AI-generatedYamagata at a glance
- Best time
- May – Jun, Sep – Oct
- Warmest month
- Aug · 29°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,610 h
- Rain a year
- 1,403 mm
- Climate
- Continental
- Time zone
- UTC+9
- Elevation
- 321 m
Climate in Yamagata
Yamagata 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 2 °C. With around 1,610 hours of sunshine a year, Yamagata is moderately sunny; April is the sunniest month with 5.9 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Yamagata
The best time to visit Yamagata is from May to June and from September to October. In September and October, though, the typhoon season is at its peak: check the forecast before you go. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable in May. Rain is frequent from July to August and from November to April; the wettest month is July with 185 mm.
Yamagata through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Yamagata in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 7–21 °C by day
- 5.6 h of sun a day
- 40 rainy days in all
Yamagata in summer
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 24–29 °C by day
- 4.5 h of sun a day
- 47 rainy days in all
Yamagata in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 12–25 °C by day
- 4.0 h of sun a day
- 41 rainy days in all
Yamagata in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 2–5 °C by day
- 3.6 h of sun a day
- 53 rainy days in all
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
May
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Jul – Aug, Nov – Apr
Rainy season or more than 12 rainy days
Snow
Dec – Mar
Snow on 2 or more days
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Yamagata for you.
Your best months: May – June, September
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Weather in October
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: May – June, September – October
October is the peak of the typhoon season Hurricane season
Keep in mindStorm season
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 13°
- Midday, 13:00: about 18°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 17°
- Evening, 20:00: about 13°
- Night, 23:00: about 11°
05:4617:02
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 05:30–06:22 · evening 16:27–17:19
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:19–05:30 · evening 17:19–17:29
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.
October in Yamagata compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs fall from about 21° at the start of the month to 15° at the end. The days get 1.2 h shorter.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 21° | 15° |
| Night-time low | 12° | 5° |
| Daylight | 11.8 h | 10.7 h |
What is the weather like in Yamagata in October?
In October, Yamagata is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. Expect around 4.1 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 124 mm in total. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Yamagata.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 16 min05:46 – 17:02
- UV index
- 5 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 13 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 68 %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+9offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %18 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %39 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Compare two months in Yamagata
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 Yamagata: score 73 against 65. In May, days are 3 °C warmer than in October. May has one rainy day fewer. The sun shines 2 hours longer a day in May.
| Month | October | May |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 65 | 73better |
| Daytime high | 18° | 21° |
| Night-time low | 9° | 9° |
| Sunshine | 4.1 h | 5.9 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 13 | 12better |
| Rainfall | 124 mm | 104 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Yamagata month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
2January2° · 3.5 h
In January, Yamagata is bitterly cold: daytime highs average 2 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−5 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 3.5 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 19 days, totalling 99 mm; on about 17 of them it snows. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Yamagata.
Yamagata in January9February3° · 4.2 h
In February, Yamagata is cold: daytime highs average 3 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−5 °C). Expect around 4.2 hours of sunshine a day. Precipitation falls on about 16 days, totalling 68 mm; on about 12 of them it snows. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Yamagata.
Yamagata in February12March7° · 4.9 h
In March, Yamagata is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−2 °C). Expect around 4.9 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 100 mm. Snow falls on about 7 days. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Yamagata.
Yamagata in March53April14° · 5.9 h
In April, Yamagata is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. Expect around 5.9 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 100 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Yamagata.
Yamagata in April73May21° · 5.9 h
In May, Yamagata is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. Expect around 5.9 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 104 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Yamagata.
Yamagata in May67June24° · 4.7 h
In June, Yamagata is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. Expect around 4.7 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 127 mm in total. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Yamagata.
Yamagata in June51July28° · 4.1 h
In July, Yamagata is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. Expect around 4.1 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 185 mm. On about 8 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 Yamagata.
Yamagata in July47August29° · 4.6 h
In August, Yamagata is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 20 °C. Expect around 4.6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 165 mm. On about 12 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 Yamagata.
Yamagata in August62September25° · 4.1 h
In September, Yamagata is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. Expect around 4.1 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 140 mm. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Yamagata.
Yamagata in September65October18° · 4.1 h
In October, Yamagata is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. Expect around 4.1 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 124 mm in total. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Yamagata.
Yamagata in October29November12° · 3.7 h
In November, Yamagata is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 88 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Yamagata.
Yamagata in November0December5° · 3.1 h
In December, Yamagata is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−3 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 3.1 hours a day. It rains often – on about 19 days, adding up to 102 mm. Snow falls on about 11 days. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Yamagata.
