Best time to visit · Fukuoka · Japan
The best time to visit Fukuoka
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Pontafon, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The best times to visit Fukuoka are March to May and October to November, when days are mild and dry for walking and outdoor yatai dining, with cherry blossom in late March and early April. Early July brings the Yamakasa festival but also rainy-season showers and heat. Summer is hot and humid with typhoon risk, and winter is cool but rarely harsh — good for hotpots.
Key facts
- Best months
- March–May and October–November
- Shoulder season
- July and December–February
- Warmest month
- August (avg high 33°C (91°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 10°C (50°F))
- Rainiest month
- June (~12 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February
Seasons
Fukuoka has a humid subtropical climate: mild winters with occasional light snow, a rainy season from about early June to mid-July, and hot, humid summers with typhoon risk from August to September.
March–May
Spring
Cherry blossom in Maizuru and Ohori parks, Hakata Dontaku in early May, and comfortable, sunny weather.
June–August
Summer
Rainy season in June, the Yamakasa festival in July, then hot beach weather with typhoon risk.
September–November
Autumn
Typhoon risk early, then dry, comfortable October days, festivals and the November sumo tournament.
December–February
Winter
Cool, sometimes grey days, illuminations, hotpots and plum blossom at Dazaifu in February.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10°C | 4°C | 10 | 14°C | 10.2 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 12°C | 4°C | 9 | 13°C | 10.9 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 15°C | 7°C | 10 | 14°C | 11.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 20°C | 11°C | 9 | 16°C | 13 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| May | 24°C | 16°C | 9 | 19°C | 13.9 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| June | 27°C | 20°C | 12 | 22°C | 14.4 h | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| July | 31°C | 24°C | 11 | 26°C | 14.2 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| August | 33°C | 25°C | 9 | 28°C | 13.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| September | 29°C | 21°C | 9 | 26°C | 12.3 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| October | 24°C | 16°C | 6 | 23°C | 11.3 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 18°C | 10°C | 8 | 19°C | 10.4 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| December | 12°C | 5°C | 9 | 16°C | 9.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Tamaseseri ball-grabbing festival at Hakozaki Shrine (usually 3 January) |
| February | Plum blossom at Dazaifu Tenmangu (usually February to early March) |
| March | Fukuoka Castle Sakura Festival in Maizuru Park (usually late March to early April) |
| April | Professional baseball season begins (late March or early April) |
| May | Hakata Dontaku — parades and street performances (3–4 May) |
| June | Rainy season begins (usually early June) |
| July | Hakata Gion Yamakasa — float races ending in a dawn run on 15 July (1–15 July) |
| August | Obon holiday period (mid-August) |
| September | Hojoya festival at Hakozaki Shrine (12–18 September) |
| October | Hakata Okunchi autumn festival at Kushida Shrine (usually 23–24 October) |
| November | Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament (usually November); Christmas markets in Tenjin and at Hakata Station (usually mid-November to 25 December) |
| December | Hakata Station illuminations (usually mid-November to December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February, and the sights are quietest in January–February and June.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Fukuoka?
The best times to visit Fukuoka are March to May and October to November, when days are mild and dry for walking and outdoor yatai dining, with cherry blossom in late March and early April. Early July brings the Yamakasa festival but also rainy-season showers and heat. Summer is hot and humid with typhoon risk, and winter is cool but rarely harsh — good for hotpots.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Fukuoka?
Usually in January–February. Cool, often cloudy and occasionally snowy; quiet after New Year, and strawberry and oyster season is under way.
+What is the rainiest month in Fukuoka?
June, with about 12 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Fukuoka get?
The warmest month, August, averages highs of 33°C (91°F) and lows of 25°C (77°F).