Takayama in March: weather, what to wear and events

Takayama weather in March

Averages for 1991–2020 at the JMA's Takayama station (560 m above sea level).

High: 9.8°C (50°F)
Low: −1.6°C (29°F)
Precipitation: 122.5 mm
Wet days: 13.0 days
Sunshine: 154 hours
Snow on ground: 9.1 days

Highs rise 5.1°C from February and climb another 7.2°C into April.

That is 7.7°C below Takayama's yearly average high of 17.5°C.

Of our 14 places with temperature records, Takayama is the 3rd coldest in March: 0.7°C cooler than Nikko and 1.5°C warmer than Shirakawa-go.

March is Takayama's 5th driest month (122.5 mm).

Of our 15 places, Takayama has the 5th highest precipitation in March: 20.3 mm less than Naha and 4.2 mm more than Hiroshima.

Rain or snow of 1 mm or more falls on 13.0 days, and 10 mm or more on 4.5 days.

Rain or snow of 30 mm or more in one day falls on 0.7 days.

The temperature drops below 0°C on 21.8 nights.

29 cm of snow falls in an average March; snow lies on the ground on 9.1 days.

The sun is out for 40% or more of the possible hours on 16.2 days, and 4.4 days have under 0.1 hours of sunshine.

Average temperature: 3.4°C (38°F)
Humidity: 73%
Deepest snow (average of each year's deepest): 18 cm

Early, mid and late March

Takayama in March by ten-day period: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
Days	High	Low	Precipitation
1–10 March	7.8°C	−2.3°C	39.3 mm
11–20 March	9.9°C	−2.0°C	37.8 mm
21–31 March	11.6°C	−0.6°C	45.4 mm

By the last ten days of March the average high in Takayama is 3.8°C higher than in the first ten.

By ten-day totals, 21–31 March is the wettest (45.4 mm) and 11–20 March the driest (37.8 mm).

What to wear in Takayama in March

Cold: highs around 9.8°C

A winter coat over layers, and a scarf.
Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 21.8 nights.
A waterproof jacket with a hood: rain or snow falls on 13.0 days.

Shoes

Waterproof boots with good grip: snow lies on the ground on 9.1 days (deepest 18 cm on average).

Pack

Waterproof jacket with a hood
Gloves and a warm hat
Scarf
Waterproof boots with grip

Our clothing rules

March records in Takayama

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

Hottest March day: 24.3°C (76°F) on 22 March 2023 (records since 1900)
Coldest March night: −21.2°C (−6°F) on 1 March 1936 (records since 1900)
Wettest March day: 66.6 mm on 15 March 1903 (records since 1900)
Deepest March snow: 96 cm on 1 March 1981 (records since 1900)
Most snow in one March day: 57 cm on 12 March 1969 (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 Gifu Prefecture were 53.6% full on average (9th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 156,940 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency). That compares with 55.0% in February and 59.5% in April.

What's on in Takayama in March

Events in Takayama in March: dates from each organizer's official page
Event	When	Where and what
Winter Illumination in Takayama (Nakabashi Bridge)冬の飛騨高山ライトアップ	From 1 December to mid-March, 16:30 to 21:30 (last season: 1 December 2025 to 15 March 2026)	Around Nakabashi Bridge over the Miya River, Takayama. The red Nakabashi Bridge is lit up on winter nights, standing out against the fallen snow. The dates on the official page are for the 2025-26 season (1 December 2025 to 15 March 2026); the 2026-27 dates were not yet published on that page. Official page
Hida Takayama Hina Doll Festival飛騨高山雛まつり	From 1 March to 3 April (2026 dates); the Hida region celebrates the Doll Festival one month later than usual	Tourist facilities, hotels, inns and shops around central Takayama. Traditional hina dolls, such as clay dolls (tsuchi-bina) and Kokin-bina, are displayed at tourist facilities, hotels and inns, and shops in the town to celebrate the Peach Festival. A stamp rally runs during the festival: stamps are available at six places (Hida Hotel Plaza, Honjin Hirano-ya Annex, Hida Takayama Machi no Hakubutsukan, Murahan, Hida-no-Sato and Takayama Jinya), and showing four or more stamps at the Nakabashi tourist information office earns a prize. Official page

Takayama before and after March

Takayama: February, March and April (JMA, 1991–2020)
Month	High	Low	Precipitation	Wet days
February	4.7°C (−5.1°C)	−4.9°C (−3.3°C)	93.5 mm (−29.0 mm)	11.7 days (−1.3 days)
March	9.8°C	−1.6°C	122.5 mm	13.0 days
April	17.0°C (+7.2°C)	3.4°C (+5.0°C)	123.9 mm (+1.4 mm)	11.0 days (−2.0 days)

Other places in March

March: Takayama against five other places (JMA, 1991–2020)
Place	High	Against Takayama	Wet days	Against Takayama
Tokyo	14.2°C	+4.4°C	9.2 days	−3.8 days
Kyoto	14.1°C	+4.3°C	9.5 days	−3.5 days
Osaka	14.2°C	+4.4°C	9.1 days	−3.9 days
Sapporo	4.5°C	−5.3°C	13.9 days	+0.9 days
OkinawaNaha	21.9°C	+12.1°C	10.9 days	−2.1 days

All 15 places in March

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Takayama in March?

The average high is 9.8°C (50°F) and the average low −1.6°C (29°F). 122.5 mm of rain or snow falls on about 13.0 days (JMA, 1991–2020).

What should I wear in Takayama in March?

A winter coat over layers, and a scarf. Gloves and a hat for mornings and nights: the temperature drops below 0°C on 21.8 nights. A waterproof jacket with a hood: rain or snow falls on 13.0 days.

Does it snow in Takayama in March?

Yes. 29 cm of snow falls in an average March, and snow lies on the ground on 9.1 days (JMA, 1991–2020).

Is Takayama busy in March?

In March 2025, hotels and inns across Gifu Prefecture were 53.6% full on average (9th busiest of 12 months). Foreign guests spent 156,940 nights there that month (Japan Tourism Agency).

What are the record temperatures for March in Takayama?

The highest temperature the JMA has recorded in Takayama in March is 24.3°C (76°F), on 22 March 2023. The lowest is −21.2°C (−6°F), on 1 March 1936.

What events are on in Takayama in March?

Winter Illumination in Takayama (Nakabashi Bridge): From 1 December to mid-March, 16:30 to 21:30 (last season: 1 December 2025 to 15 March 2026). Hida Takayama Hina Doll Festival: From 1 March to 3 April (2026 dates); the Hida region celebrates the Doll Festival one month later than usual.

Related items

Sources for this page

Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) Normals for 1991–2020: Takayama (高山), month by month (平年値年・月ごとの値)checked October 2, 2026
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) Normals for 1991–2020: Takayama (高山), rain days, temperature days and snow (詳細)checked October 2, 2026
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Takayama (高山) (平年値旬ごとの値)checked October 2, 2026
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) Records for March: Takayama (高山) (観測史上1〜10位の値)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
Hida Takayama Tourism and Convention Association (Hida Takayama official tourism guide) Winter Illumination in Takayama (Nakabashi Bridge) (冬の飛騨高山ライトアップ)checked October 2, 2026
Hida Takayama Tourism and Convention Association (Hida Takayama official tourism guide) Hida Takayama Hina Doll Festival (飛騨高山雛まつり)checked October 2, 2026

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