Fukuoka - When to Visit

When to Visit Fukuoka

Climate guide & best times to travel

Monthly Climate Data for Fukuoka Average temperature and rainfall by month Climate Overview -2°C 7°C 17°C 27°C 37°C Rainfall (mm) 0 149 299 Jan Jan: 10.0°C high, 3.0°C low, 74mm rain Feb Feb: 11.0°C high, 4.0°C low, 69mm rain Mar Mar: 15.0°C high, 7.0°C low, 104mm rain Apr Apr: 19.0°C high, 11.0°C low, 119mm rain May May: 24.0°C high, 16.0°C low, 135mm rain Jun Jun: 27.0°C high, 20.0°C low, 249mm rain Jul Jul: 31.0°C high, 24.0°C low, 300mm rain Aug Aug: 32.0°C high, 25.0°C low, 211mm rain Sep Sep: 28.0°C high, 21.0°C low, 175mm rain Oct Oct: 23.0°C high, 16.0°C low, 94mm rain Nov Nov: 18.0°C high, 10.0°C low, 91mm rain Dec Dec: 12.0°C high, 5.0°C low, 69mm rain Temperature Rainfall
Fukuoka perches on Kyushu's northwestern lip, staring straight across the Korea Strait. That single fact shapes every weather story you will hear. Winter arrives from the Asian mainland, not the Pacific, so the season feels crisp and dry rather than buried in snow. Summers swing the other way, full subtropical drama. June and July stack heat until August tops out near 32°C (90°F) and the humidity makes thermometers lie. The calendar splits cleanly into four acts. December through February keeps things cool and often grey, with light rain and nights sliding to 3-5°C (37-41°F). April finally flips the switch. Cherry blossoms peak late March to early April, then mild days roll through May. Mid-June to mid-July is tsuyu, the East Asian rainy season. June alone dumps nearly 250mm. August stays wet but less frantic, then September through November cools into perfect walking weather. Pack with the extremes in mind. July throws down 300mm of rain. August adds brutal heat to lingering steam. Shoulder seasons shine instead. October gives stable skies, 23°C (74°F), and crisp light that flatters every park and canal.

Best Time to Visit

Recommended timing for different travel styles.

Beach
Beach season runs July and August. Coastline buzzes. But you pay in sweat. Heat is fierce. Humidity clings. Typhoon odds climb in September. A saner window opens late May to early June. Sea is warm. Tsuyu has not yet crashed the party.
Cultural
Culture works best in April and October. April drapes Maizuru Park and Fukuoka Castle in cherry blossoms. Expect crowds. Views justify them. October is calmer. Festivals pop up. Temperatures behave. Sightseeing feels almost effortless.
Hiking
Hikers, circle late October through November or late March through May. Spring trails warm gently. Autumn hills around Dazaifu flame with color. Skip July to early September. Heat and humidity turn hikes into punishment.
Budget
Budget hunters win in January and February. Visitor counts plummet. Hotels cut rates. Daytime highs of 10-11°C (50-52°F) need only a decent jacket. Mid-January to mid-February is the quietest stretch all year.

What to Pack

Essentials and seasonal recommendations for Fukuoka.

Year-Round Essentials
A compact umbrella or packable rain jacket
An umbrella earns its bag space no matter when you visit. No month stays dry. Summer downpours ambush without warning.
Comfortable walking shoes with decent grip
Shoes matter here. You will climb stone temple steps, stroll modern arcades, and dodge rain-slicked streets. Choose wisely.
A reloadable IC transit card
An IC card is not clothing. Yet it tops every list. Subway and buses run on it. Skip the August sweat at fare gates.
Spring (March through May)
Clothing
Pack layers you can peel by midday. Light fleece or zip-up for cool mornings. Breathable mid-layer for afternoons.
Footwear
shoes you can stand in for hours at Maizuru Park are not optional
Summer (June through August)
Clothing
lightweight, moisture-wicking clothing in natural or technical fabrics
Accessories
A small hand towel or cooling cloth, Sun protection, a hat with a brim, sunscreen
Autumn (September through November)
Clothing
light layers in September, a proper mid-layer jacket by October, something warm for November evenings
Layering Tip
October rewards one good versatile jacket over multiple thin layers. Simplify.
Winter (December through February)
Clothing
Bring a real coat by Fukuoka's standards. Medium-weight insulated jacket suffices. Skip the arctic parka.
Accessories
Warm socks, a scarf for the continental wind
Plug Type
Type A
Voltage
100V, 60Hz
Adapter Note
Traveling from Europe or Australia? A flat adapter covers most modern electronics. No converter needed if devices handle 100-240V.
Skip These Items
a hair dryer (every hotel and guesthouse in Fukuoka supplies one) Skip bulky rain gear. Compact umbrella or packable jacket handles it better. Leave heavy printed guidebooks at home. Fukuoka signs everything in English for tourists and transit. Forget elaborate spice kits or dietary workarounds. Fukuoka's food culture welcomes curiosity. Most visitors overpack. Relax.
Full Packing Checklist

Interactive checklist with shopping links for every item you need.

