Shizuoka weather in May

In May, Shizuoka sees average daytime highs of 20°C and overnight lows near 15°C, with 234 mm of rain across 13.9 wet days and about 13.8 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 5th-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 25% of the time in May, and the air most often feels comfortable.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 24 min at the start of May to 14 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Shizuoka's 10th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Shizuoka's year-round climate.

Daytime high
20°
6th warmest
Overnight low
15°
7th coldest
Rainfall
234 mm
13.9 wet days
Daylight
13 h 48 min
4:48 AM – 6:38 PM
Cloud cover
68%
10th clearest
Wind
9 km/h
8th windiest
Solar energy
5.48 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.6
out of 10

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 Shizuoka reaches about 20°C in the afternoon and slips back to 15°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 17°C and 23°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)
11813
21813
31913
41913
51914
61914
71914
81914
91914
101914
111914
122014
132015
142015
152015
162015
172015
182015
192015
202015
212016
222016
232116
242116
252116
262116
272116
282116
292117
302117
312117

Shizuoka weather by month

How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 6th-warmest and 5th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan / 958.40.49.92.1
Feb10° / 1189.30.710.72.2
Mar12° / 21114.40.211.73.0
Apr16° / 11°22513.6012.94.6
May20° / 15°23413.9013.85.6
Jun23° / 19°29117.2014.35.3
Jul26° / 23°32318.5014.15.2
Aug28° / 24°19116.3013.35.5
Sep25° / 21°27716.5012.25.7
Oct21° / 17°24714.1011.15.9
Nov16° / 12°15011.4010.25.1
Dec12° / 928.30.19.73.3

Cloud cover in May

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 25% 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 65%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14357
24357
34258
44159
53961
63961
73862
83763
93664
103565
113466
123466
133367
143367
153367
163367
173367
183367
193466
203466
213466
223466
233466
243466
253565
263466
273466
283367
293367
303268
313268

Chance of precipitation in May

Any precipitation

Shizuoka gets around 234 mm of rain over 13.9 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 44% and peaks near 46% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
143
243
343
443
544
644
745
845
946
1046
1146
1246
1346
1446
1546
1646
1746
1845
1945
2044
2144
2244
2343
2443
2542
2642
2742
2842
2942
3042
3142

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 43% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
1662941
2643051
3633151
4603361
5593461
6573571
7543781
8533881
9513991
104940101
114742101
124543111
134344121
144045131
153847142
163648152
173449162
183249172
193050192
202850202
212650222
222451232
232350252
242149273
252049283
261848303
271747324
281546344
291445364
301344385
311242406

Wind in May

Winds average 9 km/h in May.

Across May, daily wind ranges from about 8 km/h on the calmest days to 10 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
110calm
210calm
310calm
410calm
510calm
610calm
710calm
89calm
99calm
109calm
119calm
129calm
139calm
149calm
159calm
169calm
179calm
189calm
199calm
209calm
219calm
229calm
239calm
249calm
259calm
269calm
279calm
289calm
298calm
308calm
318calm

Sunrise & sunset in May

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 24 min at the start of May to 14 h 12 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 5:02 AM to 4:39 AM, and sunset from 6:25 PM to 6:49 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.45:026:25
213.45:016:26
313.55:006:27
413.54:596:28
513.54:586:29
613.54:576:30
713.64:566:30
813.64:556:31
913.64:546:32
1013.74:536:33
1113.74:526:34
1213.74:516:34
1313.74:506:35
1413.84:496:36
1513.84:496:37
1613.84:486:38
1713.94:476:38
1813.94:466:39
1913.94:466:40
2013.94:456:41
2114.04:446:41
2214.04:446:42
2314.04:436:43
2414.04:426:44
2514.04:426:44
2614.14:416:45
2714.14:416:46
2814.14:406:47
2914.14:406:47
3014.14:406:48
3114.24:396:49

Solar energy in May

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 5.48 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.59 kWh/m² to a high of 5.48 kWh/m² in May across the year — May's 5.48 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.4Bright
25.4Bright
35.4Bright
45.4Bright
55.4Bright
65.4Bright
75.4Bright
85.4Bright
95.4Bright
105.4Bright
115.4Bright
125.4Bright
135.4Bright
145.5Bright
155.5Bright
165.5Bright
175.5Bright
185.5Bright
195.5Bright
205.5Bright
215.5Bright
225.6Bright
235.6Bright
245.6Bright
255.6Bright
265.5Bright
275.5Bright
285.5Bright
295.5Bright
305.5Bright
315.4Bright
Planning a trip in May

Hazard calendar for Shizuoka

In seasonPeak

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

Shizuoka 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 Shizuoka?

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

5.6
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
2.9
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

May is a reasonable time to visit Shizuoka for sightseeing.

What to pack for Shizuoka in May

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

In May, Shizuoka sees daytime highs around 20°C and nights near 15°C. Worth packing: rain gear and sun protection. About 14 days see rain.

rain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Shizuoka in May

The nearest coast averages about 19°C in May — 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 27°C and coldest in February near 15°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from May 28 to Nov 26 — about 6 months when the water holds above 20°C.

15°20°25°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan16Cool
Feb15Cool
Mar16Cool
Apr17Cool
May19Cool
Jun22Refreshing
Jul24Warm
Aug27Warm
Sep26Warm
Oct23Refreshing
Nov21Refreshing
Dec18Cool

UV index in Shizuoka in May

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 9 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Shizuoka peaks around July 22 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.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highExtremeVery highModerateJul 22UV 10Dec 23UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr7High
May9Very high
Jun10Very high
Jul10Extreme
Aug10Very high
Sep9Very high
Oct6High
Nov4Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Shizuoka 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 Shizuoka is worst in April — around 23 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.4× the cleanest month (December, 10 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodApr 1623 µg/m³Dec 1610 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Good
Feb20Moderate
Mar20Moderate
Apr23Moderate
May20Moderate
Jun17Moderate
Jul13Moderate
Aug12Good
Sep12Good
Oct12Good
Nov11Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Shizuoka?

Shizuoka sits at 35.0°N, 138.4°E, 23 m above sea level, in Japan. The nearest listed city is Yaizu, 14 km away.

Topography around Shizuoka

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Shizuoka has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 213 m around an average of 28 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,098 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,736 m.

The land around Shizuoka is covered by artificial surfaces (75%) within 3 km, trees (51%) and water (29%) within 16 km, and trees (55%) and water (35%) within 80 km.

3 km
213 m
16 km
1,098 m
80 km
3,736 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
May weather nearby: Yaizu 14 km · Fujieda 17 km · Shimada 26 km · Sumiyoshi 29 km · Kanaya 30 km · Fujinomiya 34 km · Fuji 34 km · Maruobara 35 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 Shizuoka (34.9833°, 138.3833°, elevation 23 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).