When to go · Shirakawa-gō
Shirakawa-gō in April
Great month. Inside Shirakawa-gō's best window: Apr–May, Oct–Nov; Jan–Feb for snow and the light-up.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Temperature
- 16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C) / 4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 12
- Crowds
- High
- Japan overall
- Prices
- High
- Japan overall
Verdict
Inside Shirakawa-gō's best window: Apr–May, Oct–Nov; Jan–Feb for snow and the light-up.
Is another month better than April?
No other month rates higher than April for Shirakawa-gō in this guide.
Weather in April
- Shirakawa-gōHighs around 16 °C (61 °F), lows around 4 °C (39 °F), rain on about 12 daysHighs around 61 °F (16 °C), lows around 39 °F (4 °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 Shirakawa-gō, side by side.
Verdict
Apr: Great
Jan: Great
Daytime high
Apr: 16 °C (61 °F)61 °F (16 °C)
Jan: 3 °C (37 °F)37 °F (3 °C)
Night low
Apr: 4 °C (39 °F)39 °F (4 °C)
Jan: -4 °C (25 °F)25 °F (-4 °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 Shirakawa-gō's best window: Apr–May, Oct–Nov; Jan–Feb for snow and the light-up.
January: Inside Shirakawa-gō's best window: Apr–May, Oct–Nov; Jan–Feb for snow and the light-up.
Shirakawa-gō: 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