Nozawa Onsen (Nozawa) weather in October

October in Nozawa Onsen: nice, soaked, with clean air — not the time — 17 rainy days.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Nozawa Onsen🇯🇵 Japan · Mainland Japan · Ski15
  1. 86Jan
  2. 89Feb
  3. 75Mar
  4. 34Apr
  5. 22May
  6. 19Jun
  7. 13Jul
  8. 17Aug
  9. 10Sep
  10. 15Oct
  11. 47Nov
  12. 80Dec

#10 of 12 months in Nozawa Onsen · #1412 of 1413 destinations to visit in October · comfort 15/100 (tier F)

Days
18°C
Nights
10°C
Wet days
17
Sun
7 h
Humidity
87%
Daylight
11 h
Nozawa Onsen, Japan
Photo: E-190 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Traveller notes on Nozawa Onsen in October

Notes from nearby Matsumoto (87 km away)

Nozawa Onsen doesn't have its own notes for October yet — these are about Matsumoto, close enough to share the season.

October is the month for the mountains behind this town, and the reason is a closing date rather than a peak. Kamikochi is at its best in October for the leaves, but after the first week of November it turns cold, it can snow, and most places up there shut for the season - so a trip built around the valley has to be inside October, not adjacent to it. The town itself is mild at 20.4C, though the nights drop to 9.6C, a gap of eleven degrees to dress for in a single day. Rain is the part the board does not raise and our row does: 205.1mm across 16.4 days, with sunshine down to 7.3 hours. The record: humidity 80 percent, an 8.8 kph wind and AQI 33.
KamikochiClosesInNovember · October · 1 month ago · about Matsumoto · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Nozawa Onsen

Nozawa Onsen-forum reviews describe it as a genuine must-see in any season, posters calling the village magical once real winter conditions settle in though November itself sits ahead of that. Regulars call the free public bath houses scattered through the village a real highlight regardless of month, several posters naming this the town's defining feature even for a non-skier. Posters recommend a stay here even without hitting the slopes, regulars calling the cozy streets and local food genuinely worth the trip alone. Regulars call November a real transition month, several threads noting conditions can turn wet and unsettled well before any reliable accumulation arrives at village elevation. Posters recommend checking local booking services well ahead, several regulars describing accommodation here as tightening up fast once the season nears. The record: 11.9C days feeling like 10C, 2.9C nights, an extraordinarily high 159.9mm across over 18 days and 87 percent humidity.
NozawaOnsenNovemberRegular · November · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Nozawa Onsen-forum threads on a September visit describe mid-month temperatures as still capable of running warm, posters citing readings under thirty degrees Celsius even this late in summer. Regulars call hiking, a zip line and summer-season activities all real September options, the village genuinely active beyond its winter reputation. Posters recommend the thirteen free public onsens as a standing local highlight regardless of season, several regulars calling them clean, safe and worth trying more than one. Regulars call artisan shop browsing along with eating and drinking a real way to fill a quieter afternoon between activities. Posters recommend planning a return visit for autumn leaves specifically if the timing allows, koyo color considered a genuine highlight later in the season. The record: 24.4C days feeling like 26C, 16.9C nights, an extraordinarily high 228.1mm across over 19 days and 76 percent humidity.
NozawaOnsenSeptemberRegular · September · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Nozawa Onsen-forum reviews on a summer visit describe the public bathhouses as genuinely open and worth using year-round, posters calling the ritual just as rewarding in August despite the heat outside. Regulars call the village considerably quieter than winter, lift operations closed but real summer alternatives filling the gap: hiking trails, a zip line and artisan shops. Posters describe the mountain air as offering relief from valley heat, though real humidity and afternoon rain remain standing features. Regulars recommend a soak in one of the free baths regardless of season, the onsen culture the real draw independent of any outdoor activity. Posters call real breathable layers sensible given how sticky the air turns by midday. Regulars call the town a genuine year-round destination, this stretch trading winter's draw for a quieter, greener version. The record: 28.3C days feeling like 33C, 20.6C nights, an extraordinarily high 235.9mm across over 22 days and 87 percent humidity.
NozawaOnsenAugustRegular · August · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Nozawa Onsen-forum threads on early March snow describe conditions as generally still solid by seasonal average, posters calling upper slopes reliably holding good powder even as the official competitive season winds down. Regulars call the resort's own season boundary early March, spring skiing kicking in shortly after with softer groomers. Posters describe lower-mountain snow as noticeably wetter and heavier by afternoon, an early start recommended before the day warms. Regulars call a run of fresh snowfall mid-visit genuinely common even this late, one poster reporting two full days of accumulation salvaging an otherwise so-so week. Posters recommend the village's public onsen baths as a genuine highlight regardless of snow quality, several free and open in town. Regulars call March a real value window, lift tickets and lodging cheaper than peak season. The record: 7.8C days feeling like 6C, -1.7C nights, an extraordinarily high 151.5mm across over 18 days and 82 percent humidity.
NozawaOnsenMarchRegular · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Nozawa Onsen's card on the map.

Nozawa Onsen climate normals — October

Daytime high18°C / 64°F😎 nice
Nighttime low10°C / 49°F
Feels like (high)18°C / 64°F
Rainfall209 mm / 8.2 in⛈ soaked
Rainy days17 days
Humidity87%💦 very humid
Dew point11°C / 52°F
Sunshine7 h/day
Daylight11.2 h
Wind10 km/h / 6 mph
Air quality (US AQI)33🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Nozawa Onsen in October

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.

Quietschool holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Nozawa Onsen'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 weatherNozawa Onsen's weather peaks December–February.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Nozawa Onsen in October

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Opening

    Summer gondola season

    15 Jul – 25 Oct · usuallySummer season opens

    The Nagasaka gondola reopens for walkers from mid-July, with a picnic area, guided alpine-flower walks and a few evening stargazing rides from the top station. Source ↗

  • Nature

    Autumn colour

    10 Oct – 5 Nov · usually

    The gondola keeps running into October for the beech woods on Kenashi. Between the seasons the village is at its quietest and the baths are yours.

  • Season

    Nozawana harvest

    25 Oct – 25 Nov · usually

    The turnip greens the village is named for are pulled in late autumn and washed in the hot-spring water before pickling. You can smell it in the lanes for weeks.

What's on around the world in October →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Nozawa Onsen — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Nozawa Onsen?

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Nozawa Onsen in October — FAQ

Is October a good time to visit Nozawa Onsen?
October in Nozawa Onsen: nice, soaked, with clean air — not the time — 17 rainy days. It ranks #10 of 12 months for Nozawa Onsen on SeasonMap's comfort score (15/100).
What is the weather like in Nozawa Onsen in October?
In October, Nozawa Onsen averages a daily high of 17.8°C and a low of 9.7°C, with about 208.5 mm of rain over roughly 17.2 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Nozawa Onsen in October?
Nozawa Onsen has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 33 in October.

Within 300 km: Hakuba's High trails and huts open around 1 Jul – 15 Oct, and Karuizawa's Autumn colour around 15 Oct – 10 Nov.