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Kitakyushu sits on the north coast of Kyushu where the Kanmon Strait separates the island from Honshu. The city has a humid subtropical climate (Koppen Cfa): hot, sticky summers, mild winters with almost no snow, and roughly 1,800 mm of rain a year. Most of that rain falls in the June and July rainy season and again in September, when late-season typhoons sweep up from the East China Sea. Sea temperatures in the Kanmon Strait run from about 14 C in February to 27 C in late August. Use this page alongside the Kitakyushu city guide and the Kitakyushu neighborhoods guide to plan your dates.
Kitakyushu Weather by Month at a Glance
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain (mm) |
| January | 9 C (48 F) | 4 C (39 F) | 56 |
| February | 10 C (50 F) | 4 C (39 F) | 50 |
| March | 13 C (55 F) | 7 C (45 F) | 87 |
| April | 18 C (64 F) | 11 C (52 F) | 116 |
| May | 23 C (73 F) | 16 C (61 F) | 129 |
| June | 26 C (79 F) | 20 C (68 F) | 281 |
| July | 30 C (86 F) | 24 C (75 F) | 313 |
| August | 31 C (88 F) | 25 C (77 F) | 188 |
| September | 27 C (81 F) | 21 C (70 F) | 237 |
| October | 22 C (72 F) | 15 C (59 F) | 97 |
| November | 17 C (63 F) | 10 C (50 F) | 68 |
| December | 11 C (52 F) | 5 C (41 F) | 50 |
The numbers above are long-term averages. Expect days to run 3 to 5 degrees warmer than the average high in a heatwave, and a July afternoon can feel closer to 35 C once humidity climbs past 75 percent.
Spring Weather in Kitakyushu (March to May)
March starts cool and dry, with highs around 13 C and only 87 mm of rain, before April and May warm quickly. April highs hit 18 C and May reaches 23 C, which makes spring the most comfortable season for walking the castle grounds and Moji port. Rain picks up from 116 mm in April to 129 mm in May, usually as short showers rather than all-day rain. Cherry blossoms open around Kokura Castle in the last week of March, and the best time to visit Kitakyushu guide has the exact bloom window, and the Kitakyushu events and festivals page lists the spring flower dates.
Summer Weather in Kitakyushu (June to August)
Summer is hot, humid and wet. The tsuyu rainy season runs through June and into early July, and June is the wettest month of the year at 281 mm with rain on roughly half the days. July brings 313 mm and is the rainiest single month even as temperatures climb to a 30 C average high. August is the hottest month at 31 C with 188 mm of rain, and it is the peak of typhoon season. Carry a compact umbrella and plan air-conditioned indoor stops, as the Kitakyushu travel tips guide recommends for the worst of the heat.
Autumn Weather in Kitakyushu (September to November)
September stays warm at 27 C but is the second-rainiest month at 237 mm, most of it from typhoons that track across Kyushu between late August and early October. By October the rain drops sharply to 97 mm and highs fall to 22 C, giving clear, dry days that are ideal for the ropeway up Mount Sarakura, one of the top things to do in Kitakyushu. November cools to a 17 C high with only 68 mm, and the autumn foliage in the Hiraodai karst and Kawachi gardens peaks in mid to late November.
Winter Weather in Kitakyushu (December to February)
Winter is mild and mostly dry. January is the coldest month with a 9 C high and a 4 C low, and December and January each get only about 50 mm of rain, the driest stretch of the year. Snow is rare and usually melts the same day, but cold north winds off the Kanmon Strait make evenings feel a few degrees colder. Winter is also the cheapest season to visit, so pair this with the where to stay in Kitakyushu guide to find low-season hotel deals.
