When to go · Shirakawa-gō
Shirakawa-gō in May
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
- 21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C) / 9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 12
- Crowds
- Medium
- Japan overall
- Prices
- Medium
- 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 May?
No other month rates higher than May for Shirakawa-gō in this guide.
Weather in May
- Shirakawa-gōHighs around 21 °C (70 °F), lows around 9 °C (48 °F), rain on about 12 daysHighs around 70 °F (21 °C), lows around 48 °F (9 °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.
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
- Medium
- Prices · Japan overall
- Medium
Japan overall: After Golden Week, one of the best months: warm, green, calmer.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Shirakawa-gō, side by side.
Verdict
May: Great
Jan: Great
Daytime high
May: 21 °C (70 °F)70 °F (21 °C)
Jan: 3 °C (37 °F)37 °F (3 °C)
Night low
May: 9 °C (48 °F)48 °F (9 °C)
Jan: -4 °C (25 °F)25 °F (-4 °C)
Rain days
May: 12 (better)
Jan: 18
Crowds
May: Medium
Jan: Low
Prices
May: Medium
Jan: Low
Festivals listed
May: 1
Jan: 1
May: 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 layer for the evenings
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast