Are you nervous about the winter slump for the Japan trip? Roughly speaking, Japan’s winter is cold but depends on your destination since the island is quite a long shape from the north through the south and also is surrounded by col the sea of Japan and the Warm Pacific ocean.
Japan’s beautiful contrasts with pure white snow and historical buildings, monkeys in the hot spring, stunning winter light festivals are attractive to many international visitors, but yes, you need to be freezing in cold. Japan’s wintery beautiful contrasts with pure white snow and historical buildings, monkeys in the hot spring, stunning winter light festivals are attractive to many international visitors, but yes, you need to be freezing in cold.
Speaking about the downside more, what you need to consider is that the snow can trigger a citywide shutdown like that I talk about here.
If you want to avoid the cold winter weather and traffic chaos that heavy snow often cause for your dream Japan trip,
Here are 6 and 1 prefectures that you can escape to warm-weather winter in Japan that I will tell you today.
If you are interested in the winter in Japan, I am putting the link at the last what the winter weather like in 8 regions and Tokyo in each post here.
Let’s dive into what the winter like in each prefecture.
Over Look The Warmer Cities In Japan
I don’t know what temperature makes you feel “woo, it’s cold” “woo, it’s chilly”, and the general Japanese tend to say “The day under 10℃/ 50 F is cold”.
If you agree with it, Japan’s winter is COLD. Anywhere in Japan, you can’t spend time wearing short-sleeves and short pants.
Anyway, let’s take a look top 20 warmer cities in Japan.
- The average temperature is calculated from the data from 2017 to 2020 of the Japan Meteorological Agency.
- February is the coldest month in Japan.
- It is used Celsius.
- All cities are capital cities. (so it doesn’t show the warmest cities in the prefectures.)
| Capital City / Prefecture | Daytime Average Temperature (℃)In February | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naha, Okinawa | 18.1 |
| 2 | Kagoshima, Kagoshima | 10.0 |
| 3 | Miyazaki, Miyazaki | 9.2 |
| 4 | Nagasaki, Nagasaki | 8.3 |
| 5 | Shizuoka, Shizuoka | 8.3 |
| 6 | Fukuoka, Fukuoka | 8.3 |
| 7 | Yokohama, Kanagawa | 8.0 |
| 8 | Kochi, Kochi | 7.9 |
| 9 | Oita, Oita | 7.6 |
| 10 | Kumamoto, Kumamoto | 7.5 |
| 11 | Saga, Saga | 7.5 |
| 12 | Chiba, Chiba | 7.4 |
| 13 | Matsuyama, Ehime | 7.3 |
| 14 | Tokushima, Tokushima | 7.1 |
| 15 | Osaka, Osaka | 7.1 |
| 16 | Wakayma, Wakayama | 7.1 |
| 17 | Kobe, Hyogo | 7.0 |
| 18 | Tokyo, Tokyo | 7.0 |
| 19 | Takamatsu, Kagawa | 6.6 |
| 20 | Hiroshima, Hiroshima | 6.6 |
Okinawa Prefecture
Okinawa can be the perfect place to escape from freak-out wintery weather on the northern main island and Hokkaido. The airfare price from the main island to Naha city is much cheaper than the summer season, fewer crowds, and anyway not cold! Despite it is not suitable weather for swimming, Okinawa prefecture is home to cultural and historical attractions that are perfect to visit.
Average Temperatures In Naha City
| December (℃) | January | February | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 19.4 | 18.1 | 18.1 |
| 2020 | 19.2 | 18.7 | 18.7 |
| 2019 | 20.0 | 18.1 | 20.0 |
| 2018 | 20.4 | 17.2 | 16.9 |
| 2017 | 18.0 | 18.4 | 17.1 |
Obviously, Compared to the rest of the Japanese cities, winter in Okinawa is pleasantly warm, with temperatures of around 18 ℃ in January and February.
However, Okinawa is an island. Don’t forget it get really windy, and the ocean breeze makes you chilly. Although the temperature is shown on the table looks warm, but a light jacket such as a raincoat or windbreaker is required.
Yet, when the day is not windy, the high temperature during the daytime can be around 20 ℃ and the low is around only 15 ℃. You can spend time without a jacket.
