Nagano weather in April
Averages for 1991–2020 at the JMA's Nagano station (418 m above sea level).
- High
- 17.4°C (63°F)
- Low
- 4.9°C (41°F)
- Precipitation
- 56.9 mm
- Wet days
- 8.3 days
- Sunshine
- 199 hours
- Highs rise 7.1°C from March and climb another 5.8°C into May.
- That is 0.4°C below Nagano's yearly average high of 17.8°C.
- Of our 34 places with temperature records, Nagano is the 14th coldest in April: 0.2°C cooler than Toyama and 0.1°C warmer than Kanazawa.
- April is Nagano's 5th driest month (56.9 mm).
- Of our 35 places, Nagano has the 2nd lowest precipitation in April: 11.8 mm less than Aomori and 2.3 mm more than Sapporo.
- Rain or snow of 1 mm or more falls on 8.3 days, and 10 mm or more on 2.3 days.
- The temperature drops below 0°C on 3.1 nights.
- 2 cm of snow falls in an average April.
- Snow or sleet falls on 3.2 days.
- The sun is out for 40% or more of the possible hours on 19.2 days, and 2.5 days have under 0.1 hours of sunshine.
- On 15 April 2027 the sun rises at 5:14 and sets at 18:21 in Nagano, giving 13 hours 7 minutes of daylight (NAOJ).
- Average temperature
- 10.6°C (51°F)
- Humidity
- 61%
- Days of 25°C or more
- 1.9 days
- Deepest snow (average of each year's deepest)
- 1 cm
Early, mid and late April
| Days | High | Low | Precipitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–10 April | 15.2°C | 2.8°C | 18.7 mm |
| 11–20 April | 17.5°C | 5.1°C | 19.4 mm |
| 21–30 April | 19.6°C | 6.8°C | 18.8 mm |
By the last ten days of April the average high in Nagano is 4.4°C higher than in the first ten.
What to wear in Nagano in April
- Long sleeves with a light jacket or sweater.
- Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 3.1 nights.
- Layers you can take off: afternoons are 12.5°C warmer than early mornings on average.
- A folding umbrella: rain or snow falls on 8.3 days.
Shoes
- Shoes with good grip: snow or sleet falls on 3.2 days.
Pack
- Folding umbrella
- Gloves and a warm hat
Flowers and autumn colour in Nagano in April
Cherry blossom
The JMA's sample cherry tree in Nagano opens around 11 April and is in full bloom around 16 April in an average year (1991–2020). In 2026 it opened on 31 March and was in full bloom on 6 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 Nagano Prefecture were 33.3% full on average (10th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 195,240 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency). That compares with 32.9% in March and 38.0% in May.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Nagano in April?
The average high is 17.4°C (63°F) and the average low 4.9°C (41°F). 56.9 mm of rain or snow falls on about 8.3 days (JMA, 1991–2020).
What should I wear in Nagano in April?
Long sleeves with a light jacket or sweater. Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 3.1 nights. Layers you can take off: afternoons are 12.5°C warmer than early mornings on average. A folding umbrella: rain or snow falls on 8.3 days.
Does it snow in Nagano in April?
Sometimes. Snow or sleet falls on 3.2 days in an average April, but snow rarely stays on the ground (JMA, 1991–2020).
Is Nagano busy in April?
In April 2025, hotels and inns across Nagano Prefecture were 33.3% full on average (10th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 195,240 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency).
What are the record temperatures for April in Nagano?
The highest temperature the JMA has recorded in Nagano in April is 30.8°C (87°F), on 24 April 1911. The lowest is −6.5°C (20°F), on 6 April 1925.
What events are on in Nagano in April?
Nagano Marathon: Mid-April (19 April in 2026, 18 April in 2027). Matsushiro Hina Festival: Early March to early April (3 March to 3 April in 2026). Needle Memorial Service (Hari-kuyo-e) at Zenkoji: Every year on 8 April, service from 11:00.
When do the cherry blossoms open in Nagano?
The JMA's sample cherry tree in Nagano opens around 11 April and is in full bloom around 16 April in an average year (1991–2020). In 2026 it opened on 31 March and was in full bloom on 6 April.
April records in Nagano
The extremes the JMA has measured in April at its Nagano station.
- Hottest April day
- 30.8°C (87°F) on 24 April 1911 (records since 1889)
- Coldest April night
- −6.5°C (20°F) on 6 April 1925 (records since 1889)
- Wettest April day
- 53.6 mm on 11 April 1911 (records since 1889)
- Deepest April snow
- 26 cm on 1 April 1907 (records since 1892)
- Most snow in one April day
- 11 cm on 1 April 1956 (records since 1953)
What's on in Nagano in April
| Event | When | Where and what |
|---|---|---|
| Nagano Marathon長野マラソン | Mid-April (19 April in 2026, 18 April in 2027) | Nagano City. The 28th race was held on 19 April 2026. The 29th race is set for 18 April 2027 with an 8:30 start. The traffic regulation page says details are not yet announced. Official page |
| Matsushiro Hina Festival松代でひなまつり | Early March to early April (3 March to 3 April in 2026) | Cultural properties, public facilities and shops in the Matsushiro town area. Hina dolls from different periods are displayed at venues in Matsushiro. A floating doll (nagashi-bina) ceremony is held at Zozan Shrine on 8 March (2026). Free municipal car parks in town are available. Official page |
| Needle Memorial Service (Hari-kuyo-e) at Zenkoji針供養会（善光寺） | Every year on 8 April, service from 11:00 | In front of the needle memorial tower, Zenkoji. A memorial service for old and broken needles. Visitors can place needles in the tower before the service. Official page |
Nagano before and after April
Other places in April
| Place | High | Against Nagano | Wet days | Against Nagano |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kusatsu Onsen | 11.5°C | −5.9°C | 11.0 days | +2.7 days |
| Karuizawa | 14.3°C | −3.1°C | 8.9 days | +0.6 days |
| Toyama | 17.6°C | +0.2°C | 12.7 days | +4.4 days |
| Takayama | 17.0°C | −0.4°C | 11.0 days | +2.7 days |
| Shirakawa-goShirakawa | 15.6°C | −1.8°C | 13.2 days | +4.9 days |
Read more
Sources for this page
Show all 13
- Normals for 1991–2020: Nagano (長野), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Normals for 1991–2020: Nagano (長野), rain days, temperature days and snow (詳細)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Nagano (長野) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- Records for April: Nagano (長野) (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
- Nagano Marathon (長野マラソン)Nagano Marathon Organizing Committee
- Matsushiro Hina Festival (松代でひなまつり)Nagano Convention Bureau (Matsushiro Hina Festival Executive Committee)
- Needle Memorial Service (Hari-kuyo-e) at Zenkoji (針供養会（善光寺）)Zenkoji Temple