Kushiro weather: 7-day forecast 釧路
Japan's cool-summer city on the Pacific coast of eastern Hokkaido: August highs average only 21.5°C, and winter is cold but sunny with little snow.
Forecast updated 23 October 2026
The next 7 days
Today
24 Oct
Sunny
High 17°CLow 8°C
Sun
25 Oct
Sunny
High 18°CLow 9°C
Rain 10%
Mon
26 Oct
Sunny
High 14°CLow 4°C
Rain 20%
Tue
27 Oct
Cloudy
High 12°CLow 2°C
Rain 50%
Wed
28 Oct
Cloudy
High 8°CLow 3°C
Rain 50%
Thu
29 Oct
Cloudy
High 11°CLow 2°C
Rain 30%
Fri
30 Oct
Cloudy
High 14°CLow 5°C
Rain 40%
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.
Kushiro weather by month
Typical daily highs and lows and monthly rainfall (30-year averages, 1991–2020). Tap a month to see what's on.
Kushiro's climate at a glance
Kushiro is famous in Japan for its cool summers. Sea fog rolls in from the cold Pacific from May to August, keeping July and August highs around 20–22°C while most of Japan swelters.
Winters are cold, with January lows near −10°C, but the Pacific side gets far less snow than Sapporo (about 1.3 m a season) and many days are clear and sunny.
Best time to visit Kushiro
Come from January to March to see red-crowned cranes at their feeding grounds and the frozen landscapes of Kushiro Marshland and Lake Akan. Summer suits anyone escaping the heat, though fog can hide the views. September and October are often the clearest months for the marshland.
Tips
- Pack a jacket even in August: foggy summer days can feel chilly by the harbour.
- Winter sun is strong on snow. Sunglasses help on clear days at Lake Akan and the crane sites.
- Kushiro is spread out. Rent a car or plan around limited bus times when visiting the marshland and Lake Akan.
Questions travellers ask
Is Kushiro cold in summer?
It is cool. August, the warmest month, averages a high of 21.5°C and a low of 15.7°C, and sea fog is common.
Does Kushiro get a lot of snow?
Less than most of Hokkaido: about 1.3 m in a season, with many dry, sunny winter days.
When can I see the red-crowned cranes?
Winter is best, roughly December to March, when the cranes gather at feeding grounds near the city.
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)