Shimoda weather in May

In May, Shimoda sees average daytime highs of 22°C and overnight lows near 17°C, with 213 mm of rain across 11.8 wet days and about 13.7 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 6th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 21°C in the first days to 23°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 28% of the time in May, and the air most often feels humid.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 18 min at the start of May to 14 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Shimoda's 10th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Shimoda's year-round climate.

Daytime high
22°
6th warmest
Overnight low
17°
7th coldest
Rainfall
213 mm
11.8 wet days
Daylight
13 h 42 min
5:14 AM – 6:55 PM
Cloud cover
65%
10th clearest
Wind
13 km/h
8th windiest
Solar energy
5.46 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.3
out of 10

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 21°C in the first days to 23°C by the end.

A typical May day in Shimoda reaches about 22°C in the afternoon and slips back to 17°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 20°C and 24°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 4°C warmer than April and about 3°C cooler than June.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12015
22116
32116
42116
52116
62116
72116
82116
92117
102117
112217
122217
132217
142217
152217
162217
172217
182217
192218
202218
212218
222218
232318
242318
252318
262318
272318
282319
292319
302319
312319

How May really feels in Shimoda

Once humidity and wind are folded in, May averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

May sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Shimoda weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 6th-warmest and 6th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan11° / 766.410.12.9
Feb12° / 968.210.83.2
Mar15° / 15711.411.74.3
Apr18° / 13°18410.912.85.8
May22° / 17°21311.813.76.3
Jun25° / 21°35116.514.15.5
Jul28° / 24°26215.4145.2
Aug29° / 25°21916.113.24.8
Sep27° / 23°27815.912.25.6
Oct23° / 18°21811.211.26.8
Nov18° / 13°1288.910.36.1
Dec13° / 906.79.94.1

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 28% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 12% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 61%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14555
24555
34456
44357
54357
64258
74258
84159
94060
104060
114159
124060
134060
144060
154060
164060
174060
184060
193862
203862
213961
223961
233862
243763
253763
263763
273664
283466
293466
303268
313169

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Shimoda gets around 213 mm of rain over 11.8 wet days in May. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 37% and peaks near 39% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
136
237
337
437
538
638
738
839
939
1039
1139
1239
1339
1438
1538
1637
1737
1836
1936
2036
2136
2236
2336
2436
2536
2637
2737
2837
2938
3038
3139

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of May feels humid — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, May lands in the humid band about 32% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 14% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
143312060
241312160
339322270
437322370
536322480
634322580
733312690
832312790
9313128100
10303229100
11283229110
12273229110
13263230120
14253230120
15243331120
16233332120
17223332130
18213333130
19203233141
20193234141
21183235151
22173235151
23163136161
24143137171
25133038181
26122939191
27112839201
28102740212
2992641232
3082442242
3172242262

Wind in May

Winds average 13 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 13 km/h on the calmest days to 14 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
114light breeze
214light breeze
313light breeze
413light breeze
513light breeze
613light breeze
713light breeze
813light breeze
913light breeze
1013light breeze
1113light breeze
1213light breeze
1313light breeze
1413light breeze
1513light breeze
1613light breeze
1713light breeze
1813light breeze
1913light breeze
2013light breeze
2113light breeze
2213light breeze
2313light breeze
2413light breeze
2513light breeze
2613light breeze
2713light breeze
2813light breeze
2913light breeze
3013light breeze
3113light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 18 min at the start of May to 14 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 42 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:27 AM to 5:06 AM, and sunset from 6:44 PM to 7:05 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.35:276:44
213.35:266:45
313.35:256:45
413.45:246:46
513.45:236:47
613.45:226:48
713.55:216:48
813.55:206:49
913.55:196:50
1013.55:186:51
1113.65:176:51
1213.65:176:52
1313.65:166:53
1413.65:156:54
1513.75:146:54
1613.75:146:55
1713.75:136:56
1813.75:126:57
1913.85:126:57
2013.85:116:58
2113.85:106:59
2213.85:106:59
2313.85:097:00
2413.95:097:01
2513.95:087:01
2613.95:087:02
2713.95:077:03
2813.95:077:03
2914.05:067:04
3014.05:067:05
3114.05:067:05

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.46 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.56 kWh/m² to a high of 5.46 kWh/m² in May across the year — May's 5.46 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.5Bright
25.5Bright
35.5Bright
45.5Bright
55.4Bright
65.4Bright
75.4Bright
85.4Bright
95.4Bright
105.4Bright
115.5Bright
125.5Bright
135.5Bright
145.5Bright
155.5Bright
165.5Bright
175.5Bright
185.5Bright
195.5Bright
205.5Bright
215.5Bright
225.5Bright
235.5Bright
245.5Bright
255.4Bright
265.4Bright
275.4Bright
285.4Bright
295.3Bright
305.3Bright
315.2Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Shimoda

In seasonPeak

In May, Shimoda sits inside its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Shimoda sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.

Pacific typhoon
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is May a good time to visit Shimoda?

Our two travel scores rate May for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

6.3
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
4.3
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

May is a reasonable time to visit Shimoda for sightseeing.

What to pack for Shimoda in May

From May's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In May, Shimoda sees daytime highs around 22°C and nights near 17°C. Worth packing: rain gear and sun protection. About 12 days see rain.

rain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Shimoda in May

The nearest coast averages about 21°C in May — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 15 km away) is warmest in August at about 28°C and coldest in February near 18°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Apr 27 to Dec 25 — about 8 months when the water holds above 20°C.

15°20°25°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan19Cool
Feb18Cool
Mar18Cool
Apr19Cool
May21Refreshing
Jun24Refreshing
Jul26Warm
Aug28Warm
Sep27Warm
Oct25Warm
Nov23Refreshing
Dec21Refreshing

UV index in Shimoda in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 8 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Shimoda peaks around June 23 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 23 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highExtremeVery highModerateJun 23UV 11Dec 23UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb5Moderate
Mar6High
Apr7Very high
May8Very high
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug10Very high
Sep10Very high
Oct6High
Nov4Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Shimoda in May

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where May falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Shimoda is worst in April — around 20 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.1× the cleanest month (October, 10 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodApr 1420 µg/m³Oct 1410 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan13Moderate
Feb15Moderate
Mar19Moderate
Apr20Moderate
May18Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul11Good
Aug11Good
Sep10Good
Oct10Good
Nov11Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Shimoda?

Shimoda sits at 32.9°N, 133.0°E, 10 m above sea level, in Japan. The nearest listed city is Nakamura, 6.0 km away.

Topography around Shimoda

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Shimoda.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Shimoda has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 176 m around an average of 27 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 866 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,527 m.

The land around Shimoda is covered by trees (44%) and water (40%) within 3 km, trees (51%) and water (43%) within 16 km, and water (58%) and trees (40%) within 80 km.

3 km
176 m
16 km
866 m
80 km
1,527 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
May weather nearby: Nakamura 6.0 km · Sukumo 24 km · Mishōhirajō 39 km · Uwajima 50 km · Susaki 57 km · Uwa 64 km · Ōzu 74 km · Uchiko 74 km

Japan travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type A / B
100 V · 50 / 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 65% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$35,951
2025
Happiness
6.1 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
99%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
0.2
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
3.6
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
Very low
EF EPI 446
Religion
Shintoism 49%Buddhism 46%other 4%Christianity 1%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Shimoda (32.9458°, 132.9863°, elevation 10 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).