The best times to visit Zao for ideal weather are

April 30th to July 8th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Zao Travel Info

Weather in Zao

Temperature

Average temperatures in Zao vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a chance of rain or snow throughout most of the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 21st percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Zao, the hottest months are August, July, and then September. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally early August where highs are regularly around 89.9°F (32.2°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 71.2°F (21.8°C) at night.

Zao Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Zao Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Zao Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Zao Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Zao Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 37.5 31.5 25.2
Feb 39.1 32 24.5
Mar 47.5 38.6 30
Apr 60.6 49.7 38.9
May 72.8 61.4 50.5
Jun 79.8 69.4 60
Jul 84.9 75.5 67.8
Aug 87.4 77.6 69.7
Sep 79.2 69.5 61.3
Oct 67.5 57.6 48.6
Nov 54.3 46 38
Dec 42.5 36.1 29.9

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 3.1 -0.3 -3.8
Feb 3.9 0 -4.2
Mar 8.6 3.7 -1.1
Apr 15.9 9.8 3.8
May 22.7 16.3 10.3
Jun 26.6 20.8 15.6
Jul 29.4 24.2 19.9
Aug 30.8 25.3 20.9
Sep 26.2 20.8 16.3
Oct 19.7 14.2 9.2
Nov 12.4 7.8 3.3
Dec 5.8 2.3 -1.2

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Zao are October, May, and then April. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early May. For example, on the week of April 30th there is 1 day of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in early to mid July with an average of 3 days of significant precipitation the week of July 9th.

When can you find snow in Zao? Weather stations report large amounts of snow likely to be deepest around February, especially close to early to mid February. The best time to ski (if at all) in Zao is often around around December 17th when fresh powder is deepest. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Zao.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Zao (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 30% 7.9 2.9
Feb 28% 11.9 2.8
Mar 28% 5.5 2.9
Apr 22% 0 2.5
May 19% 0 2.6
Jun 24% 0 4.3
Jul 35% 0 7
Aug 24% 0 4.5
Sep 26% 0 5.4
Oct 19% 0 3.8
Nov 29% 0 3.3
Dec 35% 5.3 4.7

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 30 20.1 7.4
Feb 28 30.2 7.1
Mar 28 14 7.4
Apr 22 0 6.4
May 19 0 6.6
Jun 24 0 10.9
Jul 35 0 17.8
Aug 24 0 11.4
Sep 26 0 13.7
Oct 19 0 9.7
Nov 29 0 8.4
Dec 35 13.5 11.9

 

Humidity and Wind

Zao has some very humid months, with other moderately humid months on the other side of the year. The least humid month is April (49.6% relative humidity), and the most humid month is December (74.7%).

Wind in Zao is usually extremely calm. The windiest month is May, followed by April and March. May’s average wind speed of around 4 knots (4.6 MPH or 7.4 KPH) is considered “a light breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early May where average top sustained speeds reach 9.6 knots, which is considered a gentle breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Zao.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 3.1 Barely noticeable 6.7 Light breeze
Feb 3 Barely noticeable 6.7 Light breeze
Mar 3.6 Barely noticeable 8.1 Light breeze
Apr 3.9 Barely noticeable 8.9 Gentle breeze
May 4 Light breeze 9.1 Light breeze
Jun 3.5 Barely noticeable 8.1 Gentle breeze
Jul 3.2 Barely noticeable 7.3 Light breeze
Aug 3.3 Barely noticeable 7.6 Gentle breeze
Sep 3.1 Barely noticeable 7.5 Light breeze
Oct 3 Barely noticeable 7.1 Gentle breeze
Nov 3.1 Barely noticeable 6.9 Light breeze
Dec 3.1 Barely noticeable 6.8 Light breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 73%
Feb 67.3%
Mar 59.7%
Apr 49.6%
May 50.6%
Jun 60.1%
Jul 68.5%
Aug 66.7%
Sep 67.5%
Oct 66.4%
Nov 70.4%
Dec 74.7%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Zao?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for Japan; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Nov 14, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Zao, Japan is January, followed by March and April. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Zao in December. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 73.3 in December means 73.3% of the tourists vs. January.

 

 

Overall Zao Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderately cold. Highs range from 75.6°F (24.2°C) and 42°F (5.6°C) with far warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 6 to 9 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see moderate precipitation with 7 to 11 days of precipitation per month. June – August is fairly slow season for tourism in Zao, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly less.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 83.4°F (28.6°C) and 48.9°F (9.4°C), which will feel comfortable given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 6 to 9 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is far too cold this time of year in Zao to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 45.8°F (7.7°C) and 36.2°F (2.3°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 8 to 11 times per month. These times of year are the second busiest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› Japan › Zao, Japan