AI-generatedKanazawa at a glance
- Best time
- Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
- Warmest month
- Aug · 30°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 27.2°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,720 h
- Rain a year
- 1,793 mm
- Climate
- Temperate
- Time zone
- UTC+9
- Elevation
- 0 m
Climate in Kanazawa
Kanazawa has a temperate climate with warm summers and cool winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 30 °C, while January is the coolest at 5 °C. With around 1,720 hours of sunshine a year, Kanazawa is moderately sunny; August is the sunniest month with 7.0 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: April – June, September – October
October is the peak of the typhoon season
Keep in mindFrequent rainStorm season
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 15°
- Midday, 13:00: about 20°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 19°
- Evening, 20:00: about 16°
- Night, 23:00: about 14°
06:0017:19
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:44–06:34 · evening 16:44–17:35
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:34–05:44 · evening 17:35–17:45
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Kanazawa in October?
In October, Kanazawa is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 22.2 °C – refreshing for a swim. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 145 mm in total. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Kanazawa.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 19 min06:00 – 17:19
- UV index
- 5 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 1 daydew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 17 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 58 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+9Asia/Tokyo
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %32 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %35 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Kanazawa
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 21.1 – 23.4 °C
Swimming season: Jun – Oct
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Kanazawa ranges from 10.6 °C in March to 27.2 °C in August. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from June to October.
From October to February the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 26.2 and 28.7 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 13.0° | 12.3° | 14.0° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 11.1° | 10.5° | 12.1° | cold |
| MarchMar | 10.6° | 10.2° | 11.4° | cold |
| AprilApr | 12.3° | 11.2° | 13.1° | cold |
| MayMay | 16.1° | 15.3° | 17.1° | cold |
| JuneJun | 20.3° | 19.3° | 21.1° | refreshing |
| JulyJul | 24.2° | 22.7° | 26.0° | pleasant |
| AugustAug | 27.2° | 26.2° | 28.7° | warm |
| SeptemberSep | 25.6° | 24.1° | 27.6° | pleasant |
| OctoberOct | 22.2° | 21.1° | 23.4° | refreshing |
| NovemberNov | 19.0° | 18.5° | 19.5° | fresh |
| DecemberDec | 15.9° | 14.9° | 16.7° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Kanazawa
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 4.9 of 11.3 hours of daylight in Kanazawa, 43 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 2 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Kanazawa
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 5 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 10).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 30 min
- Fair skin
- about 35 min
- Light brown skin
- about 50 min
- Olive skin
- about 60 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Kanazawa: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Kanazawa has about 13 rainy days with 145 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Kanazawa
How breezy and how cloudy Kanazawa is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Kanazawa typically peaks at 17 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting: Dec – Mar.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 58 % of the sky over Kanazawa: variable cloud, with about 4.9 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Kanazawa
How often the day gets hot in Kanazawa (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Kanazawa has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 20 °C: pleasant. Heat plays no part this month.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Snow in Kanazawa
When Kanazawa is likely to be white: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, it hardly ever snows in Kanazawa.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Kanazawa
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Frost below 0°
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
- Warm 20–24°
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
CoolOctober: nights around 12°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening. Muggy on about 1 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in January (−2°), the warmest in August (23°). Tropical nights of 20 °C and more are the rule from July to August; then air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep. Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) in June and in September. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to April, so the room should be heated. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 89 days a year, mostly from July to September.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 0 | 5° | −2° | 13.0° | 2.0 h | 23 | 157 |
| FebruaryFeb | 2 | 6° | −2° | 11.1° | 3.1 h | 17 | 111 |
| MarchMar | 22 | 11° | 1° | 10.6° | 4.7 h | 16 | 133 |
| AprilApr | 64 | 16° | 6° | 12.3° | 6.2 h | 12 | 118 |
| MayMay | 76 | 21° | 12° | 16.1° | 6.7 h | 12 | 115 |
| JuneJun | 72 | 25° | 17° | 20.3° | 5.4 h | 12 | 147 |
| JulyJul | 57 | 28° | 21° | 24.2° | 5.4 h | 15 | 192 |
| AugustAug | 56 | 30° | 23° | 27.2° | 7.0 h | 13 | 158 |
| SeptemberSep | 66 | 26° | 19° | 25.6° | 5.1 h | 14 | 181 |
| OctoberOct | 67 | 20° | 12° | 22.2° | 4.9 h | 13 | 145 |
| NovemberNov | 38 | 14° | 6° | 19.0° | 3.6 h | 16 | 152 |
| DecemberDec | 2 | 8° | 1° | 15.9° | 2.2 h | 22 | 184 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
36.60° N, 136.62° E · 0 m · Asia/Tokyo
Best time to visit Kanazawa
The best time to visit Kanazawa is from April to June and from September to October. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 27.2 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from May to June. Rain is most frequent from July to April; the wettest month is July with 192 mm.
Kanazawa through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Kanazawa in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 11–21 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 40 rainy days in all
Kanazawa in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 25–30 °C by day
- Sea 24 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 39 rainy days in all
Kanazawa in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 14–26 °C by day
- Sea 22 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 43 rainy days in all
Kanazawa in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 5–8 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 2 h of sun a day
- 62 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Kanazawa for you.
