SeasonMapJapan in January
January is Japan's 8th-best month (rank 8 of 12): its 32 destinations average 65/100, led by Niseko at 93 — -6°C and 16 rainy days — while Ishigaki is warmer at 20°C and scores 62.
#8 of 12 months for Japan · 32 destinations · updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Where in Japan in January
| # | Place | Type | Feels-like high | Rain | Comfort | At its best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niseko | Ski resort | -6°C | 67 mm · 16 days | 93 tier S | Yes |
| 2 | Hakuba | Ski resort | -2°C | 229 mm · 25 days | 89 tier A | Yes |
| 3 | Furano | Ski resort | -9°C | 67 mm · 16 days | 88 tier A | Yes |
| 4 | Nozawa Onsen | Ski resort | -1°C | 221 mm · 25 days | 86 tier A | Yes |
| 5 | Fujikawaguchiko | Trekking hub | 2°C | 62 mm · 8 days | 73 tier B | — |
| 6 | Kagoshima | City | 11°C | 73 mm · 9 days | 70 tier B | — |
| 7 | Kamakura | City | 7°C | 56 mm · 6 days | 70 tier B | — |
| 8 | Kobe | City | 6°C | 46 mm · 6 days | 69 tier C | — |
| 9 | Osaka | City | 7°C | 49 mm · 6 days | 69 tier C | — |
| 10 | Beppu | City | 8°C | 55 mm · 6 days | 68 tier C | — |
| 11 | Nagoya | City | 6°C | 43 mm · 5 days | 68 tier C | — |
| 12 | Yokohama | City | 7°C | 55 mm · 5 days | 68 tier C | — |
| 13 | Fukuoka | City | 7°C | 67 mm · 9 days | 67 tier C | — |
| 14 | Hiroshima | City | 6°C | 57 mm · 9 days | 67 tier C | — |
| 15 | Nara | City | 6°C | 50 mm · 7 days | 67 tier C | — |
| 16 | Tokyo | City | 7°C | 52 mm · 6 days | 67 tier C | — |
| 17 | Kumamoto | City | 9°C | 75 mm · 9 days | 66 tier C | — |
| 18 | Kyoto | City | 5°C | 57 mm · 9 days | 66 tier C | — |
| 19 | Nagasaki | City | 8°C | 77 mm · 10 days | 65 tier C | — |
| 20 | Yakushima | National park | 3°C | 139 mm · 15 days | 64 tier C | — |
| 21 | Miyakojima | Island | 19°C | 126 mm · 14 days | 63 tier C | — |
| 22 | Ishigaki | Island | 20°C | 141 mm · 17 days | 62 tier C | — |
| 23 | Okinawa | Beach | 17°C | 114 mm · 13 days | 62 tier C | — |
| 24 | Hakone | City | 2°C | 75 mm · 9 days | 59 tier D | — |
| 25 | Matsumoto | City | 2°C | 101 mm · 16 days | 57 tier D | — |
| 26 | Sendai | City | 1°C | 66 mm · 13 days | 57 tier D | — |
| 27 | Nikko | City | 0°C | 55 mm · 10 days | 55 tier D | — |
| 28 | Karuizawa | City | -1°C | 48 mm · 7 days | 51 tier D | — |
| 29 | Kanazawa | City | 4°C | 218 mm · 25 days | 48 tier F | — |
| 30 | Nagano | City | 1°C | 148 mm · 23 days | 47 tier F | — |
| 31 | Takayama | City | 1°C | 150 mm · 22 days | 44 tier F | — |
| 32 | Sapporo | City | -5°C | 56 mm · 13 days | 40 tier F | — |
Comfort is SeasonMap's 0–100 score; each place is judged through the lens that suits it — beaches on beach weather, ski resorts on snow. "At its best" means January is one of that place's own top three months. Feels-like highs fold in humidity, wind and sun.
What's on in Japan in January
- Christmas and New Year · Niseko · 24 Dec – 5 Jan
- New Year on the mountain · Hakuba · 28 Dec – 3 Jan
- Dosojin Fire Festival · Nozawa Onsen · 15 Jan
- New Year in the village · Nozawa Onsen · 28 Dec – 3 Jan
- Toka Ebisu · Osaka · 9–11 Jan
- Wakakusa Yamayaki · Nara · 20–28 Jan (usually)
- New Year shutdown · Tokyo · 29 Dec – 3 Jan
- New Year temple bells · Kyoto · 31 Dec – 3 Jan
Seasons in force
Peak crowds at 6 of Japan's 21 well-known places this month.