Yamagata in DecemberClimate in detail
Year & climate table
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Yamagata
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 (15+ muggy days)
CoolOctober: nights around 9°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in January (−5°), the warmest in August (20°). Tropical nights of 20 °C and more are the rule in August; then air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep. Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from June to July 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 63 days a year, mostly from July to August.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 2 | 2° | −5° | 3.5 h | 19 | 99 |
| FebruaryFeb | 9 | 3° | −5° | 4.2 h | 16 | 68 |
| MarchMar | 12 | 7° | −2° | 4.9 h | 15 | 100 |
| AprilApr | 53 | 14° | 3° | 5.9 h | 13 | 100 |
| MayMay | 73 | 21° | 9° | 5.9 h | 12 | 104 |
| JuneJun | 67 | 24° | 15° | 4.7 h | 13 | 127 |
| JulyJul | 51 | 28° | 19° | 4.1 h | 18 | 185 |
| AugustAug | 47 | 29° | 20° | 4.6 h | 16 | 165 |
| SeptemberSep | 62 | 25° | 16° | 4.1 h | 14 | 140 |
| OctoberOct | 65 | 18° | 9° | 4.1 h | 13 | 124 |
| NovemberNov | 29 | 12° | 2° | 3.7 h | 14 | 88 |
| DecemberDec | 0 | 5° | −3° | 3.1 h | 19 | 102 |
Climate averages 1996–2025 (sunshine partly WMO station normals 1991–2020), 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
38.23° N, 140.37° E · 321 m · Asia/Tokyo
Sunshine
Sunshine hours in Yamagata
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 4.1 of 11.3 hours of daylight in Yamagata, 36 % of the daylight hours.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain
Rain in Yamagata: 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, Yamagata has about 13 rainy days with 124 mm of rain in total.
UV index
UV index in Yamagata
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 the time, 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.
Wind & clouds
Wind and clouds in Yamagata
How breezy and how cloudy Yamagata 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 Yamagata typically peaks at 13 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, gentle breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 68 % of the sky over Yamagata: mostly cloudy, with about 4.1 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 & humidity
Heat and humidity in Yamagata
How often the day gets hot in Yamagata (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, Yamagata has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 18 °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
Snow in Yamagata
When Yamagata 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 Yamagata.
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.
Planning a trip to Yamagata
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Yamagata 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.
Yamagata has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 72) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 1).
- 41
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 12 °C by day
- 5.6 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Snow
- 72
May half-term
May – Jun
GoodBest holidays
- 22 °C by day
- 5.7 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 48
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 28 °C by day
- 4.4 h of sun a day
- 17 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Storm season
- 65
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 18 °C by day
- 4.1 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Storm season
- 1
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 4 °C by day
- 3.3 h of sun a day
- 19 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
- 9,340 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.
Good to know: Japan
- Currency
- Japanese Yen (JPY)
- Language
- Japanese
- Sockets
- Type A, B · 100 V
- Traffic
- Drives on the left
- Dialling code
- +81
UK plugs need a travel adapter
Only 100 V: chargers marked 100–240 V work, other devices need a voltage converter.
Sources: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0). Please check details before you travel.
Storm season
Yamagata 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, Fiji Meteorological Service); not a forecast.
Compare & alternatives
Compare with another place
Yamagata compared
Put Yamagata side by side with another destination.
Yamagata vs Sendai
In October Sendai has the better holiday weather (score 70 vs 65). During the day Sendai is 2 °C warmer than Yamagata. Sendai gets one more hour of sunshine a day.
| in October | Yamagata | Sendai |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 65 | 70 |
| Daytime high | 18° | 20° |
| Sunshine | 4 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 13 | 11 |
| Best time | May – Jun, Sep – Oct | Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct |
Through the year
Best places in the country
Japan in October: the best places
In October, Yamagata ranks 12 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Hachinohe19°19°75
- 2Sendai20°70
- 3Fukushima20°70
- 4Sano22°68
- 5Maebashi22°68
- 6Takasaki22°68
- 7Karuizawa18°68
- 8Aomori19°19°68
- 12YamagataThis page18°65
Places nearby
Near Yamagata
Other destinations close by.
Places with a similar climate
Places with a climate like Yamagata
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Yamagata's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Yamagata
When is the best time to visit Yamagata?
The best time to visit Yamagata is from May to June and from September to October. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Yamagata?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C and nights around 20 °C. January is the coolest month at 2 °C.
When does it rain most in Yamagata?
Rain is frequent from July to August and from November to April; the wettest month is July with 185 mm. The driest month is February with 68 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Yamagata get?
Yamagata gets around 1,610 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is April with 5.9 hours a day; in December there are 3.1 hours a day.
What time zone is Yamagata in?
Yamagata is on UTC+9 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Yamagata?
A nonstop flight from London to Yamagata takes about 11 h 45 min, for a straight-line distance of about 9,340 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
When is typhoon season in Yamagata?
Yamagata 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 Yamagata?
Yamagata has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 72) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 1). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 41, May half-term 72, summer holidays 48, October half-term 65, Christmas holidays 1.