Best time to visit Nikko, Japan

Our verdict

The best time to visit Nikko is April

If you’re looking to travel to Nikko for your next trip but aren’t sure when to go and when to avoid, this article is all you’ll need. The best time to visit Nikko is April due to the excellent all-round weather conditions, and it’s also not during the height of peak travel periods, so it’s not likely to be as busy.

In the summer months, temperatures can reach as high as 30℃ (86℉) in Nikko. The weather in the winter, especially around January, can reach a minimum of -7℃ (20℉).

The longest days between sunrise and sunset in Nikko are usually in May, so if you want to get the most out of your daytime activities, be sure to plan your visit around this time. You don’t want to get wet on your holiday, do you? Well if you’re trying to avoid the rain, then steer clear of Nikko in October. Head over there in February instead if you want to increase your chances of not being rained on.

Learn more about when to travel to Nikko, the monthly weather breakdown, FAQs and much more below. Once you’ve decided when you want to go, use our handy tools to find the best prices to suit your budget on flights, transport/transfers, places to stay, and loads more!

Warmest month

August

Least rainfall

February

Most daylight

May

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Nikko seasons

Before you continue, it’s important to know when the seasons are in Nikko as they might be different to yours depending on where in the world you’re travelling from. Nikko is in the Northern Hemisphere, so the seasons fall during these months:

Season Months
Summer June to August
Autumn/fall September to November
Winter December to February
Spring March to May

Average temperatures in Nikko

If the temperature is a big factor for you to help you decide when to visit, the chart below shows the average minimum and maximum temperatures in Nikko for each month side-by-side so you can easily see the difference in weather throughout the year. To see the temperatures in both Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (°F), hover or tap the shaded boxes on the graph.

Nikko climate by month

If you already have a rough idea about which months you might want to travel, the section below shows a detailed breakdown of the climate in Nikko for each month so you can see if it all suits your wants and needs. Scroll down, or use the quick menu below to jump to your preferred month.

Jump to:

JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC

Nikko in January

  • Average temperature: -1℃ (30℉)
  • Average high temperature: 3℃ (37℉)
  • Average low temperature: -4℃ (24℉)
  • Average humidity: 73%
  • Average sunny days: 6 days
  • Average rainfall: 54mm (2") over 13 days
  • Average snow days: 19 days
6 days
of pure sunshine
13 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Nikko in January, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.


Nikko in February

  • Average temperature: -0℃ (32℉)
  • Average high temperature: 4℃ (39℉)
  • Average low temperature: -4℃ (25℉)
  • Average humidity: 74%
  • Average sunny days: 7 days
  • Average rainfall: 41mm (2") over 13 days
  • Average snow days: 14 days
7 days
of pure sunshine
13 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Nikko in February, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.


Nikko in March

  • Average temperature: 4℃ (38℉)
  • Average high temperature: 8℃ (46℉)
  • Average low temperature: -1℃ (31℉)
  • Average humidity: 74%
  • Average sunny days: 7 days
  • Average rainfall: 74mm (3") over 17 days
  • Average snow days: 10 days
7 days
of pure sunshine
17 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Nikko in March, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.


Nikko in April

  • Average temperature: 9℃ (48℉)
  • Average high temperature: 14℃ (56℉)
  • Average low temperature: 4℃ (39℉)
  • Average humidity: 74%
  • Average sunny days: 7 days
  • Average rainfall: 107mm (4") over 19 days
  • Average snow days: 2 days
7 days
of pure sunshine
19 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Nikko in April, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.


Nikko in May

  • Average temperature: 15℃ (59℉)
  • Average high temperature: 20℃ (67℉)
  • Average low temperature: 10℃ (50℉)
  • Average humidity: 74%
  • Average sunny days: 8 days
  • Average rainfall: 108mm (4") over 20 days
8 days
of pure sunshine
20 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Nikko in May, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.


Nikko in June

  • Average temperature: 18℃ (64℉)
  • Average high temperature: 22℃ (72℉)
  • Average low temperature: 14℃ (57℉)
  • Average humidity: 83%
  • Average sunny days: 3 days
  • Average rainfall: 140mm (6") over 25 days
3 days
of pure sunshine
25 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Nikko in June, make sure you pack a light jumper or hoodie for the evenings and some light clothes for the daytime.


Nikko in July

  • Average temperature: 22℃ (72℉)
  • Average high temperature: 26℃ (79℉)
  • Average low temperature: 19℃ (66℉)
  • Average humidity: 85%
  • Average sunny days: 4 days
  • Average rainfall: 159mm (6") over 25 days
4 days
of pure sunshine
25 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Nikko in July, make sure you pack t-shirts for the daytime and maybe a light jumper for the evenings as it cools down a bit.


Nikko in August

  • Average temperature: 23℃ (73℉)
  • Average high temperature: 27℃ (81℉)
  • Average low temperature: 19℃ (67℉)
  • Average humidity: 84%
  • Average sunny days: 4 days
  • Average rainfall: 139mm (5") over 25 days
4 days
of pure sunshine
25 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Nikko in August, make sure you pack t-shirts for the daytime and maybe a light jumper for the evenings as it cools down a bit.


Nikko in September

  • Average temperature: 19℃ (66℉)
  • Average high temperature: 23℃ (73℉)
  • Average low temperature: 15℃ (60℉)
  • Average humidity: 83%
  • Average sunny days: 7 days
  • Average rainfall: 112mm (4") over 20 days
7 days
of pure sunshine
20 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Nikko in September, make sure you pack t-shirts for the daytime and maybe a light jumper for the evenings as it cools down a bit.

Nikko in October

  • Average temperature: 13℃ (56℉)
  • Average high temperature: 17℃ (63℉)
  • Average low temperature: 10℃ (50℉)
  • Average humidity: 81%
  • Average sunny days: 9 days
  • Average rainfall: 163mm (6") over 18 days
9 days
of pure sunshine
18 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Nikko in October, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.


Nikko in November

  • Average temperature: 8℃ (46℉)
  • Average high temperature: 12℃ (53℉)
  • Average low temperature: 4℃ (39℉)
  • Average humidity: 77%
  • Average sunny days: 11 days
  • Average rainfall: 62mm (2") over 15 days
  • Average snow days: 1 days
11 days
of pure sunshine
15 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Nikko in November, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.


Nikko in December

  • Average temperature: 2℃ (36℉)
  • Average high temperature: 6℃ (42℉)
  • Average low temperature: -1℃ (30℉)
  • Average humidity: 74%
  • Average sunny days: 7 days
  • Average rainfall: 47mm (2") over 15 days
  • Average snow days: 11 days
7 days
of pure sunshine
15 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Nikko in December, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.


Top FAQs

The hottest month of the year in Nikko is usually August, where temperatures tend to rise to around 27℃ (81℉) in the middle of the day or early afternoon.
The month with the least amount of rain in Nikko is generally around February. The dry season often coincides with cooler weather, so you should check the temperatures in February first to make sure it’s still a good time to go.
The rainiest time of year in Nikko is generally around October, although the wetter season can sometimes extend a few months either side of October too.
If you want to get the most out of your time visiting Nikko, or if you're just afraid of the dark, the days in May are usually the longest between sunrise and sunset.

Nikko map