Kanazawa in March: weather, what to wear and events

Kanazawa weather in March

Averages for 1991–2020 at the JMA's Kanazawa station (6 m above sea level).

High: 11.6°C (53°F)
Low: 3.4°C (38°F)
Precipitation: 157.2 mm
Wet days: 15.7 days
Sunshine: 145 hours
Snow on ground: 3.0 days

Highs rise 3.8°C from February and climb another 5.7°C into April.

That is 7.4°C below Kanazawa's yearly average high of 19.0°C.

Of our 14 places with temperature records, Kanazawa is the 6th coldest in March: 2.3°C cooler than Nara and 1.1°C warmer than Kawaguchiko.

March is Kanazawa's 3rd driest month (157.2 mm).

Of our 15 places, Kanazawa has the 3rd highest precipitation in March: 38.6 mm less than Shirakawa-go and 14.4 mm more than Naha.

Rain or snow of 1 mm or more falls on 15.7 days, and 10 mm or more on 5.8 days.

Rain or snow of 30 mm or more in one day falls on 0.8 days.

The temperature drops below 0°C on 2.7 nights.

13 cm of snow falls in an average March; snow lies on the ground on 3.0 days.

The sun is out for 40% or more of the possible hours on 14.7 days, and 4.6 days have under 0.1 hours of sunshine.

On 15 March 2027 the sun rises at 6:05 and sets at 18:00 in Kanazawa, giving 11 hours 55 minutes of daylight (NAOJ).

Average temperature: 7.3°C (45°F)
Humidity: 66%
Deepest snow (average of each year's deepest): 7 cm

Early, mid and late March

Kanazawa in March by ten-day period: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
Days	High	Low	Precipitation
1–10 March	10.0°C	2.4°C	54.7 mm
11–20 March	11.9°C	3.1°C	50.9 mm
21–31 March	12.9°C	4.5°C	51.7 mm

By the last ten days of March the average high in Kanazawa is 2.9°C higher than in the first ten.

What to wear in Kanazawa in March

Chilly: highs around 11.6°C

A warm jacket or light coat over a sweater.
Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 2.7 nights.
Rain gear every day: a sturdy umbrella and a water-resistant jacket. Rain or snow falls on 15.7 days.

Shoes

Shoes with good grip: snow or sleet falls on 12.7 days.

Pack

Sturdy umbrella and rain jacket
Gloves and a warm hat

Our clothing rules

March records in Kanazawa

The extremes the JMA has measured in March at its Kanazawa station.

Hottest March day: 28.2°C (83°F) on 27 March 2025 (records since 1882)
Coldest March night: −8.3°C (17°F) on 1 March 1936 (records since 1882)
Wettest March day: 75.0 mm on 30 March 2014 (records since 1882)
Deepest March snow: 115 cm on 1 March 1893 (records since 1882)
Most snow in one March day: 37 cm on 13 March 1978 (records since 1953)

Holidays and crowds in March

National holidays in March 2027:

Sun 21 March — Vernal Equinox Day
Mon 22 March — Substitute holiday

Sat 20 March to Mon 22 March: 3 days off in a row

In March 2025, hotels and inns across Ishikawa Prefecture were 56.1% full on average (7th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 154,340 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency). That compares with 48.8% in February and 59.8% in April.

What's on in Kanazawa in March

Events in Kanazawa in March: dates from each organizer's official page
Event	When	Where and what
Yukitsuri (snow ropes) at Kenroku-en兼六園雪吊り作業	Work starts on 1 November every year and continues to about mid-December; the ropes can be seen until mid-March	Kenroku-en Garden, Kanazawa. Yukitsuri work is done across Kanazawa so that branches do not break under the weight of the wet snow typical of the Sea of Japan side. At Kenroku-en it begins on 1 November with the Karasaki pine and continues until about mid-December. Kenroku-en is open every day. Admission is 320 yen for adults and 100 yen for ages 6 to under 18; ages 65 and over are free with proof of age. Official page

Kanazawa before and after March

Kanazawa: February, March and April (JMA, 1991–2020)
Month	High	Low	Precipitation	Wet days
February	7.8°C (−3.8°C)	1.0°C (−2.4°C)	162.6 mm (+5.4 mm)	18.6 days (+2.9 days)
March	11.6°C	3.4°C	157.2 mm	15.7 days
April	17.3°C (+5.7°C)	8.2°C (+4.8°C)	143.9 mm (−13.3 mm)	12.0 days (−3.7 days)

Other places in March

March: Kanazawa against five other places (JMA, 1991–2020)
Place	High	Against Kanazawa	Wet days	Against Kanazawa
Tokyo	14.2°C	+2.6°C	9.2 days	−6.5 days
Kyoto	14.1°C	+2.5°C	9.5 days	−6.2 days
Osaka	14.2°C	+2.6°C	9.1 days	−6.6 days
Sapporo	4.5°C	−7.1°C	13.9 days	−1.8 days
OkinawaNaha	21.9°C	+10.3°C	10.9 days	−4.8 days

All 15 places in March

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Kanazawa in March?

The average high is 11.6°C (53°F) and the average low 3.4°C (38°F). 157.2 mm of rain or snow falls on about 15.7 days (JMA, 1991–2020).

What should I wear in Kanazawa in March?

A warm jacket or light coat over a sweater. Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 2.7 nights. Rain gear every day: a sturdy umbrella and a water-resistant jacket. Rain or snow falls on 15.7 days.

Does it snow in Kanazawa in March?

Yes. 13 cm of snow falls in an average March, and snow lies on the ground on 3.0 days (JMA, 1991–2020).

Is Kanazawa busy in March?

In March 2025, hotels and inns across Ishikawa Prefecture were 56.1% full on average (7th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 154,340 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency).

What are the record temperatures for March in Kanazawa?

The highest temperature the JMA has recorded in Kanazawa in March is 28.2°C (83°F), on 27 March 2025. The lowest is −8.3°C (17°F), on 1 March 1936.

What events are on in Kanazawa in March?

Yukitsuri (snow ropes) at Kenroku-en: Work starts on 1 November every year and continues to about mid-December; the ropes can be seen until mid-March.

Related items

Sources for this page

Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) Normals for 1991–2020: Kanazawa (金沢), month by month (平年値年・月ごとの値)checked October 2, 2026
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) Normals for 1991–2020: Kanazawa (金沢), rain days, temperature days and snow (詳細)checked October 2, 2026
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Kanazawa (金沢) (平年値旬ごとの値)checked October 2, 2026
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) Records for March: Kanazawa (金沢) (観測史上1〜10位の値)checked October 2, 2026
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) Sunrise and sunset by prefectural capital (各地のこよみ)checked October 2, 2026
Cabinet Office National holidays (国民の祝日について)checked October 2, 2026
Japan Tourism Agency Overnight Travel Statistics Survey, 2025 final figures (宿泊旅行統計調査 2025年年の確定値)checked October 2, 2026
Kanazawa Tourism Association (contact: Ishikawa Prefecture Kanazawa Castle and Kenroku-en Management Office) Yukitsuri (snow ropes) at Kenroku-en (兼六園雪吊り作業)checked October 2, 2026

Kanazawa in March: weather, what to wear and what's on