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Tohoku in March: weather, snow and what to wear

In March, average highs across 7 places in Tohoku run from 6.8°C (44°F) in Aomori to 11.2°C (52°F) in Fukushima (JMA, 1991–2020). Sendai, the main city, averages 10.0°C by day and 1.4°C at night. Snow lies on the ground for 5 days or more in 5 of the 7 places, and the deepest snow averages 70 cm in Aomori.

Tohoku in March: 7 places compared

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

7 places in Tohoku in March: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
Place (JMA station)High (°C)Low (°C)Wet daysSun (hours)Snow cover (days)Clothes
Sendai10.01.47.11793.1Chilly
Aomori6.8−0.814.112623.7Cold
Morioka7.5−1.810.815811.9Cold
Akita7.90.414.91229.5Cold
Yamagata9.1−0.311.514012.7Cold
Fukushima11.21.37.81754.5Chilly
Aizu-WakamatsuJMA Wakamatsu8.9−0.713.314411.6Cold
  • The most wet days (1 mm or more of rain or snow) are in Akita (14.9 days), the fewest in Sendai (7.1 days).
  • Precipitation ranges from 72.1 mm in Yamagata to 99.5 mm in Akita.
  • Sendai gets the most sunshine (179 hours in the month) and Akita the least (122 hours).
  • Every place here is colder than Tokyo, where the average high in March is 14.2°C.

Early, mid and late March in Tohoku

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

Tohoku 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)
Sendai8.3low 0.410.1low 1.111.3low 2.5
Aomori4.8low −2.16.8low −0.98.8low 0.4
Morioka5.4low −3.07.6low −1.89.3low −0.7
Akita6.2low −0.77.9low 0.39.5low 1.4
Yamagata7.0low −1.39.3low −0.510.9low 0.7
Fukushima9.1low 0.311.5low 1.112.7low 2.4
Aizu-Wakamatsu6.8low −1.68.8low −1.110.9low 0.3

In Sendai, the average high is 8.3°C in the first ten days of March, 10.1°C in the middle ten and 11.3°C in the last ten.

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

Snow in Tohoku in March

Snowfall is the total for the month; deepest snow is the average of each year's deepest (JMA, 1991–2020).

Snow in Tohoku in March: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
Place (JMA station)Snowfall (cm)Snow falls (days)Snow cover (days)Deepest (cm)
Sendai1113.43.16
Aomori6422.123.770
Morioka3920.111.921
Akita3019.09.514
Yamagata3519.612.722
Fukushima1415.94.57
Aizu-Wakamatsu4117.511.626
  • The deepest snow is in Aomori (70 cm), then Aizu-Wakamatsu (26 cm) and Yamagata (22 cm).
  • Bring waterproof shoes with a good grip for Aomori, Morioka, Akita, Yamagata and Aizu-Wakamatsu: snow lies on the ground for 5 days or more.
  • Snow does not usually lie for long in Fukushima and Sendai, but snow or sleet falls on 3.0 days or more.

What to wear in Tohoku 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 Cold in Aomori, Morioka, Akita, Yamagata and Aizu-Wakamatsu to Chilly in Sendai and Fukushima, so pack for the coldest place on your route.

What to wear in Tohoku in March, by average high
LevelAverage highWhat to wearPlaces
Chilly10 to 15°CA warm jacket or light coat over a sweater.Sendai 10.0°C and Fukushima 11.2°C
Cold5 to 10°CA winter coat over layers, and a scarf.Aomori 6.8°C, Morioka 7.5°C, Akita 7.9°C, Yamagata 9.1°C and Aizu-Wakamatsu 8.9°C
  • Gloves and a warm hat: frost on 10 nights or more in Aomori, Morioka, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima and Aizu-Wakamatsu.

Flowers and autumn colour in Tohoku in March

Tohoku in March: average dates for 1991–2020 and the latest year (JMA sample trees)
Place (JMA station)WhatAverage dateLatest year
SendaiPlum blossom opens1 March20 February 2026
FukushimaPlum blossom opens7 March16 February 2026

The first plum blossom in Tohoku in an average year is in Sendai on 1 March.

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

Holidays and crowds in Tohoku 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. Miyagi Prefecture57.5%
  2. Iwate Prefecture50.8%
  3. Aomori Prefecture49.2%
  4. Fukushima Prefecture48.9%
  5. Yamagata Prefecture47.7%
  6. Akita Prefecture37.9%

More on Tohoku and March

One place in March

Tohoku in other months

Other regions in March

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Tohoku in March?

