When to go · Gokayama
Gokayama in April
Great month. Inside Gokayama's best window: Apr–Nov (check); Jan–Feb for snow scenery (check).
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Temperature
- 17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C) / 5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 12
- Crowds
- High
- Japan overall
- Prices
- High
- Japan overall
Verdict
Inside Gokayama's best window: Apr–Nov (check); Jan–Feb for snow scenery (check).
Is another month better than April?
No other month rates higher than April for Gokayama in this guide.
Weather in April
- GokayamaHighs around 17 °C (63 °F), lows around 5 °C (41 °F), rain on about 12 daysHighs around 63 °F (17 °C), lows around 41 °F (5 °C), rain on about 12 days
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Cherry blossom season big impact
Late Mar – mid Apr (moves north through May) · Japan
Kyoto and Tokyo hotels at peak prices; parks crowded from dawn; book months ahead.
Golden Week big impact
29 Apr – 5 May · Japan
The biggest domestic travel week: Shinkansen reserved cars and hotels sell out; prices up.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Japan overall
- High
- Prices · Japan overall
- High
Japan overall: Blossom peak early April and Golden Week at the end: the two most crowded windows of the year.
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Gokayama, side by side.
Verdict
Apr: Great
Jan: Great
Daytime high
Apr: 17 °C (63 °F)63 °F (17 °C)
Jan: 4 °C (39 °F)39 °F (4 °C)
Night low
Apr: 5 °C (41 °F)41 °F (5 °C)
Jan: -3 °C (27 °F)27 °F (-3 °C)
Rain days
Apr: 12 (better)
Jan: 18
Crowds
Apr: High
Jan: Low
Prices
Apr: High
Jan: Low
Festivals listed
Apr: 2
Jan: 1
April: Inside Gokayama's best window: Apr–Nov (check); Jan–Feb for snow scenery (check).
January: Inside Gokayama's best window: Apr–Nov (check); Jan–Feb for snow scenery (check).
Gokayama: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat and gloves for mornings and evenings
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast