Winter
Dec → Feb10 to 11°
nights 3 to 4°
- 7 rainy days · 63 mm
- 7.5 h of sun
- sea 13°
When is the best time to visit Miyajima?
- Jan10°not recommended
- Feb11°not recommended
- Mar15°fair
- Apr19°recommended
- May23°recommended
- Jun26°fair
- Jul30°not recommended
- Aug32°not recommended
- Sep29°fair
- Oct23°recommended
- Nov18°recommended
- Dec11°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Miyajima, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10° | 3° | 7.3 h | 64 mm | 7 d | 12° | |
| February | 11° | 3° | 8 h | 88 mm | 8 d | 11° | |
| March | 15° | 7° | 8.5 h | 161 mm | 11 d | 11° | |
| April | 19° | 10° | 8.7 h | 178 mm | 10 d | 15° | ✓ |
| May | 23° | 15° | 9.2 h | 185 mm | 10 d | 18° | ✓ |
| June | 26° | 19° | 8.4 h | 251 mm | 15 d | 22° | |
| July | 30° | 24° | 9 h | 352 mm | 18 d | 26° | |
| August | 32° | 25° | 10.3 h | 309 mm | 15 d | 29° | |
| September | 29° | 22° | 8.5 h | 181 mm | 13 d | 28° | |
| October | 23° | 16° | 8.2 h | 57 mm | 7 d | 24° | ✓ |
| November | 18° | 10° | 8.1 h | 100 mm | 6 d | 20° | ✓ |
| December | 11° | 4° | 7.3 h | 36 mm | 5 d | 15° |
The four seasons in Miyajima, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Itsukushima Shrine) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May15 to 23°
nights 7 to 15°
- 10 rainy days · 175 mm
- 8.8 h of sun
- sea 15°
Summer
Jun → Aug26 to 32°
nights 19 to 25°
- 16 rainy days · 304 mm
- 9.2 h of sun
- sea 26°
Autumn
Sep → Nov18 to 29°
nights 10 to 22°
- 9 rainy days · 113 mm
- 8.3 h of sun
- sea 24°
Book early for April to May and October to November
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Miyajima, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h26 of daylight, in December 9h52, a difference of 4h34.
10h06Jan
10h54Feb
11h53Mar
13hApr
13h56May
14h26Jun
14h14Jul
13h25Aug
12h20Sep
11h15Oct
10h19Nov
9h52Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Itsukushima Shrine" (34.30°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Miyajima, month by month
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| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Diving & snorkelling | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
EventsOyster festivalFebruaryCherry blossomAprilKangensaiJuly to AugustMomiji, the red maplesNovemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: October, November
- Beach & swimming: June, July, August, September, October
- Towns & culture: January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December
- Diving & snorkelling: July, August, September
- Long days: June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Miyajima, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- FebruaryOyster festival
In February, producers grill oysters from the bay on the seafront, a few steps from the great torii, over one weekend.
- AprilCherry blossom big crowds
In early April, the cherry trees of the Momijidani valley and around the shrine come into bloom, and the island fills with walkers.
- July to AugustKangensai big crowds
In summer, three boats carry musicians and offerings from one shrine to another, to the sound of court flutes and drums.
- NovemberMomiji, the red maples big crowds
In November, the maples of the Momijidani valley turn red, making the island a very popular weekend outing.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended10°3° at night
- 64 mm · 7 d
- 7.3 h
- sea 12°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended11°3° at night
- 88 mm · 8 d
- 8 h
- sea 11°
Low season, lower prices
March
Fair15°7° at night
- 161 mm · 11 d
- 8.5 h
- sea 11°
Low season, lower prices
April
Recommended19°10° at night
- 178 mm · 10 d
- 8.7 h
- sea 15°
High season, book early
May
Recommended23°15° at night
- 185 mm · 10 d
- 9.2 h
- sea 18°
Busy, without the crush
June
Fair26°19° at night
- 251 mm · 15 d
- 8.4 h
- sea 22°
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended30°24° at night
- 352 mm · 18 d
- 9 h
- sea 26°
Busy, without the crush
August
Not recommended32°25° at night
- 309 mm · 15 d
- 10.3 h
- sea 29°
Busy, without the crush
September
Fair29°22° at night
- 181 mm · 13 d
- 8.5 h
- sea 28°
Low season, lower prices
October
Recommended23°16° at night
- 57 mm · 7 d
- 8.2 h
- sea 24°
Busy, without the crush
November
Recommended18°10° at night
- 100 mm · 6 d
- 8.1 h
- sea 20°
High season, book early
December
Fair11°4° at night
- 36 mm · 5 d
- 7.3 h
- sea 15°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 10 °C at best, 3 °C at night. Rain stays light: 64 mm over 7 days. Expect 7.3 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 12 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 11 °C at best, 3 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (88 mm). Expect 8 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 11 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 15 °C at best, 7 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (161 mm). Expect 8.5 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 11 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C early in the morning. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (178 mm). Expect 8.7 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
May. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (185 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.2 h a day on average. Cool sea (18 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 26 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Frequent rain: 251 mm over 15 days. Expect 8.4 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. 30 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. A very wet month, 352 mm of rain over 18 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9 h a day on average. The sea is at 26 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
August. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 25 °C at night. A very wet month, 309 mm of rain over 15 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.3 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
September. 29 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (181 mm). Expect 8.5 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 57 mm over 7 days. Expect 8.2 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 100 mm over 6 days. Expect 8.1 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. High season: book early.
December. Cool: 11 °C at best, 4 °C at night. Rain stays light: 36 mm over 5 days. Expect 7.3 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Miyajima?
April to May and October to November: over these months, recorded highs range from 18 to 23 °C, with 8 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Itsukushima Shrine).
Which month should you avoid in Miyajima?
July: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 352 mm over 18 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Itsukushima Shrine).
What is the hottest month in Miyajima?
August, with 32 °C on average in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Itsukushima Shrine).
What is the coldest month in Miyajima?
January, with 10 °C at best during the day and 3 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Itsukushima Shrine).
What is the driest month in Miyajima?
December: 36 mm over 5 days of rain, against 352 mm in July, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Miyajima?
August, with 10.3 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Miyajima?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in June, July, August, September, October (warmest 29 °C in August), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Itsukushima Shrine).
When is the best time to hike in Miyajima?
October, November: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Itsukushima Shrine), the safest windows for walking.
When to go diving or snorkelling in Miyajima?
July, August, September: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Itsukushima Shrine).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Miyajima guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Japan: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: redlegsfan21 / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Saksham Vikram / Pexels · G N / Pexels · Quang Nguyen Vinh / Pexels · Balon Greyjoy / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Sailko / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)