By the way, Okinawa has few islands such as Ishigaki island, Iriomote Island, and Miyako Island, and more. It is said that the average temperatures are about 2 ℃ is higher than the Okinawa main island.
Amami Oshima
Amami Oshima is an island with a north latitude of 28 degrees, about 380 km/ 236 Miles south of Kyushu, and is located between Kyushu and the main island of Okinawa.
Amami Oshima is in Kagoshima prefecture and contains Amami Oshima, Kakeroma-Jima, Uke-Jima, Yoro-Shima, Kikai-jima, Tokuno-shima, Okinoerabu-Jima, and Yoron-jima.
To access Amami Oshima, there are direct flights from Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, and shuttle ships from Okinawa, and Tokyo, Kobe-Osaka, Kagoshima, and Okinawa.
The appealing points of Amami Oshima are home to many uniquely evolved flora and fauna and endemic species because of a result of geographic isolation since ancient times. Moreover, surrounded by shiny beautiful emerald green water with coral reefs, you can see much marine life.
Average Temperatures In Nase City, Amami Oshima
| December (℃) | January | February | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 17.0 | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| 2020 | 16.6 | 16.5 | 16.3 |
| 2019 | 17.6 | 15.8 | 17.2 |
| 2018 | 18.0 | 14.6 | 14.1 |
| 2017 | 15.6 | 15.4 | 14.7 |
Even though it is tropical Amami, it is cold in winter. There are many rainy and cloudy days with strong north winds, and the temperature drops sharply. Since the low temperature will not be below 10 degrees Celsius, but you may regret it if you think it is a tropical island.
Long sleeves, hoodies, and rain jackets/windbreakers/light-down jackets are must items.
Ogasawara Islands
The Ogasawara Islands are located 1000km/ 621 miles south of Tokyo and belong to Tokyo Prefecture. The islands consist of around 30 islands, and the residents live only on Chichi Jima and Haha Jima.
To access Ogasawara islands is only by the shuttle called “Ogasawara Maru”.
Throughout the year, the low temperature is around 15℃, and the annual average is 23 ℃. It can be said the most comfortable climate in Japan’s winter. Hibiscus and bougainvillea bloom all over the city and entertain the eyes of tourists.
You can also see banyan trees, palms, bananas, oranges, and papayas growing naturally.
Many of the flora and fauna of Ogasawara are endemic, and many are designated as natural monuments. Dolphins can meet all year round.
Average Temperatures In Chichi-Jima
| December (℃) | January | February | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 21.4 | 18.8 | 18.6 |
| 2020 | 20.9 | 20.2 | 18.8 |
| 2019 | 22.7 | 18.5 | 19.8 |
| 2018 | 21.9 | 18.4 | 18.1 |
| 2017 | 20.1 | 17.9 | 17.5 |
The Ogasawara Islands have an average temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius even during the winter season, which is much warmer than the mainland, but you will be cold with summer fashion. You can spend time in short sleeves on the say sunny and windless, yet it will be chilly when it’s overcast, rainy, or northerly windy days.
If you go to see the sunset or the stars, dress warmer. Also, whale watching tours that stay on the water for a long time get colder, so bring hoodies, light down jackets windbreakers/ ain jackets.
As I said, there is no choice but to use the Ogasawara Kaiun ferry “Ogasawara Maru” to access Chichijima, the gateway. Also, you really need to be careful,
there is generally only one service every 6 days between Tokyo and Chichijma, and also takes 24 hours to the destination.
Except for Okinawa, Amami Oshima, and Ogasawara islands, it is said that warmer places considered with the real feel temperature are South Kyushu (east side of Kagoshima prefecture, southern Miyazaki prefecture), Kochi prefecture, Nanki (Shingu and Katsuura cities area in Wakayama prefecture), and the area from Shizuoka city to Hamamatsu city in Shizuoka prefecture.
Miyazaki Prefecture
Miyazaki prefecture is relatively warm throughout the year in the south plain facing on the water. However, in the western part of the prefecture, there are mountainous areas such as the Kyushu Mountains and the Kirishima Mountain Range, and the average temperature is lower, and it often snows. There is a chance that the low is below freezing. Miyazaki prefecture has a ski resort located in the southernmost among ski resorts in Japan.