Your best months: May – June
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Kanazawa
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
May has the better holiday weather in Kanazawa: score 76 against 67. In May, days are 1 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 6 °C cooler in May. May has one rainy day fewer. The sun shines 2 hours longer a day in May.
| Month | October | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 67 | 76better |
| Day high | 20° | 21° |
| Night low | 12° | 12° |
| Sea | 22.2° | 16.1° |
| Sunshine | 4.9 h | 6.7 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 13 | 12better |
| Rainfall | 145 mm | 115 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 1 | 0better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
May – Jun
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Jul – Apr
12 or more rainy days
Snow
Dec – Mar
Snow on 2 or more days
Kanazawa month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
0January5° · Sea 13° · 2 h
In January, Kanazawa is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−2 °C). The sea averages 13.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 23 days, adding up to 157 mm. Snow falls on about 10 days. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa in January2February6° · Sea 11° · 3 h
In February, Kanazawa is cold: daytime highs average 6 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−2 °C). The sea averages 11.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 111 mm. Snow falls on about 7 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa in February22March11° · Sea 11° · 5 h
In March, Kanazawa is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 10.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 133 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa in March64April16° · Sea 12° · 6 h
In April, Kanazawa is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 12.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 118 mm in total. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa in April76May21° · Sea 16° · 7 h
In May, Kanazawa is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 16.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 115 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa in May72June25° · Sea 20° · 5 h
In June, Kanazawa is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sea averages 20.3 °C – refreshing for a swim. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 147 mm in total. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa in June57July28° · Sea 24° · 5 h
In July, Kanazawa is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 24.2 °C – pleasant for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 192 mm. On about 10 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa in July56August30° · Sea 27° · 7 h
In August, Kanazawa is hot: daytime highs average 30 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 27.2 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 158 mm in total. On about 17 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa in August66September26° · Sea 26° · 5 h
In September, Kanazawa is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sea averages 25.6 °C – pleasant for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 181 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa in September67October20° · Sea 22° · 5 h
In October, Kanazawa is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 22.2 °C – refreshing for a swim. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 145 mm in total. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa in October38November14° · Sea 19° · 4 h
In November, Kanazawa is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 19.0 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 152 mm. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa in November2December8° · Sea 16° · 2 h
In December, Kanazawa is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 15.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 22 days, adding up to 184 mm. Snow falls on about 5 days. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa in DecemberKanazawa compared
Put Kanazawa side by side with another destination.
No destination found
Kanazawa vs. Matsumoto
In October Kanazawa has the better holiday weather (score 67 vs. 62). During the day Matsumoto is 2 °C cooler than Kanazawa.
| in October | Kanazawa | Matsumoto |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 67 | 62 |
| Daytime high | 20° | 18° |
| Sea | 22° | – |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 13 | 14 |
| Best time | Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct | May, Sep – Oct |
Through the year
Japan in October: the best places
In October, Kanazawa ranks 15 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Hiroshima22°23°81
- 2Fukuoka22°23°81
- 3Nagasaki23°24°81
- 4Kumamoto23°23°80
- 5Kitakyūshū22°23°79
- 6Okayama22°24°78
- 7Kagoshima24°26°77
- 8Nagoya22°75
- 15KanazawaThis page20°22°67
Planning a trip to Kanazawa
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Kanazawa in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Kanazawa has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 75) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 1).
- 51
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 14 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 5.8 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Snow
- 75
May half-term
May – Jun
GoodBest holidays
- 22 °C by day
- Sea 17 °C
- 6.4 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 56
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 26 °C
- 6.4 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 67
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 20 °C by day
- Sea 22 °C
- 4.9 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 1
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 7 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 2.1 h of sun a day
- 22 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Snow
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 11 h 45 min
- Distance
- 9,370 km
- Time zone
- UTC+9
- Jet lag
- About 8 days (8 h east)
Rule of thumb for flying east: for a few days before, go to bed and get up a little earlier, and get plenty of morning light at your destination.
Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Storm season
Kanazawa lies in an area that Pacific typhoons can reach. The typhoon season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June: Season
- July: Season
- August: Peak
- September: Peak
- October: Peak
- November: Season
- December
Official season dates of the regional warning centres (NOAA, JMA, IMD, Météo-France, BoM); not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions about Kanazawa
When is the best time to visit Kanazawa?
The best time to visit Kanazawa is from April to June and from September to October. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Kanazawa?
The sea temperature in Kanazawa ranges from 10.6 °C in March to 27.2 °C in August. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from June to October.
Can you swim in Kanazawa in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 22.2 °C – refreshing for a swim.
What is the warmest month in Kanazawa?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 30 °C and nights around 23 °C. January is the coolest month at 5 °C.
When does it rain most in Kanazawa?
Rain is most frequent from July to April; the wettest month is July with 192 mm. The driest month is February with 111 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Kanazawa get?
Kanazawa gets around 1,720 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is August with 7.0 hours a day; in January there are 2.0 hours a day.
What time zone is Kanazawa in?
Kanazawa uses the time zone Asia/Tokyo, at UTC+9 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Kanazawa?
A nonstop flight from London to Kanazawa takes about 11 h 45 min, for a straight-line distance of about 9,370 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
When is typhoon season in Kanazawa?
Kanazawa lies in an area that Pacific typhoons can reach. The typhoon season runs from June to November, with most storms from August to October. A direct hit on any one place is rare, but if you travel then, keep an eye on weather warnings and book flexibly.
Which school holidays are best for Kanazawa?
Kanazawa has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 75) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 1). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 51, May half-term 75, Summer holidays 56, October half-term 67, Christmas holidays 1.
Near Kanazawa
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Kanazawa
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Kanazawa's – good alternatives.