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

In March, average highs across 4 places in Shikoku run from 14.1°C (57°F) in Takamatsu to 16.3°C (61°F) in Kochi (JMA, 1991–2020). Takamatsu, the main city, averages 14.1°C by day and 5.0°C at night. Snow is rare on the ground, but snow or sleet falls on 2.0 days in Tokushima.

Shikoku in March: 4 places compared

Averages for 1991–2020 from the JMA station in each place. Tap a heading to sort.

4 places in Shikoku in March: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
Place (JMA station)High (°C)Low (°C)Wet daysSun (hours)Clothes
Takamatsu14.15.09.2175Chilly
Matsuyama14.45.69.7175Chilly
Kochi16.36.49.6192Cool
Tokushima14.35.89.0180Chilly
  • The most wet days (1 mm or more of rain or snow) are in Matsuyama (9.7 days), the fewest in Tokushima (9.0 days).
  • Precipitation ranges from 81.4 mm in Takamatsu to 174.8 mm in Kochi.
  • Kochi gets the most sunshine (192 hours in the month) and Takamatsu the least (175 hours).
  • Matsuyama, Kochi and Tokushima are warmer than Tokyo (14.2°C) in March; the rest are colder.

Early, mid and late March in Shikoku

Average high and low for each ten days of March (JMA ten-day normals, 1991–2020).

Shikoku in March by ten-day period: average high and low in °C (JMA 1991–2020)
Place (JMA station)1–10 (°C)11–20 (°C)21–31 (°C)
Takamatsu12.6low 4.014.2low 4.615.5low 6.1
Matsuyama13.0low 4.514.7low 5.415.6low 6.9
Kochi15.2low 5.216.3low 6.117.3low 7.6
Tokushima12.9low 4.814.4low 5.515.4low 7.0

In Takamatsu, the average high is 12.6°C in the first ten days of March, 14.2°C in the middle ten and 15.5°C in the last ten.

Every place here is at least 2°C warmer by the end of March than at the start.

What to wear in Shikoku in March

How we choose: from the JMA's average high and low for March, by our own rules.

In March the clothing level runs from Chilly in Takamatsu, Matsuyama and Tokushima to Cool in Kochi, so pack for the coldest place on your route.

What to wear in Shikoku in March, by average high
LevelAverage highWhat to wearPlaces
Cool15 to 20°CLong sleeves with a light jacket or sweater.Kochi 16.3°C
Chilly10 to 15°CA warm jacket or light coat over a sweater.Takamatsu 14.1°C, Matsuyama 14.4°C and Tokushima 14.3°C

Flowers and autumn colour in Shikoku in March

Shikoku in March: average dates for 1991–2020 and the latest year (JMA sample trees)
Place (JMA station)WhatAverage dateLatest year
TakamatsuCherry blossom opens27 March25 March 2026
MatsuyamaCherry blossom opens24 March24 March 2026
KochiCherry blossom opens22 March16 March 2026
KochiCherry blossom in full bloom30 March31 March 2026
TokushimaCherry blossom opens28 March28 March 2026

The first cherry blossom in Shikoku in an average year is in Kochi on 22 March.

Dates are for one sample tree at or near the JMA observatory, not for every park in the city.

Holidays and crowds in Shikoku 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
How full hotels were in March 2025 (%)

Average room occupancy for all hotels and inns, by prefecture. Japan as a whole: 61.1%.

  1. Kagawa Prefecture61.6%
  2. Ehime Prefecture61.3%
  3. Tokushima Prefecture57.2%
  4. Kochi Prefecture49.1%

More on Shikoku and March

Shikoku in other months

Other regions in March

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Shikoku in March?

In March, average highs across 4 places in Shikoku run from 14.1°C (57°F) in Takamatsu to 16.3°C (61°F) in Kochi (JMA, 1991–2020). Takamatsu, the main city, averages 14.1°C by day and 5.0°C at night. Snow is rare on the ground, but snow or sleet falls on 2.0 days in Tokushima.

What should I wear in Shikoku in March?

Chilly (Takamatsu, Matsuyama and Tokushima): A warm jacket or light coat over a sweater. Cool (Kochi): Long sleeves with a light jacket or sweater.

Is there snow in Shikoku in March?

Not much on the ground. Snow or sleet falls on 2.0 days in Tokushima in an average March, but no place here has snow lying for 5 days or more (JMA, 1991–2020).

Where is the warmest place in Shikoku in March?

Kochi, with an average high of 16.3°C (61°F). Next are Matsuyama (14.4°C) and Tokushima (14.3°C). The coldest is Takamatsu (14.1°C).

March records in Shikoku

The highest and lowest temperatures ever recorded in March at each JMA station, with the date.

March records in Shikoku (JMA, all years on record)
Place (JMA station)Highest (°C)Lowest (°C)Since
Takamatsu26.226 March 2025−4.411 March 19431942
Matsuyama27.520 March 2010−6.31 March 18931890
Kochi26.329 March 1930−6.52 March 19361886
Tokushima28.031 March 2026−3.66 March 19101892

The hottest March day on record here was 28.0°C (82°F) in Tokushima on 31 March 2026.

The coldest was −6.5°C (20°F) in Kochi on 2 March 1936.

Related items

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Sources for this page

Show all 17
  1. Normals for 1991–2020: Takamatsu (高松), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  2. Normals for 1991–2020: Matsuyama (松山), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  3. Normals for 1991–2020: Kochi (高知), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  4. Normals for 1991–2020: Tokushima (徳島), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  5. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Takamatsu (高松) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  6. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Matsuyama (松山) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  7. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Kochi (高知) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  8. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Tokushima (徳島) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  9. Records for March: Takamatsu (高松) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  10. Records for March: Matsuyama (松山) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  11. Records for March: Kochi (高知) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  12. Records for March: Tokushima (徳島) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  13. National holidays (国民の祝日について)Cabinet Office
  14. 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
  15. Cherry blossom opening dates, 2021–2026 (さくらの開花日)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  16. Cherry blossom full-bloom dates, 2021–2026 (さくらの満開日)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  17. Yearly records of flowering and leaf colour since 1953 (生物季節観測累年値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)