Climate guide for Kamakura, Japan

Best Time to Visit
Kamakura

How to read the score (0–10)
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01 · Japan

About Kamakura

Kamakura was Japan's medieval capital, and its temples — the Great Buddha at Kotoku-in, Hase-dera and the bamboo garden at Hokokuji — sit between the hills and the sea. Hiking trails across the ridge link the stations, and the beach at Yuigahama is within a walk of the centre. March to May and October to November are the best months; summer brings beach crowds, and winters are mild and clear.

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Did you know?

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Travel Tips

01Best time & timing
Climate scores swing from 3.9/10 in August to 6.6/10 in December; the safest picks are December, January, May.
02Weather & what to pack
Expect around 6°C and 25 mm of rain in December, with roughly 4 bright days. Pack a mid-weight jacket and shoes you can walk in all day.
03Budget timing
The lowest rates fall in May; treat it as a budget pick rather than a weather pick (6.2/10).

Things to do in Kamakura

Kamakura, Japan. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

When to visit Kamakura: the short answer

The best time to visit Kamakura is December, followed by January, May. Those months combine the most usable temperatures with the fewest lost days to rain: December averages 6°C with 25 mm of rain and about 4 days with 6+ hours of sunshine. The months to avoid unless you have a specific reason are August, September.

Across the year Kamakura swings from 3°C in January to 27°C in August, a 24-degree spread, while rainfall ranges from 25 mm in December to 302 mm in June. That is the whole planning problem in one sentence: Kamakura is not equally good year-round, and the difference between the best and worst month here is 2.7 points on a 10-point scale.

Warmest month: August (27°C). Coolest: January (3°C). Driest: December (25 mm). Wettest: June (302 mm).

Kamakura month by month

January in Kamakura — middling scores, decent value

Trade-offs · 6.3/10

January averages 3°C (37°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.

Expect 28 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 5 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.9 daylight hours.

It scores 6.3/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 6.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Figure on peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip.

February in Kamakura — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.5/10

February averages 4°C (39°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.

Rainfall runs 74 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 9 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.7 hours of daylight.

It scores 5.5/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 6.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.

Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer.

March in Kamakura — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.3/10

Expect 8°C (47°F) in March. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.

143 mm of rain signals a properly wet month, with only about 15 days with 6+ hours of sunshine to count on — build indoor options into the schedule.

That is 5.3/10 on the same scale — 8th of 12 months, versus 6.6/10 for the best month here.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

April in Kamakura: mixed conditions, plan around the weather

Trade-offs · 6.1/10

April averages 14°C (57°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

At 161 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 17 days with 6+ hours of sunshine in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 6.1/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 6.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

May in Kamakura — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6.2/10

Temperatures hover around 17°C (63°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.

This is the year's wettest stretch at 210 mm, but with about 21 days with 6+ hours of sunshine it is not a total loss; an indoor fallback covers the risk.

That is 6.2/10 on the same scale — 3rd of 12 months, versus 6.6/10 for the best month here.

Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

June in Kamakura — middling scores, decent value

Trade-offs · 5.7/10

June averages 21°C (71°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.

302 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 19 days with 6+ hours of sunshine across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.

It scores 5.7/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 6.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

July in Kamakura — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5/10

July averages 27°C (80°F) and humidity near 84%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

Monthly rainfall reaches 139 mm — wet for this destination — but about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.

It scores 5/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 6.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

Flexible dates? December scores 1.6 points higher here — enough to change the trip.

August in Kamakura — off-season conditions

Hardest · 3.9/10

Days in August average 27°C (80°F) and humidity near 85% — front-load outdoor plans before the heat builds and treat the middle of the day as indoor time.

This is the year's wettest stretch at 248 mm, but with about 21 days with 6+ hours of sunshine it is not a total loss; an indoor fallback covers the risk.

That is 3.9/10 on the same scale — 12th of 12 months, versus 6.6/10 for the best month here.

Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, December is materially better in Kamakura — 2.7 points higher on the same scale.

September in Kamakura — off-season conditions

Hardest · 4.5/10

At 24°C (76°F) this is comfortable city weather in September, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.

Expect monsoon-level rainfall at 220 mm: only about 13 days with 6+ hours of sunshine across the month, and stretches of heavy rain are normal.

That is 4.5/10 on the same scale — 11th of 12 months, versus 6.6/10 for the best month here.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, December is materially better in Kamakura — 2.1 points higher on the same scale.

October in Kamakura — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.3/10

October averages 17°C (62°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

At 169 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 7 days with 6+ hours of sunshine in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 5.3/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 6.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

November in Kamakura: mixed conditions, plan around the weather

Trade-offs · 5.6/10

November averages 12°C (53°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

At 104 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 4 days with 6+ hours of sunshine in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 5.6/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 6.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

December: the best month of the year in Kamakura

Best window · 6.6/10

Expect 6°C (42°F) in December. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.

With around 25 mm of rain, any showers tend to pass through rather than settle in; about 4 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.6 hours of daylight fill the rest.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Kamakura at 6.6/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in.

FAQ

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Kamakura, Japan?
In Ideal Weather mode, the best months to visit Kamakura are December, January, May, April. December is the single peak month with an Ideal Weather score of 6.6/10 based on temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and days with 6+ hours of sunshine.
What is the weather like in Kamakura year-round?
Kamakura has a climate profile suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Average monthly temperatures range from 3°C in January to 27°C in August, with Ideal Weather scores between 3.9 and 6.6 out of 10.
Which months should I avoid in Kamakura?
The lowest Ideal Weather-scoring months in Kamakura are August (3.9/10), September (4.5/10), July (5.0/10). These months typically combine less comfortable temperatures, higher rainfall or fewer days with 6+ hours of sunshine.
When is the rainy season in Kamakura?
June is the wettest month in Kamakura, averaging about 302 mm of rainfall. December is the driest, at roughly 25 mm.
Which is the sunniest month in Kamakura?
July sees the most sun in Kamakura, with about 24 days with 6+ hours of sunshine on average - ideal for outdoor plans.
Is Kamakura a good destination for sightseeing and cultural travel?
Kamakura is well suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Its highest Ideal Weather window (December, January, May, April) aligns with the conditions travelers usually look for in this style of trip.
How is the bestime.to score for Kamakura calculated?
Each month receives an Ideal Weather score from 0-10 using ERA5 climate normals for Kamakura: temperature comfort, precipitation, humidity, daylight hours, and days with 6+ hours of sunshine - weighted for sightseeing and cultural travel.

Climate data: Open-Meteo ERA5 historical archive, the five most recent complete years (2021–2025). Scores are monthly averages for that window, not forecasts, and short-window precipitation can differ from longer-term normals. “Sunny days” count days with at least 6 hours of measured sunshine — they are not dry days.

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Curated in Kamakura

Tickets & experiences