Shizuoka Prefecture stretches along Japan's Pacific coast between Tokyo and Nagoya, framed by the southern slopes of Mount Fuji, the hot-spring resorts of the Izu Peninsula, and the deep waters of Suruga Bay. Home to Japan's largest green tea harvest, its top eel-producing city, and the closest classic views of Mount Fuji outside Yamanashi, Shizuoka pairs UNESCO World Heritage scenery with feudal-era castles and coastal onsen towns across 7,777 square kilometres of the Chubu region.
Shizuoka Prefecture has a mild, humid subtropical climate moderated by the Pacific coastline and the warm Kuroshio Current, making it noticeably warmer and less prone to winter cold than Tokyo. Coastal areas like Atami, Ito, and Shimoda rarely see frost, with mild winters (January highs around 10°C/50°F) and hot, humid summers (August highs around 29°C/84°F). Rainfall is concentrated in the June rainy season (tsuyu) and again during the August-October typhoon window, with September the wettest month. The higher elevations around Mt Fuji and Mt Amagi are significantly cooler year-round, and the Fuji summit holds snow well into early summer.
Best time to visit
Best: Year-round
Avoid: None
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
January
7°C/45°F
Mild, dry, and clear; the best month for unobstructed Mt Fuji views and the start of Kawazu's early cherry blossoms in late January
February
7°C/45°F
Still cool but clear; Kawazu-zakura cherry blossom festival in full bloom, excellent visibility for Fuji
March
10°C/50°F
Spring begins, warming quickly; tail end of Kawazu blossoms and start of the main citywide cherry blossom season late in the month
April
14°C/57°F
Mild and green; peak cherry blossom season nationwide, tea fields greening ahead of the spring harvest
May
18°C/64°F
Warm and pleasant; shincha (first tea harvest) season across the Makinohara and Fuji tea plateaus, comfortable for hiking and sightseeing
June
21°C/70°F
Rainy season (tsuyu); frequent showers and high humidity, though hydrangea season peaks at Kakegawa Kacho-en
July
24°C/75°F
Hot and increasingly dry after the rainy season ends; Mt Fuji climbing season begins, Izu beaches open for swimming, Atami's fireworks series starts
August
27°C/81°F
Hottest and most humid month; peak beach season on the Izu coast, frequent Atami fireworks festivals, but afternoon thunderstorms and rising typhoon risk
September
24°C/75°F
Still warm but the wettest month of the year with the highest typhoon risk; check forecasts closely before travel
October
19°C/66°F
Cooling and generally clearer, though typhoon risk persists into early October; excellent for coastal walking once storms pass
November
14°C/57°F
Crisp, clear, and dry; one of the best months for Mt Fuji visibility and autumn foliage in the Amagi mountains and Kawazu Nanadaru
December
9°C/48°F
Mild, dry, and clear on the coast; good visibility for Fuji, quiet onsen towns, and mild enough for comfortable sightseeing
The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
Spring
Months: Mar-May
Mild and increasingly warm (13-21°C), with the Kawazu cherry blossoms opening as early as late January-February and the main citywide cherry blossom season running late March-early April. Tea fields turn vivid green as the spring harvest (shincha) approaches in late April-May.
Summer
Months: Jun-Aug
Hot and humid (24-29°C) with the rainy season (tsuyu) through most of June before a hot, mostly dry July-August. Sea temperatures around Izu warm enough for swimming from July. Mt Fuji's official climbing season runs roughly early July to early September.
Fall
Months: Sep-Nov
September remains warm and is the wettest month with typhoon risk continuing into October; November brings crisp, clear, and often the best conditions of the year for viewing Mt Fuji, plus vivid autumn foliage in the Amagi mountains and Kawazu Nanadaru waterfalls.
Winter
Months: Dec-Feb
Mild on the coast (10-12°C highs, rarely near freezing) with the clearest, driest air of the year - this is the best season to see Mt Fuji's summit without summer haze or afternoon cloud buildup. Kawazu's early cherry blossoms begin blooming from late January.
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- High Season
- Late Mar-early Apr (cherry blossoms), Jul-Aug (Izu beaches and Mt Fuji climbing season), Golden Week (late Apr-early May)
- Shoulder Season
- May, Oct-Nov (comfortable weather, good Fuji visibility, moderate crowds)
- Low Season
- Dec-Feb aside from Kawazu cherry blossom weeks (mild, clear, lowest prices)
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.
Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival
Japan's earliest cherry blossom display, with hundreds of early-blooming Kawazu-zakura trees lining the Kawazu River in deep pink bloom weeks before Tokyo's blossoms
Shizuoka Matsuri (Shizuoka Festival)
Shizuoka City's biggest spring festival, centered on Sunpu Castle Park with parades, food stalls, and events celebrating the city's Tokugawa Ieyasu heritage
Kakegawa Kacho-en Hydrangea Season
The bird park's gardens fill with blooming hydrangeas (ajisai) through the rainy season, drawing visitors despite the wet weather
Atami Marine Fireworks Festival series
One of Japan's most frequent fireworks programs, with around a dozen separate shows through summer over Atami Bay, amplified by the natural amphitheater of the surrounding hills
Mt Fuji Official Climbing Season
The mountain huts, trail stations, and safety infrastructure on the Fujinomiya and Gotemba trails (both accessible from Shizuoka) operate only during this window
Kawazu Nanadaru Autumn Foliage
The seven waterfalls of the Kawazu Nanadaru gorge in the Amagi mountains are framed by peak autumn colors, one of the Izu Peninsula's best foliage walks