Shimonoseki weather in May

In May, Shimonoseki sees average daytime highs of 20°C and overnight lows near 17°C, with 170 mm of rain across 10.4 wet days and about 13.7 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 18°C in the first days to 21°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 32% of the time in May, and the air most often feels comfortable.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 18 min at the start of May to 14 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Shimonoseki's 7th-clearest and 9th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Shimonoseki's year-round climate.

Daytime high
20°
6th warmest
Overnight low
17°
7th coldest
Rainfall
170 mm
10.4 wet days
Daylight
13 h 48 min
5:20 AM – 7:05 PM
Cloud cover
61%
7th clearest
Wind
14 km/h
9th windiest
Solar energy
5.54 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.2
out of 10

Shimonoseki is city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.

Density
371/km²
people per km²
Founded
1889

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in May

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 18°C in the first days to 21°C by the end.

A typical May day in Shimonoseki reaches about 20°C in the afternoon and slips back to 17°C overnight — a 3°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 18°C and 22°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 4°C warmer than April and about 3°C cooler than June.

10°15°20°25°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
11815
21815
31815
41815
51915
61915
71915
81916
91916
101916
111916
121916
131916
142016
152016
162017
172017
182017
192017
202017
212017
222017
232017
242118
252118
262118
272118
282118
292118
302118
312118

How May really feels in Shimonoseki

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.

Shimonoseki weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 6th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan / 9213.91.5101.6
Feb / 91121.210.71.8
Mar12° / 14412.40.211.73.0
Apr16° / 12°15311012.84.8
May20° / 17°17010.4013.76.2
Jun23° / 20°27313.8014.25.9
Jul27° / 24°25513.50145.8
Aug28° / 26°13911.4013.35.7
Sep26° / 23°16311.5012.26.5
Oct21° / 18°1048.4011.16.9
Nov16° / 13°9510.2010.25.2
Dec11° / 9012.80.59.82.7

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 32% of the time in May.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 56%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14852
24852
34753
44753
54654
64654
74555
84555
94555
104456
114456
124456
134456
144357
154357
164456
174456
184357
194357
204357
214357
224357
234258
244258
254258
264258
274258
284159
294159
304060
313961

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Shimonoseki gets around 170 mm of rain over 10.4 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 33% and peaks near 34% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
133
233
333
433
533
633
733
833
933
1033
1133
1233
1333
1433
1533
1633
1733
1833
1933
2033
2133
2234
2334
2434
2534
2634
2734
2833
2933
3034
3134

Humidity in May

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, May lands in the comfortable band about 42% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
15039101
24840111
34641121
44442131
54243141
64044141
73845151
83646161
93546172
103347182
113248192
123048202
132848222
142748232
152548252
162348272
172247292
182047313
191946333
201745353
211644374
221543394
231341415
241239435
251138456
261036477
27934498
289325010
298295211
307275313
316255415

Wind in May

Winds average 14 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 13 km/h on the calmest days to 15 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
115light breeze
215light breeze
315light breeze
415light breeze
515light breeze
615light breeze
715light breeze
815light breeze
915light breeze
1014light breeze
1114light breeze
1214light breeze
1314light breeze
1414light breeze
1514light breeze
1614light breeze
1714light breeze
1814light breeze
1914light breeze
2014light breeze
2114light breeze
2214light breeze
2314light 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 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 48 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:33 AM to 5:11 AM, and sunset from 6:54 PM to 7:16 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.35:336:54
213.45:326:54
313.45:316:55
413.45:306:56
513.55:296:57
613.55:286:58
713.55:276:58
813.55:266:59
913.65:257:00
1013.65:257:01
1113.65:247:01
1213.75:237:02
1313.75:227:03
1413.75:217:04
1513.75:207:05
1613.85:207:05
1713.85:197:06
1813.85:187:07
1913.85:187:08
2013.95:177:08
2113.95:167:09
2213.95:167:10
2313.95:157:10
2413.95:157:11
2514.05:147:12
2614.05:147:13
2714.05:137:13
2814.05:137:14
2914.05:127:15
3014.15:127:15
3114.15:117:16

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.54 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.12 kWh/m² to a high of 5.54 kWh/m² in May across the year — May's 5.54 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.4Bright
25.4Bright
35.4Bright
45.5Bright
55.5Bright
65.5Bright
75.5Bright
85.5Bright
95.5Bright
105.5Bright
115.5Bright
125.5Bright
135.5Bright
145.5Bright
155.5Bright
165.6Bright
175.6Bright
185.6Bright
195.6Bright
205.6Bright
215.6Bright
225.6Bright
235.6Bright
245.6Bright
255.6Bright
265.6Bright
275.6Bright
285.6Bright
295.6Bright
305.5Bright
315.5Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Shimonoseki

In seasonPeak

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

Shimonoseki 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 Shimonoseki?

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

6.2
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
3.1
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

May is a reasonable time to visit Shimonoseki for sightseeing.

What to pack for Shimonoseki in May

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

In May, Shimonoseki sees daytime highs around 20°C and nights near 17°C. Worth packing: rain gear and sun protection. About 10 days see rain.

rain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Shimonoseki in May

The nearest coast averages about 17°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 20 km away) is warmest in August at about 27°C and coldest in February near 12°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 6 to Nov 10 — about 5.2 months when the water holds above 20°C.

10°15°20°25°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan13Bracing
Feb12Bracing
Mar12Bracing
Apr14Bracing
May17Cool
Jun21Refreshing
Jul25Warm
Aug27Warm
Sep26Warm
Oct23Refreshing
Nov19Cool
Dec16Cool

UV index in Shimonoseki in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 8 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Shimonoseki peaks around July 17 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highModerateJul 17UV 9Dec 22UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar5High
Apr8Very high
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep9Very high
Oct6High
Nov4Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Shimonoseki 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 Shimonoseki is worst in March — around 27 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (October, 12 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateMar 2026 µg/m³Oct 1212 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan17Moderate
Feb20Moderate
Mar27Moderate
Apr24Moderate
May21Moderate
Jun18Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug19Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct12Good
Nov14Moderate
Dec13Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Shimonoseki?

Shimonoseki sits at 34.0°N, 130.9°E, 10 m above sea level, in Japan. The nearest listed city is Kitakyushu, 14 km away.

Topography around Shimonoseki

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Shimonoseki has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 291 m around an average of 26 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 658 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,205 m.

The land around Shimonoseki is covered by artificial surfaces (42%), water (34%) and trees (22%) within 3 km, water (53%), trees (22%) and artificial surfaces (20%) within 16 km, and water (50%) and trees (38%) within 80 km.

3 km
291 m
16 km
658 m
80 km
1,205 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
May weather nearby: Kitakyushu 14 km · Kanda 20 km · Sanyōonoda 22 km · Onoda 23 km · Miyaodai 24 km · Yukuhashi 26 km · Nakama 26 km · Miyako 29 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 Shimonoseki (33.9555°, 130.9371°, 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).