Sōka in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Sōka sees average daytime highs around 10°C and overnight lows near 2°C, with 187 mm of precipitation over about 22 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 13°C in early December to 11°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 55% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Sōka's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Sōka's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 10°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 2°C
- Precipitation
- 187 mm
- 22 wet days
- Avg wind
- 12 km/h
- Travel score
- 2.6
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Sōka in Winter
Over the season highs ease from about 13°C in early December to 11°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Sōka reaches about 10°C and drops to 2°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Sōka
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 32°C and 69 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in winter is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Sōka 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 | 9° / 1° | 67 | 6.9 | 1.2 | 9.8 | 2.1 |
| Feb | 10° / 2° | 62 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 10.6 | 2.4 |
| Mar | 13° / 5° | 113 | 11.6 | 0.8 | 11.7 | 3.7 |
| Apr | 18° / 10° | 113 | 11.4 | 0 | 12.9 | 5.5 |
| May | 23° / 15° | 129 | 11.8 | 0 | 13.9 | 6.4 |
| Jun | 25° / 19° | 159 | 13.6 | 0 | 14.4 | 5.8 |
| Jul | 29° / 23° | 149 | 12.9 | 0 | 14.2 | 4.9 |
| Aug | 31° / 25° | 110 | 10.8 | 0 | 13.4 | 4.5 |
| Sep | 27° / 21° | 180 | 13.6 | 0 | 12.2 | 5.6 |
| Oct | 21° / 15° | 209 | 12.9 | 0 | 11.1 | 6.1 |
| Nov | 16° / 9° | 91 | 9.8 | 0 | 10.1 | 5.3 |
| Dec | 12° / 4° | 59 | 7.5 | 0.2 | 9.6 | 3.3 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 55% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Sōka gets around 187 mm of rain and snow over 22 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 12 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 9 h 42 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 Sōka
In winter, Sōka overlaps its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Sōka sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.
Is winter a good time to visit Sōka?
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 Sōka.
What to pack for Sōka in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Sōka sees daytime highs around 10°C and nights near 2°C. Pack a warm layer. About 22 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Sōka in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 14°C across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 24 km away) is warmest in August at about 26°C and coldest in February near 13°C.
It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 7 to Nov 3 — about 4.9 months when the water holds above 20°C.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 16 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Cool | Refreshing | Refreshing | Warm | Warm | Refreshing | Cool | Cool |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14 | Bracing |
| Feb | 13 | Bracing |
| Mar | 13 | Bracing |
| Apr | 15 | Cool |
| May | 18 | Cool |
| Jun | 21 | Refreshing |
| Jul | 23 | Refreshing |
| Aug | 26 | Warm |
| Sep | 25 | Warm |
| Oct | 22 | Refreshing |
| Nov | 19 | Cool |
| Dec | 16 | Cool |
UV index in Sōka in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 3. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Sōka peaks around July 16 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 1 at about 2 (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) | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Moderate |
| Feb | 4 | Moderate |
| Mar | 4 | Moderate |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 10 | Very high |
| Aug | 9 | Very high |
| Sep | 9 | Very high |
| Oct | 6 | High |
| Nov | 3 | Moderate |
| Dec | 2 | Moderate |
Air quality in Sōka 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 Sōka is worst in April — around 26 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.9× the cleanest month (December, 14 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) | 15 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15 | Moderate |
| Feb | 21 | Moderate |
| Mar | 25 | Moderate |
| Apr | 26 | Moderate |
| May | 24 | Moderate |
| Jun | 20 | Moderate |
| Jul | 17 | Moderate |
| Aug | 16 | Moderate |
| Sep | 16 | Moderate |
| Oct | 16 | Moderate |
| Nov | 16 | Moderate |
| Dec | 14 | Moderate |
Where is Sōka?
Sōka sits at 35.8°N, 139.8°E, 6 m above sea level, in Japan. The nearest listed city is Toneri, 4.0 km away.
Topography around Sōka
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Sōka.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Sōka has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 23 m around an average of 6 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 67 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,992 m.
The land around Sōka is covered by artificial surfaces (93%) within 3 km, artificial surfaces (76%) within 16 km, and trees (37%) and artificial surfaces (29%) 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 Sōka (35.8364°, 139.7996°, elevation 6 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.