Hot spring townTohoku Weather Guide
Ginzan Onsen & Obanazawa Weather & What to Wear
Ginzan Onsen, Obanazawa, Oishida
The area around Ginzan Onsen, where ryokan inns line the river and gas lamps light up at dusk, and Obanazawa. It is one of Japan's snowiest areas, with average January snowfall of 322 cm and around 149 cm of snow on the ground in February (temperatures are for Obanazawa).
- January low
- −4.1℃
- August high
- 28.4℃
- Max snow depth
- 149cm
Forecast
Forecast: Today & the Next 7 Days
JMA forecast issued Oct 22, 11 AM
Every 3 Hours: Today & Tomorrow
- Today12 PMCloudy☂ 20%10–14m/s
- 3 PMCloudy☂ 20%10–14m/s
- 6 PMSunny☂ 10%0–2m/s
- 9 PMSunny☂ 10%0–2m/s
- Tomorrow12 AMSunny☂ 0%0–2m/s
- 3 AMSunny☂ 0%0–2m/s
- 6 AMSunny☂ 0%0–2m/s
- 9 AMSunny☂ 0%0–2m/s
- 12 PMSunny☂ 0%0–2m/s
- 3 PMSunny☂ 0%3–5m/s
- 6 PMSunny☂ 0%3–5m/s
- 9 PMSunny☂ 0%0–2m/s
Weather and wind are for the wider area; temperature is for the main forecast point. Chance of rain is for the 6-hour period. There is no 3-hourly temperature forecast for this area, so temperatures are not shown.
- Today10/22(Thu)Cloudy, then sunny☂ 20%
- Tomorrow10/23(Fri)Sunny☂ 0%
- 10/24(Sat)Cloudy, brief rain☂ 50%
- 10/25(Sun)Cloudy, brief rain☂ 70%Reliability A
- 10/26(Mon)Cloudy, brief rain☂ 50%Reliability C
- 10/27(Tue)Cloudy, brief rain☂ 60%Reliability B
- 10/28(Wed)Cloudy, brief rain☂ 50%Reliability C
- ☂ Chance of rain
- From day 3, the weekly forecast covers a wider prefecture-level area.
- Reliability of the weekly forecast (A: high, B: fairly high, C: fairly low)
- There is no temperature forecast point for this area, so temperatures are not shown.
- Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (weather forecast)
Best Season
Best Time to Visit Ginzan Onsen & Obanazawa
For snowscapes
Snowy nights, when the gas lamps glow over the snow-covered hot spring town, are the most photogenic. You can also enjoy outdoor baths with snow views.
Climate
Ginzan Onsen & Obanazawa Temperature & Snow Through the Year
Monthly high / low temperature (°C)
HighLow
Monthly max snow depth (cm)
Month by Month
Month-by-Month Weather & What to Wear
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Max snow depth | What to wear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1.7℃ | −4.1℃ | 165.3mm | 129cm | Full winter gearDown coat, thermal layers, gloves, hat, snow boots |
| Feb | 2.7℃ | −4.3℃ | 98.4mm | 149cm | Winter coatDown or heavy coat, gloves, waterproof shoes |
| Mar | 6.4℃ | −2.1℃ | 80.7mm | 114cm | Winter coatDown or heavy coat, gloves, waterproof shoes |
| Apr | 14.0℃ | 2.8℃ | 68.4mm | 30cm | Warm jacketLight down or winter coat, sweater |
| May | 20.4℃ | 9.3℃ | 78.4mm | — | T-shirt + layerT-shirt, plus light long sleeves for mornings and evenings |
| Jun | 23.8℃ | 14.9℃ | 105.6mm | — | T-shirt + layerT-shirt, plus light long sleeves for mornings and evenings |
| Jul | 26.9℃ | 19.1℃ | 174mm | — | T-shirtT-shirt, with a light layer for evenings and air conditioning |
| Aug | 28.4℃ | 19.9℃ | 148.9mm | — | T-shirtT-shirt, with a light layer for evenings and air conditioning |
| Sep | 24.5℃ | 15.5℃ | 128.9mm | — | T-shirtT-shirt, with a light layer for evenings and air conditioning |
| Oct | 18.2℃ | 8.5℃ | 120.5mm | — | Long sleeves + jacketLong sleeves with a light jacket or hoodie |
| Nov | 11.0℃ | 2.6℃ | 155.2mm | 9cm | Warm jacketLight down or winter coat, sweater |
| Dec | 4.2℃ | −1.5℃ | 197.1mm | 76cm | Winter coatDown or heavy coat, gloves, waterproof shoes |
Clothing tips are based on the normal high temperature and snow depth. Bring an extra layer for mornings and evenings.
Where to Stay · Agoda
Places to Stay near Ginzan Onsen & ObanazawaPR
Prices and availability are shown on Agoda.
Seasons
Ginzan Onsen & Obanazawa Through the Seasons
🌸
Spring
Mar–MaySnow is deep until March, and even in April around 30 cm remains on the ground. By May, it's fully spring-like.
☀️
Summer
Jun–AugHighs of 27–28°C. A lovely season for strolling the hot spring town as the gas lamps light up at dusk.
🍁
Autumn
Sep–NovThe October high is around 18°C, with mornings at 8.5°C. In November, rainy and snowy days become more frequent.
❄️
Winter
Dec–FebThe January high is around 2°C, with mornings around -4°C. Waterproof, non-slip shoes for walking on snowy roads are a must.
Winter Scenery
Winter Scenery in Ginzan Onsen & Obanazawa
Hot spring town
Frozen waterfall & iciclesFireworks
Fireworks festivals in Ginzan Onsen & Obanazawa
🎆 AugustDate announcedAkagawa Fireworks Festival
Tohoku ・ Tsuruoka, Yamagata
🎆 Scheduled for Saturday, August 21, 2027
About 12,000 shells (official tourism sites of Tsuruoka City and Yamagata Prefecture)Paid seats
Onsen
Onsen towns in Ginzan Onsen & Obanazawa
♨ OnsenGinzan Onsen
Tohoku ・ Obanazawa, Yamagata
♨ Day use Adults ¥500, elementary school students and younger ¥200 (as of October 2026)
♨ OnsenTravel Passes
Travel passes you can use in Ginzan Onsen & Obanazawa
🚄 JRJapan Rail Pass
Nationwide ・ Three types: 7, 14 or 21 days. The period of use cannot be extended or changed
From ¥50,000
Plan Your Trip
Plan Your Ginzan Onsen & Obanazawa TripPR
🏨Hotels in Ginzan OnsenCompare places to stay in the Ginzan Onsen & Obanazawa areaHotels.com♨️Tours & onsen experiencesHot spring inns in Ginzan, Nyuto, Zao, Higashiyama and moreKlook🎫Ginzan Onsen tours & activitiesSightseeing tours and activities in Ginzan Onsen & ObanazawaKlook📱eSIM for JapanGet online as soon as you landAiralo
Other Areas
Weather in Other Areas
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (climate normals 1991-2020). Compiled by tripuuu.log. Temperature and snow figures are normals from the Obanazawa station; actual weather varies from year to year.
