SeasonMapMatsumoto weather in January
Japan
January in Matsumoto: cold, rainy, with clean air — a fair time to visit.
#12 of 12 months in Matsumoto · #1002 of 1383 destinations to visit in January · comfort 57/100 (tier D)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Matsumoto in January
Notes from nearby Hakuba (52 km away)
Matsumoto doesn't have its own notes for January yet — these are about Hakuba, close enough to share the season.
Hakuba's forum calls January and February peak powder season, with regular storms delivering fresh snow well into March, but regulars are honest that rain events do happen even mid-winter, and mid-January snowfall isn't always guaranteed until the base fully builds. Expect the slopes busiest during the January school holidays, quieting down by late February.
Other months in Matsumoto
Matsumoto's forum calls May genuinely changeable — regulars describe a run of three sunny days followed by a day or two of rain, so packing for everything from short sleeves to a rain parka is standard advice. Up at Kamikochi, in the mountains within Matsumoto's borders, early mornings can still flirt with freezing even in May, considerably colder than the city itself; a light down layer for the evening is worth it if you're heading up there.
Add your own note from Matsumoto's card on the map.
Matsumoto climate normals — January
| Daytime high | 7°C / 44°F | 🧥 cold |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | -4°C / 25°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 2°C / 36°F | |
| Rainfall | 101 mm / 4 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 16 days | |
| Humidity | 71% | 💧 humid |
| Dew point | -5°C / 22°F | |
| Sunshine | 7.9 h/day | |
| Daylight | 10 h | |
| Wind | 10 km/h / 6 mph | |
| Snowfall | 53 cm / 20.9 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 34 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Matsumoto in January
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyWinter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Matsumoto's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherMatsumoto's weather peaks April–June, best around May.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Matsumoto in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 53 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Matsumoto — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Matsumoto?
Matsumoto in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Matsumoto?
- January in Matsumoto: cold, rainy, with clean air — a fair time to visit. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Matsumoto on SeasonMap's comfort score (57/100).
- What is the weather like in Matsumoto in January?
- In January, Matsumoto averages a daily high of 6.5°C and a low of -3.8°C, with about 100.8 mm of rain over roughly 16.2 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Matsumoto in January?
- Matsumoto has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 34 in January.
- Does it snow in Matsumoto in January?
- Matsumoto sees roughly 53 cm of snowfall in January.
Other months in Matsumoto
Compare Matsumoto in January
Warmer or cooler than Matsumoto in January
Similar destinations in East Asia — January
Within 300 km: Karuizawa's First lifts in Japan on 1 Nov – 31 Mar, and Nozawa Onsen's Dosojin Fire Festival on 15 Jan.