The best time to visit Osaka is October to November: sunny days on 53 to 58% of days, rain on only 21 to 27%, and highs of 18 to 24°C (64 to 75°F) for walking Dotonbori and queuing at Universal Studios Japan. April adds cherry blossoms (peak 4 April) and the Mint’s famous late-blooming avenue in mid April. Osaka is also one of the best big cities for winter: December is its sunniest month (61%) and snow is rare.
The month to avoid is August: 30°C is reached on 90% of days and, more than any other big city, Osaka does not cool down at night (tropical nights on 63% of August nights). June is the rainy season with sunny days at 31%. Below are 58 years of Japan Meteorological Agency records at the Osaka station, month by month, plus tips for USJ and the food seasons.
- Best months for weather: October, November and May (our comfort score); avoid: August for heat and June for rain
- Hottest: August (high 33.7°C (93°F)); coldest: January (low 3.0°C (37°F))
- Wettest: June (rain on 38% of days); sunniest: December (61% of days)
- Data: Osaka station, 1991 to 2020 normals and 58 years of daily records
Check the odds for your dates in Osaka (58 years of records)
Pick the dates of your trip and the tool counts what happened on those days every year since 1968: sunny, rainy, hot, snowy, and the actual weather of the last dozen years.
Osaka weather month by month
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunny days | 30°C+ days | Snow days | Sunshine | What is happening |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10 / 3°C 49°F / 37°F | 17% | 56% | 0% | 8% | 147h | Cold, sunny, dry; Toka Ebisu 9 to 11 January |
| February | 10 / 3°C 51°F / 38°F | 22% | 53% | 0% | 13% | 141h | Cold and sunny; occasional snow flurries |
| March | 14 / 6°C 58°F / 43°F | 30% | 49% | 0% | 5% | 172h | Warms; blossoms open around 27 March |
| April | 20 / 11°C 68°F / 52°F | 32% | 50% | 0% | 0% | 193h | Blossoms peak 4 April; Mint avenue mid April |
| May | 25 / 16°C 77°F / 61°F | 31% | 46% | 2% | 0% | 204h | Warm and bright; Golden Week crowds at USJ |
| June | 28 / 20°C 82°F / 69°F | 38% | 31% | 22% | 0% | 154h | Rainy season from 6 June; fewest sunny days |
| July | 32 / 25°C 89°F / 76°F | 32% | 42% | 73% | 0% | 184h | Rainy season ends 19 July; Tenjin Matsuri; heat |
| August | 34 / 26°C 93°F / 78°F | 25% | 54% | 90% | 0% | 222h | Hottest; tropical nights on 63% of nights |
| September | 30 / 22°C 85°F / 71°F | 33% | 43% | 45% | 0% | 162h | Typhoon season; late-summer heat; danjiri |
| October | 24 / 16°C 75°F / 61°F | 27% | 53% | 2% | 0% | 166h | Comfortable; USJ Halloween crowds |
| November | 18 / 10°C 64°F / 50°F | 21% | 58% | 0% | 0% | 153h | Best month; ginkgo and maples late |
| December | 12 / 5°C 54°F / 42°F | 18% | 61% | 0% | 2% | 152h | Sunniest month; cold; illuminations |
Our comfort score (highs near 22 to 26°C, few rainy days, many sunny days, no extreme heat) ranks the months in this order for Osaka: October, November, May, December, April, January (then February, March, September, June, July, August). It ignores prices, crowds and events, which the sections below add back in.
Best time to visit Osaka by what you want to do
For sightseeing and street food: November, then October and April
November has the year’s second-highest sunny share (58%), rain on 21% of days and highs of 17.8°C; the ginkgo avenue at Midosuji and the maples at Minoh and Osaka Castle Park turn in the second half. October is warmer and slightly wetter. April is blossom time at Osaka Castle and Kema Sakuranomiya, with the Mint’s sakura tunnel opening around mid April.
For Universal Studios Japan: October to November, or January to February on weekdays
USJ is an outdoor park where you queue in the open, so the dry, mild months win: October and November. January and February are cold (highs of 10°C) but sunny on more than half of days and the quietest time of year; the Halloween season (September to early November) is the most crowded. Rain on 25 to 27% of days in autumn means a poncho in the bag.
For the cheapest trip: January to February and June
Hotel rates bottom out in January after the 4th and in February; the weather is cold, dry and bright (snow on 8 to 13% of days, rarely settling). June is the rainy season (rain on 38% of days) but Osaka’s covered arcades and underground malls make it one of the easier cities to enjoy in the wet.
For festivals: July (Tenjin Matsuri) and the autumn danjiri
Tenjin Matsuri (24 to 25 July) has a river procession and fireworks in 32°C heat with evening thunderstorms possible. Kishiwada Danjiri (mid September) is Osaka’s wild cart festival in the late-summer heat. See the summer heat guide for coping strategies.
What to pack for Osaka, month by month
| Month | Feels like | What to wear | Rain gear | Sun protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Cold | a winter coat or down jacket, scarf and gloves; indoor heating is strong so layer up | rain gear optional | low |
| February | Chilly | a coat and sweater, scarf on windy days | folding umbrella | low |
| March | Chilly | a coat and sweater, scarf on windy days | folding umbrella | low |
| April | Cool | a jacket or light coat, a sweater for mornings and evenings | folding umbrella | moderate |
| May | Mild | long sleeves or a T-shirt with a light jacket; evenings need the jacket | folding umbrella | high |
| June | Early summer | short sleeves by day, a light long sleeve for evenings | umbrella essential | moderate |
| July | Full summer | light, breathable clothes, a hat, sunscreen and a thin layer for over-chilled trains and shops | folding umbrella | high |
| August | Full summer | light, breathable clothes, a hat, sunscreen and a thin layer for over-chilled trains and shops | folding umbrella | high |
| September | Early summer | short sleeves by day, a light long sleeve for evenings | folding umbrella | moderate |
| October | Mild | long sleeves or a T-shirt with a light jacket; evenings need the jacket | folding umbrella | moderate |
| November | Cool | a jacket or light coat, a sweater for mornings and evenings | rain gear optional | moderate |
| December | Chilly | a coat and sweater, scarf on windy days | rain gear optional | low |
Compare Osaka with other Japanese cities
Use the tool to put Osaka next to any other city for all twelve months.
Months to avoid in Osaka, and why
August for heat and June for rain; Golden Week (29 April to 5 May) and the USJ Halloween weekends for crowds.
Osaka is the big city where winter is most underrated: December has its highest sunny share of the year and the food scene (fugu, oden, crab from the Sea of Japan) is at its best. Save August for somewhere with a sea breeze.
Frequently asked questions about Osaka weather
Is Osaka hotter than Tokyo?
Yes. August averages 33.7°C by day in Osaka against 31.3°C in Tokyo, and the night stays above 25°C on 63% of August nights in Osaka against 47% in Tokyo. Osaka’s summer is the most oppressive of the three big cities after Kyoto.
What is the best month for Universal Studios Japan?
October and November for weather, January and February on weekdays for short queues. Avoid Golden Week, Obon (mid August) and Halloween weekends.
Does it snow in Osaka?
Rarely. Snow is recorded on 8% of January and 13% of February days, almost always a brief flurry that does not settle. Winter in Osaka is sunny and dry.
When is the rainy season in Osaka?
From about 6 June to 19 July. June has the fewest sunny days of the year (31%) and rain on 38% of days.
- October to November and April, with USJ and food in mind
- Avoid: August for heat and June for rain
- Hottest August (33.7°C (93°F)), coldest January (3.0°C (37°F)), wettest June (38% of days)
- Check your own dates with the 58-year tool above
Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency climatological normals (1991 to 2020) for temperatures, precipitation and sunshine; JMA daily observations 1968 to 2025 (58 years) compiled by this site for the share of sunny, rainy, snowy, hot and cold days. Written by a certified Japanese weather forecaster (気象予報士). Percentages are the share of days in the month; a 30 percent rain-day figure means roughly 9 days a month.