AI-generatedNiigata at a glance
- Best time
- May – Jul, Sep – Oct
- Warmest month
- Aug · 29°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 26.8°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,640 h
- Rain a year
- 1,734 mm
- Climate
- Continental
- Time zone
- UTC+9
- Elevation
- 1 m
Climate in Niigata
Niigata has warm to hot summers and cold winters with occasional snow. August is the warmest month with average highs of 29 °C, while January is the coolest at 4 °C. With around 1,640 hours of sunshine a year, Niigata is moderately sunny; August is the sunniest month with 6.6 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: May – July, September – October
October is the peak of the typhoon season
Keep in mindFrequent rainStorm season
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 16°
- Midday, 13:00: about 19°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 18°
- Evening, 20:00: about 16°
- Night, 23:00: about 14°
05:5117:08
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 05:35–06:26 · evening 16:32–17:24
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:25–05:35 · evening 17:24–17:34
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 Niigata in October?
In October, Niigata is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 22.0 °C – refreshing for a swim. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 147 mm. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Niigata.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 17 min05:51 – 17:08
- UV index
- 5 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 1 daydew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 15 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 63 %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 %25 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %24 %
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 Niigata
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 20.9 – 23.2 °C
Swimming season: Jul – Oct
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Niigata ranges from 9.8 °C in March to 26.8 °C in August. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from July to October.
From September to March 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 25.7 and 27.9 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 12.4° | 11.8° | 13.1° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 10.5° | 9.9° | 11.2° | cold |
| MarchMar | 9.8° | 9.2° | 10.3° | cold |
| AprilApr | 11.1° | 10.1° | 11.9° | cold |
| MayMay | 14.8° | 14.1° | 15.8° | cold |
| JuneJun | 19.7° | 18.7° | 20.4° | fresh |
| JulyJul | 23.7° | 22.1° | 25.2° | pleasant |
| AugustAug | 26.8° | 25.7° | 27.9° | warm |
| SeptemberSep | 25.5° | 24.0° | 27.4° | pleasant |
| OctoberOct | 22.0° | 20.9° | 23.2° | refreshing |
| NovemberNov | 18.4° | 17.7° | 19.0° | fresh |
| DecemberDec | 15.3° | 14.5° | 16.0° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Niigata
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 4.5 of 11.3 hours of daylight in Niigata, 40 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 4 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 Niigata
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 65 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 Niigata: 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, Niigata has about 15 rainy days with 147 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Niigata
How breezy and how cloudy Niigata 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 Niigata typically peaks at 15 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 – Feb.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 63 % of the sky over Niigata: variable cloud, with about 4.5 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 Niigata
How often the day gets hot in Niigata (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, Niigata has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 19 °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 Niigata
When Niigata 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 Niigata.
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 Niigata
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 13°. 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 February (−1°), 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 86 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 | 4° | −1° | 12.4° | 1.8 h | 25 | 175 |
| FebruaryFeb | 0 | 5° | −1° | 10.5° | 2.6 h | 20 | 117 |
| MarchMar | 9 | 9° | 1° | 9.8° | 4.4 h | 19 | 122 |
| AprilApr | 52 | 15° | 6° | 11.1° | 5.9 h | 14 | 95 |
| MayMay | 74 | 20° | 11° | 14.8° | 6.5 h | 12 | 102 |
| JuneJun | 72 | 24° | 17° | 19.7° | 6.0 h | 12 | 120 |
| JulyJul | 61 | 27° | 21° | 23.7° | 5.2 h | 16 | 201 |
| AugustAug | 59 | 29° | 23° | 26.8° | 6.6 h | 15 | 156 |
| SeptemberSep | 65 | 25° | 19° | 25.5° | 5.2 h | 14 | 145 |
| OctoberOct | 62 | 19° | 13° | 22.0° | 4.5 h | 15 | 147 |
| NovemberNov | 27 | 13° | 7° | 18.4° | 3.0 h | 19 | 160 |
| DecemberDec | 0 | 7° | 2° | 15.3° | 2.0 h | 24 | 194 |
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
37.92° N, 139.04° E · 1 m · Asia/Tokyo
Best time to visit Niigata
The best time to visit Niigata is from May to July and from September to October. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 26.8 °C. The wettest month is July with 201 mm of precipitation.
Niigata through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Niigata in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 9–20 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 45 rainy days in all
Niigata in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 24–29 °C by day
- Sea 23 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 42 rainy days in all
Niigata in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 13–25 °C by day
- Sea 22 °C
- 4 h of sun a day
- 48 rainy days in all
Niigata in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 4–7 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 2 h of sun a day
- 69 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Niigata for you.
