Kanazawa weather: 7-day forecast 金沢
One of Japan's rainiest cities: precipitation tops 250 mm in November, December and January. Winters are wet and grey with some snow, summers hot.
Forecast updated 23 October 2026
The next 7 days
Today
24 Oct
Rain
High 20°CLow 15°C
Sun
25 Oct
Rain
High 23°CLow 17°C
Rain 80%
Mon
26 Oct
Cloudy
High 20°CLow 14°C
Rain 80%
Tue
27 Oct
Cloudy
High 22°CLow 14°C
Rain 60%
Wed
28 Oct
Cloudy
High 17°CLow 9°C
Rain 40%
Thu
29 Oct
Cloudy
High 20°CLow 8°C
Rain 30%
Fri
30 Oct
Cloudy
High 22°CLow 14°C
Rain 50%
What to wear today
Mild: long sleeves or a light cardigan. Bring a thin jacket for the evening.
Rain is likely on at least one day this week: pack a compact umbrella or buy one at any convenience store.
Kanazawa weather by month
Typical daily highs and lows and monthly rainfall (30-year averages, 1991–2020). Tap a month to see what's on.
Kanazawa's climate at a glance
Locals say 'you can forget your lunch, but don't forget your umbrella'. Kanazawa gets about 2,400 mm of rain and snow a year, and from November to January it falls on most days. Snowfall in the city is around 1.6 m a season, often mixed with rain.
Summers are hot, with August averaging 31.3°C. The driest stretch is spring, from April to May.
Best time to visit Kanazawa
Cherry blossoms at Kenrokuen and Kanazawa Castle open in early April. In November the garden's pine trees are tied with rope 'yukitsuri' to protect them from snow, and autumn colour peaks around late November. January and February bring snowy garden views, best on the rare clear mornings.
Tips
- Carry a compact umbrella every day from October to March.
- Waterproof shoes are more useful than snow boots in the city.
- Shirakawa-go is about 75 minutes away by bus. Its snow and lit-up winter evenings are hugely popular, so book tickets early.
Questions travellers ask
Does it rain a lot in Kanazawa?
Yes. December is the wettest month with about 300 mm, and rain or snow falls on most days from November to January.
Does it snow in Kanazawa?
Yes, about 1.6 m a season, mainly in January and February. Heavy, wet snow is common.
When does yukitsuri go up at Kenrokuen?
The rope supports are set up from 1 November and stay until mid-March.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.
- Japan Meteorological Agency気象庁JMA climate normals 1991–2020 (Japanese)(in Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- Japan Meteorological Agency気象庁JMA rainy season start and end dates(in Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- Japan Meteorological Agency気象庁JMA cherry blossom and autumn leaf normals(in Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- Kanazawa City Tourism Association金沢市観光協会Kenrokuen yukitsuri, Visit Kanazawa (opens in a new tab)