Shimoda in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Shimoda sees average daytime highs around 11°C and overnight lows near 8°C, with 316 mm of precipitation over about 29 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs ease from about 14°C in early December to 11°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 51% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Shimoda's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Shimoda's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 11°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 8°C
- Precipitation
- 316 mm
- 29 wet days
- Avg wind
- 25 km/h
- Travel score
- 2.7
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Shimoda in Winter
Over the season highs ease from about 14°C in early December to 11°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Shimoda reaches about 11°C and drops to 8°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest February.
Shimoda weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10° / 7° | 104 | 9.5 | 0.4 | 9.9 | 2.3 |
| Feb | 10° / 7° | 115 | 9.4 | 0.5 | 10.7 | 2.4 |
| Mar | 12° / 9° | 191 | 13.9 | 0.2 | 11.7 | 3.2 |
| Apr | 16° / 13° | 182 | 12.5 | 0 | 12.8 | 4.6 |
| May | 19° / 16° | 210 | 12.3 | 0 | 13.8 | 5.7 |
| Jun | 22° / 20° | 289 | 15 | 0 | 14.3 | 5.5 |
| Jul | 25° / 23° | 236 | 13.8 | 0 | 14.1 | 6.1 |
| Aug | 26° / 24° | 146 | 13 | 0 | 13.3 | 6.2 |
| Sep | 25° / 22° | 240 | 15.3 | 0 | 12.2 | 5.9 |
| Oct | 21° / 18° | 262 | 13.9 | 0 | 11.1 | 6.0 |
| Nov | 17° / 14° | 163 | 11.6 | 0 | 10.2 | 5.2 |
| Dec | 12° / 10° | 98 | 10.3 | 0 | 9.7 | 3.5 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 51% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Shimoda gets around 316 mm of rain and snow over 29 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 25 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 9 h 48 min in early December to 11 h 06 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 2.9 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Shimoda
In winter, Shimoda overlaps 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.
Is winter a good time to visit Shimoda?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Shimoda.
What to pack for Shimoda in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Shimoda sees daytime highs around 11°C and nights near 8°C. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: rain gear and a windbreaker. About 29 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Shimoda in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 17°C across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea offshore is warmest in August at about 26°C and coldest in February near 16°C.
It's comfortable for a long swim from May 24 to Dec 3 — about 6.4 months when the water holds above 20°C.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 17 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 19 |
| Comfort | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Refreshing | Warm | Warm | Warm | Refreshing | Refreshing | Cool |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 17 | Cool |
| Feb | 16 | Cool |
| Mar | 16 | Cool |
| Apr | 18 | Cool |
| May | 20 | Cool |
| Jun | 22 | Refreshing |
| Jul | 24 | Warm |
| Aug | 26 | Warm |
| Sep | 26 | Warm |
| Oct | 24 | Refreshing |
| Nov | 21 | Refreshing |
| Dec | 19 | Cool |
UV index in Shimoda in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 3 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Shimoda peaks around July 24 at about 10 (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 — in 10 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3 | Moderate |
| Feb | 4 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | Moderate |
| Apr | 7 | High |
| May | 9 | Very high |
| Jun | 10 | Very high |
| Jul | 10 | Extreme |
| Aug | 10 | Extreme |
| Sep | 9 | Very high |
| Oct | 6 | High |
| Nov | 4 | Moderate |
| Dec | 3 | Moderate |
Air quality in Shimoda in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Shimoda is worst in April — around 20 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.6× the cleanest month (December, 8 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 9 | 13 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Level | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | Good |
| Feb | 13 | Moderate |
| Mar | 18 | Moderate |
| Apr | 20 | Moderate |
| May | 18 | Moderate |
| Jun | 15 | Moderate |
| Jul | 11 | Good |
| Aug | 10 | Good |
| Sep | 9 | Good |
| Oct | 10 | Good |
| Nov | 9 | Good |
| Dec | 8 | Good |
Where is Shimoda?
Shimoda sits at 34.7°N, 138.9°E, 11 m above sea level, in Japan. The nearest listed city is Shuzenji, 33 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 significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 330 m around an average of 62 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,060 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,746 m.
The land around Shimoda is covered by trees (66%) and water (22%) within 3 km, water (53%) and trees (45%) within 16 km, and water (75%) and trees (20%) within 80 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
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 (34.6765°, 138.9446°, elevation 11 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.