SeasonMapNagano weather in January
Japan
January in Nagano: cold, rainy, with clean air — not the time — 23 rainy days.
#12 of 12 months in Nagano · #1233 of 1383 destinations to visit in January · comfort 42/100 (tier F)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Nagano in January
Notes from nearby Hakuba (29 km away)
Nagano 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.
Add your own note from Nagano's card on the map.
Nagano climate normals — January
| Daytime high | 2°C / 36°F | 🧥 cold |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | -4°C / 25°F | |
| Rainfall | 147 mm / 5.8 in | 🌧 rainy |
| Rainy days | 23 days | |
| Humidity | 81% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | -5°C / 23°F | |
| Sunshine | 7.1 h/day | |
| Daylight | 10 h | |
| Wind | 10 km/h / 6 mph | |
| Snowfall | 88.1 cm / 34.7 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 33 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Nagano 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.
Peak crowdsHakuba and Shiga Kogen lifts, Snow monkeys in the hot spring, Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Nagano'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 weatherNagano's best weather comes in May, June and September — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Nagano in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Hakuba and Shiga Kogen lifts
10 Dec – 10 Apr · usuallySki seasonCrowdedBook earlyNagano city is the train station the ski traffic passes through, and from December the buses west to Hakuba and east to Shiga Kogen run full. The high resorts hold on into April.
- Nature
Snow monkeys in the hot spring
15 Dec – 15 Mar · usuallyWildlife seasonCrowdedThe macaques at Jigokudani sit in the pool all year, but the winter version with snow on their heads is the one people come for. The last stretch is a walk up a forest path, icy in season. Source ↗
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 88 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Nagano — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Nagano?
Nagano in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Nagano?
- January in Nagano: cold, rainy, with clean air — not the time — 23 rainy days. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Nagano on SeasonMap's comfort score (42/100).
- What is the weather like in Nagano in January?
- In January, Nagano averages a daily high of 2.4°C and a low of -3.8°C, with about 147.3 mm of rain over roughly 23.4 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Nagano in January?
- Nagano has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 33 in January.
- Does it snow in Nagano in January?
- Nagano sees roughly 88.1 cm of snowfall in January.
Other months in Nagano
Compare Nagano in January
Warmer or cooler than Nagano in January
Similar destinations in East Asia — January
Within 300 km: Nozawa Onsen's Dosojin Fire Festival on 15 Jan, and Karuizawa's First lifts in Japan on 1 Nov – 31 Mar.