In March, average highs across 7 places in Tohoku run from 6.8°C (44°F) in Aomori to 11.2°C (52°F) in Fukushima (JMA, 1991–2020). Sendai, the main city, averages 10.0°C by day and 1.4°C at night. Snow lies on the ground for 5 days or more in 5 of the 7 places, and the deepest snow averages 70 cm in Aomori.

What should I wear in Tohoku in March?

Cold (Aomori, Morioka, Akita, Yamagata and Aizu-Wakamatsu): A winter coat over layers, and a scarf. Chilly (Sendai and Fukushima): A warm jacket or light coat over a sweater.

Is there snow in Tohoku in March?

Yes. Snow lies on the ground for 5 days or more in an average March in Aomori, Morioka, Akita, Yamagata and Aizu-Wakamatsu (JMA, 1991–2020). The deepest snow averages 70 cm in Aomori.

Where is the warmest place in Tohoku in March?

Fukushima, with an average high of 11.2°C (52°F). Next are Sendai (10.0°C) and Yamagata (9.1°C). The coldest is Aomori (6.8°C).

What events are on in Tohoku in March?

Sendai Folk Performing Arts Plaza at Sendai Ryokusaikan (Sendai), Sendai Tsutsujigaoka Park Cherry Blossom Festival (Sendai), Winter Festival at Linkstation Hills Kumoya (Moya Hills) (Aomori) and Yunoshima Katakuri Festival (Aomori). Dates and official pages are on each place's month page.

March records in Tohoku

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

March records in Tohoku (JMA, all years on record)
Place (JMA station)Highest (°C)Lowest (°C)Deepest snow (cm)Since
Sendai24.219 March 2009−8.96 March 1934275 March 19541927
Aomori21.428 March 2018−18.413 March 19461871 March 19451882
Morioka21.522 March 2023−17.17 March 19336811 March 19751924
Akita22.823 March 2023−19.51 March 1893929 March 19251883
Yamagata23.731 March 1891−15.516 March 18988610 March 19361890
Fukushima25.229 March 2021−12.91 March 19364313 March 19691890
Aizu-Wakamatsu23.522 March 2023−11.92 March 1984941 March 19811954

The hottest March day on record here was 25.2°C (77°F) in Fukushima on 29 March 2021.

The coldest was −19.5°C (−3°F) in Akita on 1 March 1893.

What's on in Tohoku in March

Events in the places that have their own month page. Dates, venues and the organisers' official pages are on each place's page.

Sendai

  • Sendai Folk Performing Arts Plaza at Sendai Ryokusaikan
  • Sendai Tsutsujigaoka Park Cherry Blossom Festival

Aomori

  • Winter Festival at Linkstation Hills Kumoya (Moya Hills)
  • Yunoshima Katakuri Festival

Related items

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Sources for this page

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  1. Normals for 1991–2020: Sendai (仙台), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  2. Normals for 1991–2020: Aomori (青森), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  3. Normals for 1991–2020: Morioka (盛岡), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  4. Normals for 1991–2020: Akita (秋田), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  5. Normals for 1991–2020: Yamagata (山形), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  6. Normals for 1991–2020: Fukushima (福島), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  7. Normals for 1991–2020: Aizu-Wakamatsu (若松), month by month (平年値 年・月ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  8. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Sendai (仙台) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  9. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Aomori (青森) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  10. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Morioka (盛岡) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  11. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Akita (秋田) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  12. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Yamagata (山形) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  13. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Fukushima (福島) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  14. Ten-day normals for 1991–2020: Aizu-Wakamatsu (若松) (平年値 旬ごとの値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  15. Records for March: Sendai (仙台) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  16. Records for March: Aomori (青森) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  17. Records for March: Morioka (盛岡) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  18. Records for March: Akita (秋田) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  19. Records for March: Yamagata (山形) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  20. Records for March: Fukushima (福島) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  21. Records for March: Aizu-Wakamatsu (若松) (観測史上1〜10位の値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  22. National holidays (国民の祝日について)Cabinet Office
  23. 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
  24. Plum blossom opening dates, 2025–2026 (うめの開花日)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
  25. Yearly records of flowering and leaf colour since 1953 (生物季節観測累年値)Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)