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The weather in January in Japan

It's cold in January in Japan with an average temperature of 6°C. Temperatures this month range from a low of 5°C to a high of 8°C. At night, you can expect temperatures between -4°C and -1°C.

Average temperatures and precipitation

This chart shows the average daily maximum and minimum temperatures (in degrees Celsius) and precipitation (in millimeters) in January for Japan. A low precipitation value usually indicates little to no rainfall on that day in recent years, while a higher value suggests more frequent rainfall.

Temperature records

With 18°C in 2020, Japan reached the highest temperature in January over the past 10 years. The lowest daytime temperature in this month was -5°C in 2023. The extreme nighttime temperatures ranged from a lowest recorded value of -12°C to a highest value of 8°C.

Precipitation and snowfall

In January, there is an average of 45 mm of precipitation, spread over 7 days. Of the total precipitation, about 19 cm falls as snow in January. The wind speed is around 3 Bft, mostly coming from the West.

Daily weather in January for Japan

Click on any day in January to get detailed info about the usual weather on that day in Japan. Check out the historical temperatures and precipitation over the past 10 years on this day.

January weather comparison

  Japan New York
Average temperature 6°C 5°C
Max. temperature 8°C 11°C
Min. temperature -4°C -5°C
Total precipitation 45 mm 97 mm
Rainy days 7 days 12 days
Total snowfall 19 cm 16 cm
Snowy days 10 days 8 days

Start of January

The month of January starts in Japan with cold temps, averaging around 7°C during the day and nights around -1°C.

Mid January

By mid-January, daytime temps drop to around 6°C, with nights around -1°C. Not much precipitation expected during this period. It’s mostly dry and sunny.

End of January

By the end of January, the average daytime temperature in Japan is around 6°C, while nighttime temps are about -2°C. A shower might pop up, but overall, the weather will be dry and sunny.

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UV index

The UV index is a maximum of 5 this month. That's a moderate value on the intensity scale of 1 to 11. Unprotected skin can burn in about 30 minutes.

Check out the climate of Japan for all months and discover the best travel time

The climate in Japan is based on weather data from Tokyo. Other places, like Kyōto, Osaka or Hokkaido, might have different weather. You can check out all destinations in Japan to get the full picture of the climate.

Temperature charts

These charts show the average temperatures in January in Japan. The temperatures are shown in degrees Celsius and are calculated based on data from the past 10 years.

Daily Temperature in January in Japan

Temperature in January in Japan over the years

Precipitation charts

These charts show the average amount of precipitation in January in Japan. Precipitation is always measured as water, even when it falls as snow or hail The amount of precipitation is displayed in millimeters, while snowfall is shown in centimeters.

Daily Precipitation in January in Japan

Total precipitation in January in Japan over the years

Daily Snowfall in January in Japan

Snowfall in January in Japan per year

Daily UV index in January in Japan

This chart shows the average daily UV index in January in Japan, with the UV index ranging from 0 to a maximum of 11. The bottom of the chart shows the days of the month. Based on historical data, this chart provides an idea of the daily UV radiation levels you can expect.

Weather experiences in January in Japan

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Average weather in Japan by month

Click on a month below to see detailed weather info for Japan. Based on historical weather data, you can see the average temperature, precipitation, wind, and UV index for each day of the month.