Your best months: June
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Niigata
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 Niigata: score 74 against 62. In May, days are 1 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 7 °C cooler in May. May has 3 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 2 hours longer a day in May.
| Month | October | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 62 | 74better |
| Day high | 19° | 20° |
| Night low | 13° | 11° |
| Sea | 22.0° | 14.8° |
| Sunshine | 4.5 h | 6.5 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 15 | 12better |
| Rainfall | 147 mm | 102 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
No month
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
All year
12 or more rainy days
Snow
Dec – Mar
Snow on 2 or more days
Niigata month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
0January4° · Sea 12° · 2 h
In January, Niigata is cold: daytime highs average 4 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−1 °C). The sea averages 12.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 25 days, totalling 175 mm. Snow falls on about 15 days. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Niigata.
Niigata in January0February5° · Sea 11° · 3 h
In February, Niigata is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−1 °C). The sea averages 10.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 20 days, adding up to 117 mm. Snow falls on about 11 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Niigata.
Niigata in February9March9° · Sea 10° · 4 h
In March, Niigata is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sea averages 9.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 19 days, adding up to 122 mm. Snow falls on about 4 days. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Niigata.
Niigata in March52April15° · Sea 11° · 6 h
In April, Niigata is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 11.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 95 mm in total. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Niigata.
Niigata in April74May20° · Sea 15° · 7 h
In May, Niigata is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 14.8 °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 102 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Niigata.
Niigata in May72June24° · Sea 20° · 6 h
In June, Niigata is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sea averages 19.7 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 120 mm in total. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Niigata.
Niigata in June61July27° · Sea 24° · 5 h
In July, Niigata is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 23.7 °C – pleasant for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 201 mm. On about 5 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Niigata.
Niigata in July59August29° · Sea 27° · 7 h
In August, Niigata is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 23 °C. The sea averages 26.8 °C – lovely and warm for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 156 mm. On about 10 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 Niigata.
Niigata in August65September25° · Sea 26° · 5 h
In September, Niigata is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sea averages 25.5 °C – pleasant for swimming. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 145 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Niigata.
Niigata in September62October19° · Sea 22° · 5 h
In October, Niigata is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 22.0 °C – refreshing for a swim. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 147 mm. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Niigata.
Niigata in October27November13° · Sea 18° · 3 h
In November, Niigata is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 18.4 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 19 days, adding up to 160 mm. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Niigata.
Niigata in November0December7° · Sea 15° · 2 h
In December, Niigata is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sea averages 15.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 24 days, adding up to 194 mm. Snow falls on about 8 days. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Niigata.
Niigata in DecemberNiigata compared
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Niigata vs. Nagano
In October the holiday weather in Niigata and Nagano is about equally good (score 62 vs. 60). During the day it is about as warm in Nagano as in Niigata.
| in October | Niigata | Nagano |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 62 | 60 |
| Daytime high | 19° | 19° |
| Sea | 22° | – |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 15 | 17 |
| Best time | May – Jul, Sep – Oct | May – Jun, Oct |
Through the year
Japan in October: the best places
In October, Niigata ranks 24 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
- 24NiigataThis page19°22°62
Planning a trip to Niigata
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Niigata 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.
Niigata has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 74) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 0).
- 39
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 13 °C by day
- Sea 11 °C
- 5.5 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Snow
- 74
May half-term
May – Jun
GoodBest holidays
- 21 °C by day
- Sea 16 °C
- 6.4 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 60
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Good
- 28 °C by day
- Sea 26 °C
- 6.1 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 62
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 19 °C by day
- Sea 22 °C
- 4.5 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 0
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 5 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 1.9 h of sun a day
- 24 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
- 9,320 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
Niigata 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 Niigata
When is the best time to visit Niigata?
The best time to visit Niigata is from May to July 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 Niigata?
The sea temperature in Niigata ranges from 9.8 °C in March to 26.8 °C in August. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from July to October.
Can you swim in Niigata in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 22.0 °C – refreshing for a swim.
What is the warmest month in Niigata?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C and nights around 23 °C. January is the coolest month at 4 °C.
When does it rain most in Niigata?
The wettest month is July with 201 mm of precipitation. The driest month is April with 95 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Niigata get?
Niigata gets around 1,640 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is August with 6.6 hours a day; in January there are 1.8 hours a day.
What time zone is Niigata in?
Niigata uses the time zone Asia/Tokyo, at UTC+9 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Niigata?
A nonstop flight from London to Niigata takes about 11 h 45 min, for a straight-line distance of about 9,320 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
When is typhoon season in Niigata?
Niigata 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 Niigata?
Niigata has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 74) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 0). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 39, May half-term 74, Summer holidays 60, October half-term 62, Christmas holidays 0.
Near Niigata
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Niigata
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Niigata's – good alternatives.