Month guide · Nara · Japan
Nara in February
What February is really like in Nara: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ミス テルジ, CC BY 2.1 jp
Quick answer
February is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 10°C (50°F), lows of 0°C (32°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 10.9 hours of daylight. The coldest-feeling month and the quietest at the temples; plum blossom appears late in the month.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 10°C (50°F) / 0°C (32°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in February
February is the 11th-warmest month in Nara: days average 10°C (50°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 0°C (32°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 28 days. Compared with January (9°C (48°F)), February is about as warm; by March highs climb to around 14°C (57°F).
- Sunrise (15 February)
- About 06:42
- Sunset (15 February)
- About 17:40
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold, dry and the quietest season, with Wakakusa Yamayaki in January and lantern festivals in February.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, February rates 2 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in April). That makes February one of the better-value months to book.
Events in February
- Setsubun Mantoro — all of Kasuga Taisha's lanterns lit (usually around 3 February)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in February
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Garden · Nara Park
Isui-en and Yoshiki-en gardens
Two neighbouring gardens west of Todai-ji.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Nara Park
Nigatsu-do Hall
Climb the stone steps behind the hall at sunset for the best free view in Nara.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Couples
Neighbourhood · Naramachi
Naramachi
Lanes of wooden machiya townhouses south of Sarusawa Pond, where the Naramachi Koshi-no-Ie model house shows a merchant's home and red monkey charms (migawari-zaru) hang under the eaves to ward off misfortune.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
- Shopping
- Architecture
Religious site · Naramachi
Gango-ji
Look up at the Gokuraku-bo hall's roof, where older, darker tiles mark those carried from the original temple.
- Time needed
- 40 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near 10°C, lows near 0°C and 7 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is February a good time to visit Nara?
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.
Nara in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is February a good time to visit Nara?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. The coldest-feeling month and the quietest at the temples; plum blossom appears late in the month.
+How warm is Nara in February?
Average highs are around 10°C (50°F) and lows around 0°C (32°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Nara in February?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.