Shirakawa-go Weather in May

 Season: Spring
 Summary:

1. Daytime is balmy in May, while the nighttime temperature falls sharply. 
2. Shirakawa-go has not much rainfall, and most of which is light rain among 13 days.
3. Early May is the cherry blossom season, receiving more visitors.

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℃ (41 - 50℉), and the low tends to occur in this period, at around 2 degrees Celsius (35.6 degrees Fahrenheit). 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 more than 15℃ (59℉). The temperature difference between day and night in most days is 10℃ (50℉) or above, and in severe cases, it can hit 17℃ (62.6℉).

Not Much Rainfall

The average rainfall in Shirakawa-go is approximately 214mm (8.4 in), and there are about 13 days in May. The rain is usually light, but heavy rain is likely to occur, 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 surrounded by the lush mountains shrouded in mist, having a distinctive flavor.

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 14 hours, which gives you more time to fully explore the entire village. Though it is mostly overcast, the length of sunshine is longest throughout the year, at roughly 8.4 hours. It’s advisable to go outside in the early mornings, for which there are soft sunlight and fewer people, making for the best time to take photos.

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

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

 Upper body: Wearing in two layers is a key to dealing 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 is better to be non-slip.

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

Travel Recommendations for 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 in Japan. 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 trees. 

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. The area of three adjacent houses is an ideal site. If you shoot from the fields in front of them, you can capture a fantastic landscape of the unique farm houses and their reflections with the green mountains in the background.

Rice Planting Festival

The festival is held on 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.

Travel Advice for Shirakawa-go in May

1. In Early May, local people are still on vacation 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. In the middle and end of the month, May belongs to the shoulder season, leading to lower travel expenses and uncrowded 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