Month guide · Fukuoka · Japan
Fukuoka in January
What January is really like in Fukuoka: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jojimuke, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 10°C (50°F), lows of 4°C (39°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 10.2 hours of daylight. Cool, often cloudy and occasionally snowy; quiet after New Year, and strawberry and oyster season is under way.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 10°C (50°F) / 4°C (39°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 10.2 hours
- Sea temperature
- 14°C (57°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Fukuoka: days average 10°C (50°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 4°C (39°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with December (12°C (54°F)), January is cooler; by February highs climb to around 12°C (54°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:22
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:32
- Daylight
- About 10.2 hours
- Sea
- 14°C (57°F)
Winter (December–February). Cool, sometimes grey days, illuminations, hotpots and plum blossom at Dazaifu in February.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is April at 4) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in April). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Tamaseseri ball-grabbing festival at Hakozaki Shrine (usually 3 January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Religious site · Gion and Hakata Old Town
Tocho-ji
Walk the short pitch-dark tunnel behind the Buddha with one hand on the wall, as visitors are asked to do.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Architecture · Nakasu
Canal City Hakata
A large mall built around an artificial canal with curving terracotta-coloured buildings, a theatre and cinemas, fountain shows set to music, and the Ramen Stadium, a floor of ramen shops from around Japan.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Food
- Free
Gallery · Nakasu
Fukuoka Asian Art Museum
Check the resident artists' open studio on the same floor, which visitors can sometimes visit for free.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
Gallery · Ohori Park and Ropponmatsu
Fukuoka Art Museum
Reopened in 2019 after a major renovation, the museum on the edge of Ohori Park holds Japanese and Asian art alongside 20th-century works by artists such as Dalí, Miró and Warhol, and Yayoi Kusama pieces.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near 10°C, lows near 4°C and 10 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Fukuoka?
A good-value shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, March–May and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Fukuoka in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Fukuoka?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. Cool, often cloudy and occasionally snowy; quiet after New Year, and strawberry and oyster season is under way.
+How warm is Fukuoka in January?
Average highs are around 10°C (50°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Fukuoka in January?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.