Niigata weather in April
Averages for 1991–2020 at the JMA's Niigata station (4 m above sea level).
- High
- 16.1°C (61°F)
- Low
- 7.0°C (45°F)
- Precipitation
- 97.2 mm
- Wet days
- 11.5 days
- Sunshine
- 178 hours
- Highs rise 5.8°C from March and climb another 5.2°C into May.
- That is 1.7°C below Niigata's yearly average high of 17.8°C.
- Of our 34 places with temperature records, Niigata is the 9th coldest in April: level with Nikko and 0.5°C warmer than Shirakawa-go.
- April is Niigata's 2nd driest month (97.2 mm).
- Of our 35 places, Niigata has the 7th lowest precipitation in April: 1.7 mm less than Nara and 7.0 mm more than Sendai.
- Rain of 1 mm or more falls on 11.5 days, and 10 mm or more on 3.6 days.
- Snow or sleet falls on 2.3 days.
- The sun is out for 40% or more of the possible hours on 16.8 days, and 3.8 days have under 0.1 hours of sunshine.
- By the JMA's cloud records, 1.8 days are clear and 12.0 are overcast.
- On 15 April 2027 the sun rises at 5:10 and sets at 18:19 in Niigata, giving 13 hours 9 minutes of daylight (NAOJ).
- Average temperature
- 11.3°C (52°F)
- Humidity
- 66%
- Days of 25°C or more
- 1.1 days
Early, mid and late April
| Days | High | Low | Precipitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–10 April | 14.0°C | 5.2°C | 35.3 mm |
| 11–20 April | 16.1°C | 7.0°C | 29.9 mm |
| 21–30 April | 18.1°C | 8.8°C | 32.0 mm |
By the last ten days of April the average high in Niigata is 4.1°C higher than in the first ten.
By ten-day totals, 1–10 April is the wettest (35.3 mm) and 11–20 April the driest (29.9 mm).
What to wear in Niigata in April
- Long sleeves with a light jacket or sweater.
- Layers you can take off: afternoons are 9.1°C warmer than early mornings on average.
- An umbrella: rain falls on 11.5 days.
Pack
- Umbrella
Flowers and autumn colour in Niigata in April
Cherry blossom
The JMA's sample cherry tree in Niigata opens around 8 April and is in full bloom around 13 April in an average year (1991–2020). In 2026 it opened on 31 March and was in full bloom on 3 April.
Dates are for one sample tree at or near the JMA observatory, not for every park in the city.
Holidays and crowds in April
National holidays in April 2027:
- Thu 29 April — Showa Day
In April 2025, hotels and inns across Niigata Prefecture were 41.1% full on average (the quietest month of the year). Foreign guests spent 41,620 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency). That compares with 45.2% in March and 42.9% in May.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Niigata in April?
The average high is 16.1°C (61°F) and the average low 7.0°C (45°F). 97.2 mm of rain falls on about 11.5 days (JMA, 1991–2020).
What should I wear in Niigata in April?
Long sleeves with a light jacket or sweater. Layers you can take off: afternoons are 9.1°C warmer than early mornings on average. An umbrella: rain falls on 11.5 days.
Does it snow in Niigata in April?
Sometimes. Snow or sleet falls on 2.3 days in an average April, but snow rarely stays on the ground (JMA, 1991–2020).
Is Niigata busy in April?
In April 2025, hotels and inns across Niigata Prefecture were 41.1% full on average (the quietest month of the year). Foreign guests spent 41,620 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency).
What are the record temperatures for April in Niigata?
The highest temperature the JMA has recorded in Niigata in April is 30.7°C (87°F), on 21 April 1987. The lowest is −2.5°C (28°F), on 1 April 1936.
What events are on in Niigata in April?
Niigata Toyano-gata Cherry Blossom Festival: April (2026: 1 to 30 April, 18:00-24:00). Bandaibashi Tulip Festival: Mid to late April. Art Mix Japan: A weekend in mid-April.
When do the cherry blossoms open in Niigata?
The JMA's sample cherry tree in Niigata opens around 8 April and is in full bloom around 13 April in an average year (1991–2020). In 2026 it opened on 31 March and was in full bloom on 3 April.
April records in Niigata
The extremes the JMA has measured in April at its Niigata station.
- Hottest April day
- 30.7°C (87°F) on 21 April 1987 (records since 1882)
- Coldest April night
- −2.5°C (28°F) on 1 April 1936 (records since 1882)
- Wettest April day
- 73.0 mm on 5 April 1927 (records since 1882)
- Deepest April snow
- 12 cm on 5 April 1927 (records since 1891)
- Most snow in one April day
- 2 cm on 4 April 1955 (records since 1953)
What's on in Niigata in April
| Event | When | Where and what |
|---|---|---|
| Niigata Toyano-gata Cherry Blossom Festival新潟とやの湖桜まつり | April (2026: 1 to 30 April, 18:00-24:00) | Around Benten Bridge, Toyano-gata, Chuo Ward, Niigata. About 700 cherry trees around Toyano-gata. Lanterns (bonbori) are set on the trees near Benten Bridge. Official page |
| Bandaibashi Tulip Festival萬代橋チューリップフェスティバル | Mid to late April. 14–29 April 2026. | Both sidewalks from the Bandai exit of JR Niigata Station to the west end of Bandaibashi Bridge. Bandaibashi Bridge is decorated with planters of tulips grown by local residents. The 2026 festival was the 40th. Official page |
| Art Mix Japanアート・ミックス・ジャパン | A weekend in mid-April. 18–19 April 2026. | Ryutopia Niigata City Performing Arts Center and other venues. Traditional Japanese performing arts and traditional arts groups from across Japan perform at several venues. Show times differ by performance. Official page |
Niigata before and after April
Other places in April
| Place | High | Against Niigata | Wet days | Against Niigata |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NasuNasu Kogen | 13.0°C | −3.1°C | 11.3 days | −0.2 days |
| NikkoImaichi | 16.1°C | same | 10.9 days | −0.6 days |
| Kusatsu Onsen | 11.5°C | −4.6°C | 11.0 days | −0.5 days |
| Nagano | 17.4°C | +1.3°C | 8.3 days | −3.2 days |
| Sendai | 15.5°C | −0.6°C | 7.7 days | −3.8 days |
Read more
Sources for this page
Show all 13
- Normals for 1991–2020: Niigata (新潟), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Normals for 1991–2020: Niigata (新潟), rain days, temperature days and snow (詳細)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Niigata (新潟) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Records for April: Niigata (新潟) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Sunrise and sunset by prefectural capital (各地のこよみ)National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)
- Cherry blossom opening dates, 2021–2026 (さくらの開花日)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Cherry blossom full-bloom dates, 2021–2026 (さくらの満開日)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Yearly records of flowering and leaf colour since 1953 (生物季節観測累年値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- National holidays (国民の祝日について)Cabinet Office
- 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
- Niigata Toyano-gata Cherry Blossom Festival (新潟とやの湖桜まつり)Niigata Prefecture tourism information site (Niigata Prefecture Tourism Association)
- Bandaibashi Tulip Festival (萬代橋チューリップフェスティバル)Niigata Visitors & Convention Bureau
- Art Mix Japan (アート・ミックス・ジャパン)Niigata Visitors & Convention Bureau