Kyoto City→
Station: KyotoKyoto, Arashiyama, Gion, Fushimi Inari
High
9.1℃
Low
1.5℃
- Precip.
- 53.3mm
- Sunshine
- 124h
- Sunset
- 17:07
A bone-deep chill. Fushimi Inari and Yasaka Shrine are packed on January 1–3
Kansai Weather Guide
Kansai Weather in January: What to Wear & Expect
January is the coldest month of the year in Kansai. Kyoto's high is 9.1°C and mornings drop to around 1.5°C. Kyoto sits in a basin, and its winter cold, known as sokobie, chills you to the bone, so it feels even colder than the numbers suggest. Osaka and Kobe are a little milder, but snow settles in Amanohashidate in the north and around the northern shores of Lake Biwa, while Koyasan is in the depths of winter at around 3°C even in the daytime. It's a great season for New Year shrine visits and for the hot springs of Arima and Shirahama.
- Kyoto high
- 9.1℃
- Kyoto low
- 1.5℃
- Kyoto rainfall
- 53.3mm
- Kyoto sunset
- 17:07
Overview
Kansai in January: Key Points
- ✓Kyoto's high is 9.1°C, with mornings around 1.5°C. You'll need a winter coat
- ✓Kyoto, in its basin, gets a bone-deep chill (sokobie). Keep your feet warm
- ✓Snow settles in Amanohashidate and north of Lake Biwa. Koyasan is around 3°C even in the daytime
- ✓The season for New Year shrine visits and hot springs. Shrines and temples are packed on January 1–3
By Area
January Weather by Area
Temperature, precipitation, snow and sunshine are climate normals (1991-2020). Sunset is for January 15.
Osaka→
Station: OsakaOsaka, Namba, Umeda, Osaka Castle
High
9.7℃
Low
3.0℃
- Precip.
- 47mm
- Sunshine
- 147h
- Sunset
- 17:09
Highs around 10°C. Lots of sunny, dry days
Nara→
Station: NaraNara, Nara Park, Todaiji, Mt. Yoshino
High
8.7℃
Low
0.8℃
- Precip.
- 52.4mm
- Sunshine
- 118h
- Sunset
- 17:07
Mornings around 1°C. Wakakusa Yamayaki late in the month
Kobe & Arima Onsen→
Station: KobeKobe, Arima Onsen, Kitano Ijinkan, Mt. Rokko
High
9.4℃
Low
3.1℃
- Precip.
- 38.4mm
- Sunshine
- 146h
- Sunset
- 17:10
On the coast and a little milder than Kyoto. Perfect season for Arima Onsen
Himeji→
Station: HimejiHimeji, Himeji Castle, Mt. Shosha
High
9.6℃
Low
0.2℃
- Precip.
- 36.9mm
- Sunshine
- 149h
- Sunset
- 17:11
Mornings drop to around 0°C. Lots of sunny days
Lake Biwa→
Station: HikoneOtsu, Hikone, Omihachiman, Nagahama
High
7.1℃
Low
1.0℃
- Precip.
- 112mm
- Max snow depth
- 19cm
- Sunset
- 17:06
Highs around 7°C. Snow settles in the northern lake area (Kohoku)
Shirahama & Nanki→
Station: Nanki-ShirahamaShirahama, Kumano Kodo, Nachikatsuura, Kushimoto
High
10.7℃
Low
3.6℃
- Precip.
- 60.6mm
- Sunshine
- —
- Sunset
- 17:12
Highs around 11°C, on the warm side for Kansai. Enjoy the hot springs
Koyasan→
Station: KoyasanKoyasan, Okunoin, Danjo Garan
High
3.4℃
Low
−4.0℃
- Precip.
- 87.6mm
- Sunshine
- 83h
- Sunset
- 17:09
Highs around 3°C, mornings -4°C. Snow may settle; watch out for icy roads
Amanohashidate & Ine→
Station: MaizuruMiyazu, Amanohashidate, Ine
High
7.6℃
Low
0.7℃
- Precip.
- 183.4mm
- Max snow depth
- 25cm
- Sunset
- 17:08
Snow on the ground on many days. Winter crab season
Ise & Shima→
Station: ObataIse, Ise Jingu, Toba, Shima
High
9.5℃
Low
0.2℃
- Precip.
- 63.3mm
- Sunshine
- 173h
- Sunset
- 17:04
Mornings around 0°C. Ise Jingu is busy with New Year visitors
What to Wear
What to Wear in Kansai in January
Base layer
Thermal underwear, to fend off the chill inside temples and shrines
Tops
Sweater or fleece
Outerwear
Down jacket or thick coat
Bottoms
Long pants; thick tights or fleece-lined pants work too
Shoes
Comfortable walking shoes with thick socks. For Amanohashidate and Koyasan, shoes for snowy roads
Accessories
Gloves, a scarf and kairo (disposable heat packs)
At temples and shrines you often take off your shoes and walk on wooden floors, so your feet get cold. Thick socks and kairo heat packs will keep you comfortable.
Good to Know
Good to Know
Temples and shrines are very cold inside
Many of Kyoto's temple and shrine buildings have no heating, and you take off your shoes and walk on cold floors. Wearing thick socks makes visits much more comfortable.
January 1–3 is extremely crowded
From January 1 to 3, huge numbers of New Year visitors flock to Fushimi Inari Taisha, Yasaka Shrine, Sumiyoshi Taisha and more. Trains and roads are crowded too.
Some sights close over New Year
From about January 1 to 3, museums and some shops and restaurants are closed. Check the opening days of places you want to visit.
Watch for snow in the north and mountains
Snow can settle in Amanohashidate, north of Lake Biwa and on Koyasan. If you're driving a rental car, you'll need winter tires.
Events
January Events & Highlights
Hatsumode (First Shrine Visit of the Year)
Fushimi Inari Taisha, Yasaka Shrine, Sumiyoshi Taisha and moreAround January 1–3The Japanese custom of visiting a shrine or temple at the start of the new year. Fushimi Inari Taisha is one of the shrines that draws the most visitors in Kansai.
An event in which the grassy slopes of Mt. Wakakusa, east of Nara Park, are set on fire. After a fireworks display, the whole hillside is engulfed in flames.
Read the guide：Wakakusa Yamayaki →A festival of lights that began as a memorial to the victims of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and a symbol of hope for the city's recovery. In recent years it has been held around late January.
Read the guide：Kobe Luminarie →Dates change every year. Please check the official websites before you go.
FAQ
FAQ
Q. What's the temperature in Kyoto in January?＋
On average, the high is 9.1°C and the low is 1.5°C. It's the coldest month of the year, with mornings dropping close to 0°C.
Q. Does it snow in Kyoto in January?＋
It can, but snow doesn't often settle in the city. You'll only get to see Kinkakuji dusted with snow a few times a year.
Q. What should I wear in Kansai in January?＋
You'll need a winter coat such as a down jacket, plus gloves and a scarf. Temples and shrines are cold underfoot, so thick socks are also recommended.
Plan Your Trip
Plan Your Kansai TripPR
Other Months
Kansai Weather in Other Months
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.