Shirakawa-go Weather in May

 Season: Spring
 In short:

1. Daytime is balmy in May, while the nighttime temperature falls sharply. 
2. While lower than that of other months locally, the rainfall in Shirakawa-go in May is relatively abundant compared with other places on the earth.
3. Early May is still the cherry blossom season, coinciding with Golden Week in Japan.

May Cherry Flowers

Pleasantly Mild

Overall, Shirakawa-go weather in May is pleasantly mild. In the first half of the month, day temperature usually ranges from 15 - 20℃ (59 - 68℉); night one is often around 5 - 10 degrees Celsius (41 - 50 degrees Fahrenheit). You feel quite warm especially when the sun shines on you. There are occasional cold days when the low drops to around 2 degrees Celsius (35.6 degrees Fahrenheit), tending to occur early in the month. In the second half of the month, daily maximum fluctuates between 20℃ (68℉) and 25℃ (77℉), occasionally reaching up to 28℃ (82.4℉); daily minimum is seldom over 15℃ (59℉). 

The temperature difference between day and night is still a bit large. In most days it is 10℃ (50℉) or above, and in severe cases, it can hit 17℃ (62.6℉).

Rainfall

The average monthly rainfall in Shirakawa-go in May is approximately 214mm (8.4 in), and there are about 13 rainy days. The rain is usually light and rarely lasts over half a day, while heavy rain occurs occasionally, the influence of which on your travel can be minimized by keeping an eye on the weather forecast early and making a backup plan. On rainy days, the village is often shrouded in mist, having a distinctive atmosphere. 

May Rainy Weather

Daylight Hours & Sunshine Hours

As the sunrise time is 4:38 - 5:00 and the sunset time is 18:41 - 19:05, May is one of the months with the longest daylight hours of the year, reaching 14 hours, which gives you more time to better explore the village. The length of sunshine is also the longest throughout the year, at roughly 8.4 hours per day on average. It’s advisable to go outside in the early mornings, for which there are soft sunlight, making for the best time to take photos.

The maximum UV Index during sunny hours is about 10, so UV protection is needed.

What to Wear Given the Shirakawa-go’s Climate in May

 Upper body: Prepare two layers to deal with the huge day-night temperature gap. Thin long-sleeved shirts or hoodies are suitable as inner clothes, and outer ones such as cardigans or trench coats are highly recommended. 

 Lower body: Jeans are acceptable, and in some sunny days, ladies can wear long skirts. Considering that outdoor sightseeing is mainly on foot, choose comfortable sneakers or walking shoes. Since field paths in the village get slippery on rainy days, the shoes you pack are better to be non-slip.

 Other accessories: Umbrellas or raincoats, sunscreen and sunglasses are necessaries in this month. 

Travel Highlights of Shirakawa-go in May

Enchanting Cherry Blossoms

You have a chance to admire blooming cherry flowers in early May. Shirakawa-go Honkaku-ji Temple is well-worth a visit, because cherry blossoms here have as many as 90 petals, which is very rare. Deai Bridge is also a recommended destination: standing here, you enjoy a beautiful spring scene that the babbling Shō River is lined with pink cherry flower trees.

Sho River

Reflections in the Rice Paddies

Each May, villagers divert the water of the Shō River to irrigate the rice paddies, and farm houses are reflected in the mirror-like fields, drawing many photography enthusiasts. Three Adjacent Gassho-style Houses are an ideal site. If you shoot in front of the fields, you can capture a fantastic landscape of these unique houses and their reflections with the green mountains in the background.

Rice Planting Festival

The festival is held in late May to preserve local traditional rural culture. On this day, some women wearing a straw hat and farming suit, along with pastoral songs, carefully transplant rice seedlings in the field nearby the gassho-style houses, which perfectly recreates the bygone rural life.

Gassho Minkaen Museum

Travel Suggestions for Shirakawa-go in May

1. In Early May, local people enjoy a long holiday and the cherry blossom season is ongoing, so you see more tourists. If you plan to visit Shirakawa-go during this period of 2026, booking hotels ahead of time is a wise decision. The rest of the month belongs to the shoulder season, meaning lower travel expenses and less crowded sightseeing spots.
2. Don’t miss the cherry-flavored amazake, a Japanese alcoholic drink made from fermented rice, available from Doburoku Festival Museum.

Shirakawa-go Weather by Month