Shirakawa-go, Japan: What to pack, what to wear, and when to go [2018]
Traveling to Shirakawa-go, Japan? If you're planning to go to Shirakawa-go, here is some important information about when to go, what to wear, and what to pack:
When to go to Shirakawa-go, Japan
Based on the climate and weather in Shirakawa-go, the best time to go is August. See below for details.
What to wear/what to pack for Shirakawa-go, Japan by month
January
January for Shirakawa-go is frosty, very snowy and somewhat rainy. Temperatures average in the 30s F (single digits C) during the day. It rains about half of the time and snows about half of the time.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Insulated boots
- Waterproof boots
- Thermal undergarments
- Pajamas, such as sweats
- Fleeces
- Multiple layer jacket shell
- Scarf
- Umbrella
- Sweaters
- Gloves
- Very heavy socks
- Waterproof coat
February
In February, Shirakawa-go is brisk, somewhat snowy and somewhat rainy. Temperatures routinely are in the high 30s F (single digits C) range. At night, lows are in the high 10s F (single digits below 0 C).
This is also a rainy time for Shirakawa-go, with several of the days of the month having rain. In February, humidity reaches as high as 80%.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Umbrella
- Very heavy socks
- Thermal undergarments
- Fleeces
- Sweaters
- Gloves
- Pajamas, such as sweats
- Waterproof boots
- Insulated boots
- Multiple layer jacket shell
- Scarf
- Waterproof coat
March
March in Shirakawa-go is brisk and very rainy. The average overnight temperatures in the area are in the high 20s F (single digits below 0 C). It tends to rain about half of the time.
It also snows 5-10 days this month. But the colder weather doesn't bring low humidity, which is in the 60% to 70% range on average.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Umbrella
- Warm pants or jeans
- Gloves or mittens
- Waterproof coat
- Heavy socks
- Cold weather footwear
- Sweaters
- Waterproof boots
- Heavy jacket
April
In April, Shirakawa-go is cool and somewhat rainy. Temperatures routinely are in the low 60s F (mid 10s C) and once in a while jump into the low 70s F (low 20s C) range. At night, lows are in the 30s F (single digits C).
This is also a rainy time for Shirakawa-go, with more than half of the days of the month having rain. In April, humidity reaches as high as 60%.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Standard footwear
- Fleeces
- Jacket or coat
- Waterproof footwear
- Warm pants or jeans
- Socks
- Rain coat
- Waterproof luggage
- Light gloves or mittens
- Umbrella
May
May in Shirakawa-go is balmy and somewhat rainy. The average overnight temperatures in the area are in the 40s F (single digits C).
It tends to rain about half of the time. But the colder weather doesn't bring low humidity, which is in the 60% to 70% range on average.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Standard footwear
- Light jacket or fleece
- Socks
- Long skirts
- Waterproof luggage
- Pants or jeans
- Waterproof footwear
- Rain coat
- Umbrella
- Dresses
- Long sleeve shirts or blouses
June
Traveling to Shirakawa-go in June, you will notice that it is warm and somewhat rainy. Expect it to rain about half of the time. Daytime temperatures are in the 70s F (mid 20s C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Umbrella
- Sunscreen lotion
- Light footwear
- Sandals
- Shorts or short pants
- Long and short sleeve shirts
- Skirts
- Dresses
- Waterproof footwear
- Rain coat
- Waterproof luggage
July
July in Shirakawa-go is pretty consistently hot and somewhat rainy. The rain can amount to several inches/centimeters. During this time, temperatures average in the low 70s F (low 20s C) to low 80s F (high 20s C).
What to wear/what to pack:
- Dresses
- Umbrella
- Waterproof footwear
- Waterproof luggage
- Short sleeve shirts
- Skirts
- Shorts
- Sunscreen lotion
- Sunglasses
- Sandals
- Rain coat
August
In August, Shirakawa-go is pretty consistently hot and somewhat rainy. Temperatures routinely are in the 80s F (high 20s C) and occasionally jump into the low 90s F (low 30s C) range. At night, lows are in the 60s F (high 10s C).
This is also a rainy time for Shirakawa-go, with several of the days of the month having rain. In August, humidity reaches as high as 70%.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Umbrella
- Dresses
- Shorts
- Short sleeve shirts
- Waterproof footwear
- Sunscreen lotion
- Rain coat
- Sunglasses
- Sandals
- Waterproof luggage
- Skirts
September
In September, Shirakawa-go is warm and very rainy. Temperatures routinely are in the 70s F (mid 20s C) range. At night, lows are in the high 50s F (mid 10s C).
This is also a rainy time for Shirakawa-go, with more than half of the days of the month having rain. In September, humidity reaches as high as 70%.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Waterproof luggage
- Dresses
- Waterproof footwear
- Skirts
- Rain coat
- Long and short sleeve shirts
- Sunscreen lotion
- Light footwear
- Umbrella
- Sandals
- Shorts or short pants
October
In October, Shirakawa-go is chilly and very rainy. Temperatures routinely are in the 60s F (high 10s C) and about a third of the time jump into the low 70s F (low 20s C) range. At night, lows are in the 40s F (single digits C).
This is also a rainy time for Shirakawa-go, with more than half of the days of the month having rain. In October, humidity reaches as high as 70%.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Long sleeve shirts or blouses
- Light jacket or fleece
- Long skirts
- Standard footwear
- Dresses
- Rain coat
- Umbrella
- Waterproof luggage
- Pants or jeans
- Waterproof footwear
- Socks
November
November here is brisk and very rainy. Temperatures average in the 50s F (low 10s C) during the day. It rains about two thirds of the time.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Standard footwear
- Warm pants or jeans
- Fleeces
- Light gloves or mittens
- Jacket or coat
- Umbrella
- Socks
- Waterproof boots
- Waterproof coat
December
December in Shirakawa-go is cold and very rainy. The average overnight temperatures in the area are in the high 20s F (single digits below 0 C). It tends to rain about two thirds of the time.
It also snows regularly. But the colder weather doesn't bring low humidity, which is in the 70% to 80% range on average.
What to wear/what to pack:
- Cold weather footwear
- Sweaters
- Gloves or mittens
- Waterproof coat
- Waterproof boots
- Warm pants or jeans
- Umbrella
- Heavy jacket
- Heavy socks
Year-round what to wear/what to pack for Shirakawa-go, Japan
Here are some general tips on what to wear in Shirakawa-go, as well as several items to remember to pack when traveling there.
- A plug adadpter that supports outlet types A and B
- A SIM card that works in Shirakawa-go
- Appropriate museum wear
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