View Fukuoka Packing List →

Month-by-Month Guide

Climate conditions and crowd levels for each month of the year.

January

January stays cool and often overcast. Daytime peaks near 10°C (50°F). Nights slide to 3°C (39°F). Rainfall is modest at 74mm. Cold continental winds bite. Snow is rare and melts fast.

High 10°C (50°F)
Low 3°C (39°F)
Rainfall 74mm
Crowds Low
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February

February mirrors January but warms slightly. Afternoons reach 11°C (52°F). Plum blossoms wake up at Dazaifu Tenmangu. Rainfall eases to 69mm. Spring teases but does not fully arrive.

High 11°C (52°F)
Low None
Rainfall 69mm
Crowds Low
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March

March tiptoes into spring. Midday climbs to 15°C (59°F). Mornings still hover at 7°C (44°F). Rain increases to 104mm and can linger. Cherry buds start to show near month's end.

High 15°C (59°F)
Low 7°C (44°F)
Rainfall 104mm
Crowds Medium
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April

April earns its fame. Highs hit 19°C (67°F). Evenings sit at 11°C (52°F). Cherry blossoms peak early April, then fresh green takes over. Rain rises to 119mm yet usually arrives in quick bursts.

High 19°C (67°F)
Low 11°C (52°F)
Rainfall 119mm
Crowds High
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May

May is widely loved. Daytime settles at 24°C (75°F). Nights rest at 16°C (60°F). Rain creeps up to 135mm. Yet skies mostly cooperate. Crowds thin after the sakura rush.

High 24°C (75°F)
Low 16°C (60°F)
Rainfall 135mm
Crowds Medium
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June

Tsuyu barges in mid-June. Rain leaps to 249mm. Air turns thick. A short walk feels like a workout. Temperatures reach 27°C (80°F) but feel hotter. Greenery explodes. Tourists thin out.

High 27°C (80°F)
Low None
Rainfall 249mm
Crowds Medium-Low
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July

July is the wettest month. Rain averages 300mm. Heat peaks at 31°C (88°F). Nights barely drop to 24°C (76°F). Humidity stays brutal. Hakata Gion Yamakasa roars through mid-July. Culture is rich. Comfort is scarce.

High 31°C (88°F)
Low 24°C (76°F)
Rainfall 300mm
Crowds High
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August

August tops the thermometer at 32°C (90°F). Nights hover near 25°C (77°F). Rain eases to 211mm but still soaks the city. Typhoon risk rises. Tenjin and Hakata arcades become midday refuges.

High 32°C (90°F)
Low 25°C (77°F)
Rainfall 211mm
Crowds High
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September

September starts the slow cooldown. Highs drift to 28°C (83°F). Lows land at 21°C (70°F). Air stays warm, sometimes sticky. Rain falls to 175mm. Typhoon season runs through mid-October. Check forecasts before day trips.

High 28°C (83°F)
Low 21°C (70°F)
Rainfall 175mm
Crowds Medium
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October

October is the month travelers wish they'd booked for Fukuoka. Highs sit at 23°C (74°F), nights drop to a comfortable 16°C (60°F), and rainfall shrinks to 94mm, the driest autumn month. Leaves begin flaring on the hillsides toward month's end. Parks feel irresistible. Take photos. Stay late.

High 23°C (74°F)
Low 16°C (60°F)
Rainfall 94mm
Crowds Medium
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November

November deepens the season. Daytime temperatures slide to 18°C (64°F) and evenings settle at 10°C (51°F). Rainfall stays modest at 91mm. Foliage around Dazaifu and Maizuru Park turns vivid in the first half of the month. Pack a light jacket. Nights bite.

High 18°C (64°F)
Low 10°C (51°F)
Rainfall 91mm
Crowds Low-Medium
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December

December ushers in Fukuoka's gentle winter. Highs reach 12°C (54°F) and nights dip to 5°C (42°F). Rainfall matches February's low of 69mm. Grey skies dominate. Yet the cold never cuts deep. Yatai food stalls along Nakasu glow in the chill. Tenjin's illuminations warm the nights. Sip ramen.

High 12°C (54°F)
Low 5°C (42°F)
Rainfall 69mm
Crowds Low-Medium
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