Kobe Weather in July

Season: Summer

In short: Very hot; rainy season lasts till middle July

The rainy season lasts till middle July in Kobe, when the weather is muggy. After that, it becomes very hot; sometimes, the temperature may rise above 33 degrees Celsius (91.4 degrees Fahrenheit), and visitors are advised to bring some sun protection items in addition to basic summer clothes.

Ikuta Jinja

First Half Month: Rainy and Muggy

Still in rainy season, it rains frequently, which is usually continuous rain for several hours. The temperature is also high. In details, the average daytime high temperature is around 28 - 31°C (82.4 - 87.8°F), and the average nighttime low temperature is between 23 - 25 °C (73.4 - 77°F). The high rainfall, high humidity and high temperature leads to muggy weather.

Overcast Day in July

Second Half Month: Less Rainy but Very Hot

The rainy season ends in middle of the month. After, the frequency of rainfall significantly decreases. But it becomes very hot. The high temperature keeps above 30 °C generally and the highest once recorded 34 °C (93.2°F), while the sensible temperature is even 3 - 5°C (37.4 - 41°F) higher. Don’t stay outside for a long time in case you get heatstroke. Luckily, there are air-conditioners in most of indoor places. You can take a break and cool down for a while.

Lovely Beach View

Daytime Length & Sunshine Hours

Sunrise Time: 4:49-5:08
Sunset Time: 19:02-19:16
Daylight Hours: 14.1-14.2 h
Average Daily Sunshine Hours: 6 h/day

The daylight hours are pretty long. But if we minus hottest hours at noon and in the afternoon, or rainy time, the outdoor visiting time isn’t left much. Don’t worry. There are some places still accessible at night, like the Port of Kobe, Nankin-machi and the Maya Mount.

Street View at Night

Is July a good time to visit Kobe?

No, it is not a recommended time to visit Kobe. On one hand, the hot and rainy climate may affect your trip. On the other hand, in late July, Japanese students welcome their summer holiday, when many parents choose to travel with their kids, thus a peak travel season forms. Beaches and hot spots in Kobe can be very crowded and travel cost will be higher.

However, if you only have time in June to visit Kobe, don’t miss following information.

Packing List for Visiting Kobe in July

Upper: People usually wear a T-shirt or a sleeveless shirt. A thin coat may be needed in early mornings and evenings, especially on Maya Mount or by the seaside.

Lower: Shorts, dresses or skirts are common. Breathable light pants are also recommended.

Shoes: Sandals or casual shoes are suitable. In rainy season, waterproof shoes are necessary.

Others: An all-weather umbrella is useful. On sunny days, using sunscreen and wearing protective clothing can prevent sunburn and heatstroke.

Travel Advice:

1. The first half July is still in rainy season. Visitors could arrange more indoor spots like Kitano Ijinkan-Gai and Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art. The former is a group of foreign residences built in Meiji period (1868-1912), where you can see western buildings in different styles. The latter is designed by Tadao Ando who is one of the “world’s most influential architects” and was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1995. Inside the museum, there is also his outdoor art piece “Green Apple”, inspired by the American poet Samuel Ullman’s “Youth”.

2. The weather of Kobe in second half of July can be burning hot at noon and in the afternoon. So it is recommended to visit the Port of Kobe at night, when the temperature is relatively lower; besides, the dazzling night scenery is very beautiful. Another place to admire night view is Kikuseidai Observation Platform on Maya Mount; the night view up there is ranked one of the three most famous night views in Japan.

3. If you can’t bear the hot climate but still want to make full use of daytime hours, Mount Rokkō is a good summer resort, where the temperature is relatively lower than that in town. After rainy season, the air is fresher and grass and trees are greener.

Mount Rokko