On many days in the south plain, the temperature exceeds 10 degrees Celsius and sunny days, so you can spend light clothing during sunny days. However, since the low is often below 3 degrees Celsius, winter jackets are required for the cold morning and evening. Also, don’t forget winter accessories when visiting the mountains.
Average Temperatures In Miyazaki City
| December (℃) | January | February | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 9.7 | 8.5 | 9.2 |
| 2020 | 7.6 | 8.1 | 8.7 |
| 2019 | 10.9 | 6.9 | 7.3 |
| 2018 | 11.1 | 9.1 | 10.5 |
| 2017 | 9.0 | 9.9 | 10.4 |
Kagoshima Prefecture
Kagoshima Prefecture is located in the southwestern part of Japan and has a quite long shape from north to south, so the climate in Kagoshima is complex.
Roughly speaking, northern Kagoshima, mountain areas, and Tanegashima (Yakushima) are cold. For example, Isa city in the northern part is as cold as the Tohoku region, so the area is called “Hokkaido in Kagoshima.” At the popular attraction spot, Yakushima is mostly mountain areas and the top is as cold as Hokkaido.
On the other hand, the central and southern parts of Kagoshima are quite warmer, for example, Ibusuki City and Kagoshima city is around 10 ℃.
Average Temperatures In Kagoshima City
| December (℃) | January | February | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 10.8 | 9.3 | 10.0 |
| 2020 | 10.3 | 11.1 | 11.4 |
| 2019 | 12.1 | 9.6 | 11.3 |
| 2018 | 12.2 | 7.6 | 8.2 |
| 2017 | 8.7 | 9.0 | 9.2 |
However, it often gets a windy and overcast or rainy day. Although the average temperature is around 10 degrees or higher, the real feel is very cold. the knit sweater only is too cold without a jacket.
Probably Warmer Places In Japan
I am going to show you the places that are said it is warmer among cities throughout Japan, but, all places along the coast so that, yes, it’s windy! So, looking at the temperature in the table are seemed to be warm, but the real feel temperature is chilly once the wind blows.
I would say, it’s probably a warmer place compared with most cities except fr the those I mentioned above.
Shizuka City In Shizuoka Prefecture
The coastline between Shizuoka city through Hamamatsu city in Shizuoka prefecture, winters are relatively mild but windy, and almost sunny and relatively humid. The lowest is between 2 and 5 ℃, sometimes drop below freezing, but not frequently like other areas. Rarely snow.
| December (℃ ) | January | Februrary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 10.2 | 7.6 | 8.4 |
Kochi Prefecture
Kochi Prefecture is bordered by Tokushima and Ehime prefectures by the Shikoku Mountains in the north and faces the Pacific Ocean in the south. In the winter season, there is snow in the mountains and the regions facing the Bungo Channel. However, the coastal region has a warm climate due to the influence of the Kuroshio Current in addition to the monsoon being blocked by the Shikoku Mountains.
There are many sunny days in the plains and coasts of the central and eastern parts of Kochi prefecture, and it is one of the areas with many hours of sunshine in winter.
Although it is cold in the morning and the night, it is relatively warm in the daytime.
Nanki Area In Wakayama Prefecture
Nanki/ Shirahama is a resort town on the south coast in Wakayama prefecture where known for hot springs and white sand beach. Literally, Shirahama means white sand beach.
This area facing the Pacific Ocean has many interesting terrains created by waves over a long period of time. “Engetsu Island” is one of the iconic rock in Nanki/ Shirahama. Also, a 50 meters high rock cliff stretches along 2 km, and “Senjojiki”- a flat rock spreads outa vast rock plateau.
Kushimoto town has known as the southernmost point of Japan’s main island.
| Kushimoto | December (℃) | January | February |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 9.4 | 7.4 | 7.9 |
Conclusion
Most of Japan belongs to the temperate zone and is famous for its obvious four seasons. The monsoons and ocean currents affect Japanese climates and weather a lot.
The monsoon from the northwest impacts the Sea of Japan side so there is lots of snow and low temperatures.
Therefore, those warmer places are facing the Pacific Ocean but windy. If you are looking for warmer places, visit places on the Pacific ocean side. (But it’s still cold.) Japan is the island, and you should pack the winter essentials or windbreaker jackets everywhere you travel to Japan.
