Nagano weather in January
Averages for 1991–2020 at the JMA's Nagano station (418 m above sea level).
- High
- 3.8°C (39°F)
- Low
- −3.9°C (25°F)
- Precipitation
- 54.6 mm
- Wet days
- 9.8 days
- Sunshine
- 128 hours
- Snow on ground
- 21.2 days
- Highs are 3.1°C below December and 1.5°C below February.
- That is 14.0°C below Nagano's yearly average high of 17.8°C.
- Of our 34 places with temperature records, Nagano is the 9th coldest in January: 1.5°C cooler than Niigata and 0.6°C warmer than Takayama.
- January is Nagano's 4th driest month (54.6 mm).
- Of our 35 places, Nagano has the 13th lowest precipitation in January: 2.6 mm less than Kumamoto and 0.5 mm more than Hachioji.
- Rain or snow of 1 mm or more falls on 9.8 days, and 10 mm or more on 1.6 days.
- The temperature drops below 0°C on 28.8 nights.
- On 2.8 days it stays below 0°C all day.
- 63 cm of snow falls in an average January; snow lies on the ground on 21.2 days.
- The sun is out for 40% or more of the possible hours on 15.8 days, and 3.3 days have under 0.1 hours of sunshine.
- On 15 January 2027 the sun rises at 6:59 and sets at 16:54 in Nagano, giving 9 hours 55 minutes of daylight (NAOJ).
- Average temperature
- −0.4°C (31°F)
- Humidity
- 79%
- Deepest snow (average of each year's deepest)
- 26 cm
Early, mid and late January
| Days | High | Low | Precipitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–10 January | 4.1°C | −3.6°C | 18.2 mm |
| 11–20 January | 3.6°C | −3.9°C | 17.5 mm |
| 21–31 January | 3.6°C | −4.3°C | 18.9 mm |
What to wear in Nagano in January
- A heavy winter coat (down or similar), thermal underwear, a hat, gloves and a scarf.
- Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 28.8 nights.
- A waterproof jacket with a hood: rain or snow falls on 9.8 days.
Shoes
- Waterproof boots with good grip: snow lies on the ground on 21.2 days (deepest 26 cm on average).
Pack
- Waterproof jacket with a hood
- Gloves and a warm hat
- Thermal underwear
- Scarf
- Waterproof boots with grip
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 Nagano Prefecture were 38.3% full on average (6th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 445,590 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency). That compares with 33.3% in December and 41.8% in February.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Nagano in January?
The average high is 3.8°C (39°F) and the average low −3.9°C (25°F). 54.6 mm of rain or snow falls on about 9.8 days (JMA, 1991–2020).
What should I wear in Nagano in January?
A heavy winter coat (down or similar), thermal underwear, a hat, gloves and a scarf. Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 28.8 nights. A waterproof jacket with a hood: rain or snow falls on 9.8 days.
Does it snow in Nagano in January?
Yes. 63 cm of snow falls in an average January, and snow lies on the ground on 21.2 days (JMA, 1991–2020).
Is Nagano busy in January?
In January 2025, hotels and inns across Nagano Prefecture were 38.3% full on average (6th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 445,590 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency).
What are the record temperatures for January in Nagano?
The highest temperature the JMA has recorded in Nagano in January is 18.1°C (65°F), on 22 January 1916. The lowest is −17.0°C (1°F), on 24 January 1934.
What events are on in Nagano in January?
New Year's Eve bell at Zenkoji: From midnight on 31 December. Shushoe at Zenkoji: 1 to 3 January every year.
January records in Nagano
The extremes the JMA has measured in January at its Nagano station.
- Hottest January day
- 18.1°C (65°F) on 22 January 1916 (records since 1889)
- Coldest January night
- −17.0°C (1°F) on 24 January 1934 (records since 1889)
- Wettest January day
- 42.5 mm on 7 January 1963 (records since 1889)
- Deepest January snow
- 60 cm on 8 January 1963 (records since 1892)
- Most snow in one January day
- 52 cm on 12 January 1973 (records since 1953)
What's on in Nagano in January
| Event | When | Where and what |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Eve bell at Zenkoji除夜の鐘 | From midnight on 31 December | Zenkoji Temple. The bell is struck 108 times from midnight. A numbered ticket is needed to strike the bell. No advance application. Official page |
| Shushoe at Zenkoji修正会 | 1 to 3 January every year | Zenkoji Temple. A New Year service held each day, at 11:00 by the Jodo sect and 15:00 by the Tendai sect. Official page |
Nagano before and after January
Other places in January
| Place | High | Against Nagano | Wet days | Against Nagano |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kusatsu Onsen | −0.4°C | −4.2°C | 11.6 days | +1.8 days |
| Karuizawa | 2.3°C | −1.5°C | 5.2 days | −4.6 days |
| Toyama | 6.3°C | +2.5°C | 22.2 days | +12.4 days |
| Takayama | 3.2°C | −0.6°C | 14.6 days | +4.8 days |
| Shirakawa-goShirakawa | 2.8°C | −1.0°C | 22.2 days | +12.4 days |
Read more
Sources for this page
- 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 January: 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)
- 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
- New Year's Eve bell at Zenkoji (除夜の鐘)Zenkoji Temple