Best time to cruise · Shoulder season
Japan cruises in January
Shōgatsu, the New Year holiday, closes many businesses from January 1 to 3 while shrines fill with people making their first prayers of the year. Tokyo and Kyoto are cold and dry, with highs near 50°F (10°C) and clear skies that give the best Fuji views. Sailings are limited, and Okinawa’s early pink cherry blossoms appear late in the month.
- Shoulder season
- Avg high 49°F
- 10 hrs daylight
Photo: Alpsdake, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Japan in January: Shoulder season
Shōgatsu, the New Year holiday, closes many businesses from January 1 to 3 while shrines fill with people making their first prayers of the year. Tokyo and Kyoto are cold and dry, with highs near 50°F (10°C) and clear skies that give the best Fuji views. Sailings are limited, and Okinawa’s early pink cherry blossoms appear late in the month.
Across Japan cruise ports, January brings average highs around 49°F (9°C) and lows near 39°F, with about 3.4 inches of rain over the month and roughly 10 hours of daylight.
- Verdict
- Shoulder season
- Season
- Late March to May and September to November are peak; limited sailings in summer and winter
- Average high / low
- 49°F / 39°F
- Rainfall (month)
- 3.4 in
- Daylight
- About 10 hours
- Typical cruise length
- 7 to 14 nights, usually round trip from Tokyo (Yokohama), Kobe or Osaka
What to pack: proper cold-weather layers: thermal base layers, a warm insulated waterproof jacket, hat, gloves and waterproof footwear.
How January compares with the rest of the year
- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Best time to go
- Apr: Best time to go
- May: Best time to go
- Jun: Shoulder season
- Jul: Good time to go
- Aug: Good time to go
- Sep: Good time to go
- Oct: Best time to go
- Nov: Best time to go
- Dec: Shoulder season
- No regular sailings
- Shoulder season
- Good time to go
- Best time to go
Japan weather in January
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 499 | 5010 | 5714 | 6518 | 7323 | 7825 | 8429 | 8630 | 8127 | 7222 | 6317 | 5312 |
| Low °F (°C) | 394 | 394 | 457 | 5211 | 6015 | 6719 | 7424 | 7725 | 7122 | 6116 | 5211 | 436 |
| Rain in (mm) | 3.486 | 3.280 | 4.7119 | 5.6143 | 6.6167 | 10.3261 | 9.9252 | 9.0228 | 8.6219 | 5.8147 | 4.2106 | 3.793 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
January weather port by port
| Port | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo (Yokohama) | 50°F | 33°F | 2.3 in | 10 h |
| Kobe | 49°F | 41°F | 2.3 in | 10 h |
| Osaka | 48°F | 34°F | 2.7 in | 10 h |
| Hiroshima | 49°F | 34°F | 2.7 in | 10 h |
| Nagasaki | 53°F | 46°F | 3.0 in | 10 h |
| Shimizu (for Mount Fuji) | 52°F | 43°F | 2.7 in | 10 h |
| Kagoshima | 56°F | 44°F | 3.2 in | 10 h |
| Hakodate | 32°F | 26°F | 3.5 in | 10 h |
| Otaru | 28°F | 17°F | 3.9 in | 9 h |
| Kanazawa | 42°F | 34°F | 7.6 in | 10 h |
| Aomori | 35°F | 29°F | 5.4 in | 10 h |
| Naha, Okinawa | 69°F | 65°F | 2.5 in | 11 h |
| Fukuoka (Hakata) | 50°F | 36°F | 3.1 in | 10 h |
| Busan | 49°F | 43°F | 1.5 in | 10 h |
Average daily highs and lows, 2015–2024, from NASA POWER, adjusted to sea level. Rain is the average monthly total.
Other great cruise destinations in January
- Caribbean in January
- Eastern Caribbean in January
- Western Caribbean in January
- Southern Caribbean in January
- Hawaii in January
- Mexican Riviera & Baja in January
- Panama Canal & Central America in January
- South America in January
- Galápagos Islands in January
- Canary Islands & Atlantic Isles in January
See every destination for January, with a port weather map →
Japan in January: FAQs
Is January a good time to cruise Japan?
It can be, as a shoulder-season month. Shōgatsu, the New Year holiday, closes many businesses from January 1 to 3 while shrines fill with people making their first prayers of the year. Tokyo and Kyoto are cold and dry, with highs near 50°F (10°C) and clear skies that give the best Fuji views. Sailings are limited, and Okinawa’s early pink cherry blossoms appear late in the month.
What is the weather like on a Japan cruise in January?
Across Japan cruise ports, January brings average highs around 49°F (9°C) and lows near 39°F, with about 3.4 inches of rain over the month and roughly 10 hours of daylight. Conditions vary from port to port and day to day.
What should I pack for a Japan cruise in January?
Pack proper cold-weather layers: thermal base layers, a warm insulated waterproof jacket, hat, gloves and waterproof footwear. Check your cruise line's dress code for evenings.
When is the best time to cruise Japan?
Late March to May and September to November are peak; limited sailings in summer and winter. The best months are usually March, April, May, October, November.
Where else can I cruise in January?
January is also a top month for Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Hawaii.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: NASA POWER climate data.