:50

Highs around 23°C in Toyama City. Murodo, at 2,450 m, is in Yuki-no-Otani season and much colder than the city

Matsumoto / Kamikochi→

Station: Matsumoto

Matsumoto, Matsumoto Castle, Kamikochi, Norikura Highlands

High

23.6℃

Low

10.4℃

Precip.: 94.5mm
Sunshine: 216h
Sunset: 18:46

Highs around 24°C in Matsumoto. Fresh greenery in Kamikochi from late May. It's colder than the city, so bring a jacket

Hakuba→

Station: Hakuba

Hakuba, Happo-one, Tsugaike Kogen, Hakuba Goryu

High

20.8℃

Low

7.8℃

Precip.: 135mm
Sunshine: 194h
Sunset: 18:48

Highs around 21°C, mornings around 8°C. The contrast between lingering snow on the Northern Alps and fresh greenery is stunning

Nagano / Yudanaka-Shibu Onsen→

Station: Nagano

Nagano, Zenkoji, Jigokudani Monkey Park, Shibu Onsen, Shiga Kogen

High

23.2℃

Low

10.9℃

Precip.: 69.3mm
Sunshine: 215h
Sunset: 18:46

Highs around 23°C. The season when baby monkeys are born at Jigokudani Monkey Park

Kiso Valley (Tsumago & Magome)→

Station: Nagiso

Tsumago-juku, Magome-juku, Narai-juku

High

22.1℃

Low

9.5℃

Precip.: 203.3mm
Sunshine: 193h
Sunset: 18:46

Highs around 22°C. Perfect for walking the Nakasendo between Tsumago-juku and Magome-juku

What to Wear

What to Wear in Chubu & Hokuriku in May

Tops

Short sleeves or light long sleeves; some days are warm enough for short sleeves

Outerwear

A cardigan or light jacket for mornings and evenings; a fleece too in the mountains

Bottoms

Long pants or lightweight pants

Shoes

Comfortable walking shoes like sneakers; comfortable trekking shoes for Kamikochi

Accessories

Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen

Mornings drop to around 8°C in Hakuba and around 9°C in Takayama and Shirakawa-go. Murodo on Tateyama and Kamikochi are even colder than the cities, so bring a fleece or light down jacket.

Good to Know

Aim for after Golden Week

From mid-May, once the holidays are over, tourist spots calm down and the weather is settled. A recommended time for taking it slow in Takayama and Shirakawa-go.

Watch out for chilly mornings and evenings in the mountains

In high-altitude areas like Takayama, Hakuba and Matsumoto, even when days are warm, some mornings drop below 10°C. Wear layers that are easy to take on and off.

Protect yourself from cold and sun at Yuki-no-Otani

Murodo sits at 2,450 m. The Yuki-no-Otani Walk between the snow walls is a whole different world of cold from the city. The glare off the snow is strong too, so don't forget sunglasses and sunscreen.

You can't drive your own car into Kamikochi

Private cars are banned from Kamikochi all year round. Switch to a bus or taxi at the Sawando parking area on the Matsumoto side or the Akandana parking area on the Takayama side.

Events

May Events & Highlights

Yuki-no-Otani Walk

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route (Murodo)Usually mid-April to late June

An event where you can walk between walls of snow towering on both sides of the road. A spectacular spring view unique to Murodo at 2,450 m.

Read the guide：Yuki no Otani Snow Wall Walk (Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route) →

Tours & tickets for this eventPR

PRKlookTateyama Kurobe Alpine Route Day Tour from NaganoA guided tour from Nagano Station, riding a series of vehicles from Ogizawa via Kurobe Dam and Murodo to Tateyama StationView on Klook

Fresh Greenery in Kamikochi

KamikochiLate May to early June

The season when Kamikochi's trees bud and fresh greenery meets the lingering snow on the peaks. It comes before the busy summer holiday and autumn leaf seasons, so you can walk at a relatively relaxed pace.

Baby Monkey Season

Jigokudani Monkey Park (Yamanouchi)Late April to late June

At the monkey park famous for its hot spring-bathing monkeys in winter, baby monkeys are born from spring to early summer, and you can see them cradled by their mothers.

Dates change every year. Please check the official websites before you go.

Recommended Tours & Activities in MayPR

🏔️Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route toursBook the mountain route’s rides in one goKlook 🥾Kamikochi toursReach the car-free alpine valley easilyKlook 👘Kimono rental in KanazawaFor strolling the teahouse districts and KenrokuenKlook

FAQ

Q. What's the temperature in Nagoya in May?＋

On average, the high is 24.6°C and the low is 14.9°C. Some days are warm enough for short sleeves.

Q. Is it cold in Takayama and Hakuba in May?＋

Takayama's high is 22.9°C and its low 9.4°C; Hakuba's high is 20.8°C and its low 7.8°C. Days are comfortable, but you'll need a jacket in the mornings and evenings.

Q. Until when can I see Yuki-no-Otani?＋

The Yuki-no-Otani Walk usually runs from mid-April to late June. The snow walls get lower day by day, so go early if you want to see them at their tallest.

Plan Your Trip

Plan Your Chubu & Hokuriku TripPR

🏨Find hotels in NagoyaHotels.com 🎫Find tours & activities in Chubu & HokurikuKlook 📱eSIM for JapanGet online as soon as you landAiralo

Other Months

Chubu & Hokuriku Weather in Other Months

Back to the Chubu & Hokuriku Weather Guide (all months & areas) →

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Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (climate normals 1991-2020). Compiled by tripuuu.log. Temperatures are from a representative station in each area; actual weather varies from year to year.