Takayama in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Takayama sees average daytime highs around 2°C and overnight lows near -6°C, with 446 mm of precipitation over about 60 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 6°C in early December to 3°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 12% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Takayama's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Takayama's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 2°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- -6°C
- Precipitation
- 446 mm
- 60 wet days
- Avg wind
- 7 km/h
- Travel score
- 0.0
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Takayama in Winter
Over the season highs ease from about 6°C in early December to 3°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Takayama reaches about 2°C and drops to -6°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Takayama
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 32°C and 90 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in winter is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Takayama 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 | 0° / -7° | 155 | 21.4 | 22.1 | 9.8 | 0.0 |
| Feb | 1° / -6° | 133 | 17.9 | 17.2 | 10.6 | 0.0 |
| Mar | 5° / -3° | 172 | 17.8 | 13.3 | 11.7 | 0.3 |
| Apr | 12° / 2° | 158 | 15.5 | 3.8 | 12.9 | 2.8 |
| May | 18° / 8° | 163 | 14.8 | 0.2 | 13.9 | 5.0 |
| Jun | 21° / 13° | 220 | 17.7 | 0 | 14.4 | 5.0 |
| Jul | 25° / 18° | 278 | 21.1 | 0 | 14.2 | 5.0 |
| Aug | 26° / 18° | 179 | 18.8 | 0 | 13.4 | 5.3 |
| Sep | 22° / 14° | 216 | 16 | 0 | 12.2 | 5.5 |
| Oct | 16° / 8° | 182 | 14.5 | 0.2 | 11.1 | 4.6 |
| Nov | 10° / 2° | 141 | 15.9 | 4.8 | 10.1 | 1.9 |
| Dec | 3° / -4° | 159 | 20.6 | 16.7 | 9.6 | 0.1 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 12% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Takayama gets around 446 mm of rain and snow over 60 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 7 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 2.6 kWh/m².
Is winter a good time to visit Takayama?
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 Takayama.
What to pack for Takayama in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Takayama sees daytime highs around 2°C and nights near -6°C. Pack a warm layer, a heavy coat and rain gear. About 60 days see rain.
UV index in Takayama 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 Takayama peaks around July 14 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 — 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 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3 | Moderate |
| Feb | 4 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | High |
| Apr | 7 | Very high |
| May | 9 | Very high |
| Jun | 10 | Very high |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 9 | Very high |
| Sep | 10 | Very high |
| Oct | 6 | High |
| Nov | 4 | Moderate |
| Dec | 3 | Moderate |
Air quality in Takayama 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 Takayama is worst in April — around 19 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.0× the cleanest month (December, 10 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) | 11 | 13 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
| Level | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Good |
| Feb | 13 | Moderate |
| Mar | 18 | Moderate |
| Apr | 19 | Moderate |
| May | 18 | Moderate |
| Jun | 16 | Moderate |
| Jul | 13 | Moderate |
| Aug | 12 | Good |
| Sep | 11 | Good |
| Oct | 11 | Good |
| Nov | 10 | Good |
| Dec | 10 | Good |
Where is Takayama?
Takayama sits at 36.1°N, 137.3°E, 583 m above sea level, in Japan. The nearest listed city is Furukawa, 13 km away.
Topography around Takayama
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Takayama.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Takayama has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 352 m around an average of 638 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,101 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,123 m.
The land around Takayama is covered by trees (53%) and artificial surfaces (37%) within 3 km, trees (90%) within 16 km, and trees (85%) 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 Takayama (36.1333°, 137.25°, elevation 583 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.