When to go · Gokayama
Gokayama in May
Great month. Inside Gokayama's best window: Apr–Nov (check); Jan–Feb for snow scenery (check).
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Temperature
- 22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C) / 11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 11
- Crowds
- Medium
- Japan overall
- Prices
- Medium
- Japan overall
Verdict
Inside Gokayama's best window: Apr–Nov (check); Jan–Feb for snow scenery (check).
Is another month better than May?
No other month rates higher than May for Gokayama in this guide.
Weather in May
- GokayamaHighs around 22 °C (72 °F), lows around 11 °C (52 °F), rain on about 11 daysHighs around 72 °F (22 °C), lows around 52 °F (11 °C), rain on about 11 days
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Golden Week big impact
29 Apr – 5 May · Japan
The biggest domestic travel week: Shinkansen reserved cars and hotels sell out; prices up.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Japan overall
- Medium
- Prices · Japan overall
- Medium
Japan overall: After Golden Week, one of the best months: warm, green, calmer.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Gokayama, side by side.
Verdict
May: Great
Jan: Great
Daytime high
May: 22 °C (72 °F)72 °F (22 °C)
Jan: 4 °C (39 °F)39 °F (4 °C)
Night low
May: 11 °C (52 °F)52 °F (11 °C)
Jan: -3 °C (27 °F)27 °F (-3 °C)
Rain days
May: 11 (better)
Jan: 18
Crowds
May: Medium
Jan: Low
Prices
May: Medium
Jan: Low
Festivals listed
May: 1
Jan: 1
May: Inside Gokayama's best window: Apr–Nov (check); Jan–Feb for snow scenery (check).
January: Inside Gokayama's best window: Apr–Nov (check); Jan–Feb for snow scenery (check).
Gokayama: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A warm layer for the evenings
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast