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Meoto Iwa married rocks in the sea near Ise, joined by a shimenawa rope with a small torii on top

Photo: Hutamiokitamajinjya Meotoiwa2.JPG by 投稿者 (Public domain, cropped), via Wikimedia Commons.

Ise in January: weather, what to wear and what's on

The JMA's figures for Ise come from its Obata station in Ise City (10 m above sea level). In January, Ise averages a high of 9.5°C (49°F) and a low of 0.2°C (32°F), with 63.3 mm of rain or snow on about 5.4 days (JMA, 1991–2020). It is Ise's coldest and driest month.

Ise weather in January

Averages for 1991–2020 at the JMA's Obata station (10 m above sea level).

High
9.5°C (49°F)
Low
0.2°C (32°F)
Precipitation
63.3 mm
Wet days
5.4 days
Sunshine
173 hours
  • Highs are 2.4°C below December and 0.7°C below February.
  • That is 11.1°C below Ise's yearly average high of 20.6°C.
  • Of our 34 places with temperature records, Ise is the 14th warmest in January: 0.2°C cooler than Osaka and 0.1°C warmer than Kobe.
  • Of our 35 places, Ise has the 18th highest precipitation in January: 1.4 mm less than Yokohama and 0.2 mm more than Nagasaki.
  • Rain or snow of 1 mm or more falls on 5.4 days, and 10 mm or more on 1.8 days.
  • Rain or snow of 30 mm or more in one day falls on 0.5 days.
  • The temperature drops below 0°C on 15.9 nights.
  • The sun is out for 40% or more of the possible hours on 22.2 days, and 2.9 days have under 0.1 hours of sunshine.
Average temperature
4.8°C (41°F)

Early, mid and late January

Ise in January by ten-day period: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
DaysHighLowPrecipitation
1–10 January10.0°C0.5°C13.4 mm
11–20 January9.4°C0.1°C18.1 mm
21–31 January9.1°C0.0°C31.8 mm

By the last ten days of January the average high in Ise is 0.9°C lower than in the first ten.

By ten-day totals, 21–31 January is the wettest (31.8 mm) and 1–10 January the driest (13.4 mm).

What to wear in Ise in January

Is Ise cold in January?

Yes, it is cold. Ise averages 9.5°C (49°F) by day and 0.2°C (32°F) at night in January. 21–31 January is the coldest stretch of the year, with highs of 9.1°C.

Cold: highs around 9.5°C

  • A winter coat over layers, and a scarf.
  • Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 15.9 nights.
  • A folding umbrella: rain or snow falls on 5.4 days.

Pack

  • Folding umbrella
  • Gloves and a warm hat
  • Scarf

Holidays and crowds in January

National holidays in January 2027:

  • Fri 1 January — New Year's Day
  • Mon 11 January — Coming of Age Day
  • Fri 1 January to Sun 3 January: 3 days off in a row
  • Sat 9 January to Mon 11 January: 3 days off in a row

In January 2025, hotels and inns across Mie Prefecture were 47.7% full on average (the quietest month of the year). Foreign guests spent 18,200 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency). That compares with 58.7% in December and 51.2% in February.

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Ise in January?

The average high is 9.5°C (49°F) and the average low 0.2°C (32°F). 63.3 mm of rain or snow falls on about 5.4 days (JMA, 1991–2020).

What should I wear in Ise in January?

A winter coat over layers, and a scarf. Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 15.9 nights. A folding umbrella: rain or snow falls on 5.4 days.

Is Ise cold in January?

Yes, it is cold. Ise averages 9.5°C (49°F) by day and 0.2°C (32°F) at night in January. 21–31 January is the coldest stretch of the year, with highs of 9.1°C.

Is Ise busy in January?

In January 2025, hotels and inns across Mie Prefecture were 47.7% full on average (the quietest month of the year). Foreign guests spent 18,200 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency).

What are the record temperatures for January in Ise?

The highest temperature the JMA has recorded in Ise in January is 18.1°C (65°F), on 8 January 2020. The lowest is −5.7°C (22°F), on 31 January 2011.

What events are on in Ise in January?

Saitan-sai (New Year's Day rite, Ise Jingu): 1 January. Ichigatsu Juichinichi Mike (Ise Jingu): 11 January. Sakano Shrine Annual Festival and Yudate Ritual: Every year on 14 January at 11:00. Genshi-sai (Ise Jingu New Year rite): Every year on 3 January (3 January 2027): 4:00 at Toyouke Grand Shrine, 7:00 at Kotai Jingu.

January records in Ise

The extremes the JMA has measured in January at its Obata station.

Hottest January day
18.1°C (65°F) on 8 January 2020 (records since 1979)
Coldest January night
−5.7°C (22°F) on 31 January 2011 (records since 1979)
Wettest January day
132.0 mm on 21 January 2002 (records since 1976)

What's on in Ise in January

Events in Ise in January: dates from each organizer's official page
EventWhenWhere and what
Saitan-sai (New Year's Day rite, Ise Jingu)歳旦祭1 JanuaryIse Jingu Naiku and Geku. Saitan-sai is the first rite of the year and is listed on 1 January in the Ise Jingu rites calendar. Official page
Ichigatsu Juichinichi Mike (Ise Jingu)一月十一日御饌11 JanuaryIse Jingu Naiku. Food offerings are made at the Naiku main shrine on 11 January, as listed in the Ise Jingu rites calendar. Official page
Sakano Shrine Annual Festival and Yudate Ritual栄野神社例祭・湯立神事Every year on 14 January at 11:00Sakano Shrine (a sub-shrine of Futami Okitama Shrine), Futami-cho, Ise. A priest sprinkles worshippers with boiling water in which bamboo grass has been dipped, and a shrine maiden performs a dance. Worshippers receive the bamboo grass to hang at home. Official page
Genshi-sai (Ise Jingu New Year rite)元始祭Every year on 3 January (3 January 2027): 4:00 at Toyouke Grand Shrine, 7:00 at Kotai JinguToyouke Grand Shrine (Geku) and Kotai Jingu (Naiku), Ise Jingu. A rite at the start of the year, held at the two main shrines and other shrines while the Emperor performs the same rite at the Imperial Palace. Official page

Ise before and after January

Ise: December, January and February (JMA, 1991–2020)
MonthHighLowPrecipitationWet days
December11.9°C (+2.4°C)2.2°C (+2.0°C)66.6 mm (+3.3 mm)5.6 days (+0.2 days)
January9.5°C0.2°C63.3 mm5.4 days
February10.2°C (+0.7°C)0.5°C (+0.3°C)68.3 mm (+5.0 mm)5.9 days (+0.5 days)

Other places in January

January: Ise against five other places (JMA, 1991–2020)
PlaceHighAgainst IseWet daysAgainst Ise
Nagoya9.3°C−0.2°C5.2 days−0.2 days
Nara8.7°C−0.8°C6.2 days+0.8 days
Kyoto9.1°C−0.4°C6.4 days+1.0 days
Osaka9.7°C+0.2°C5.6 days+0.2 days
Kobe9.4°C−0.1°C4.7 days−0.7 days

Related items

Ise by monthMild, drier months: Apr and Nov.Hottest: Aug32.2°CColdest: Jan9.5°CWettest: Sep319.2 mmPer year1,871 mmJapan in JanuaryNational holidays in 2027: 1 and 11 January.Warmest21.5°C IshigakiColdest−0.4°C SapporoVisitors 20253.78MHotels full54.6%Ise in DecemberChillyA warm jacket or light coat over a sweater.High11.9°CLow2.2°CPrecipitation66.6 mmWet days5.6 daysIse in FebruaryChillyA warm jacket or light coat over a sweater.High10.2°CLow0.5°CPrecipitation68.3 mmWet days5.9 days

Back to Japan by month

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Sources for this page

  1. Normals for 1991–2020: Obata (小俣), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  2. Normals for 1991–2020: Obata (小俣), rain days, temperature days and snow (詳細)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  3. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Obata (小俣) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  4. Records for January: Obata (小俣) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  5. National holidays (国民の祝日について)Cabinet Office
  6. Overnight Travel Statistics Survey, 2025 final figures (宿泊旅行統計調査 2025年 年の確定値)Japan Tourism Agency
  7. Saitan-sai (New Year's Day rite, Ise Jingu) (歳旦祭)Ise Jingu (Jingu Shicho)
  8. Sakano Shrine Annual Festival and Yudate Ritual (栄野神社例祭・湯立神事)Futami Okitama Shrine