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Shizuoka is a four-season destination where the sweet spot for most travelers runs from mid-March to mid-May and again from October to November. You get daytime highs of 15 to 23°C (59 to 73°F), low rainfall outside the rainy season, and the best odds of a clear Mount Fuji view. The months to avoid are June (the tsuyu rains) and September (typhoon season). Use this best time to visit Shizuoka guide to match your trip to the weather, prices, and crowds.
Best Time to Visit Shizuoka for Weather: March to May and October to November
April, May, October and November are the best weather months. April and May average 14.5 to 18.5°C (58 to 65°F) with about 222 to 228 mm of rain but long sunny stretches. October and November cool to 13 to 18.5°C (55 to 65°F) with only 135 to 213 mm of rain and crisp, clear skies. Mount Fuji is most reliably visible from late autumn through winter, when dry air clears the haze. See the Shizuoka weather by month breakdown for the full numbers.
Best Time to Visit Shizuoka for Cherry Blossoms: Late March to Early April
Cherry blossoms in Shizuoka city reach full bloom around the last week of March and last into the first week of April, a few days ahead of Tokyo. The two prime viewing spots are Sunpu Castle Park, which has about 60 varieties of cherry trees, and the approach to Shizuoka Sengen Shrine. The Shizuoka Matsuri festival is held on the first weekend of April to coincide with the bloom. Book hotels two to three months ahead for this window, since it is the city’s busiest stretch.
Best Time to Visit Shizuoka for Low Prices: January and February
January and February are the cheapest months. Domestic tourism drops after the New Year holiday and hotel rates in Shizuoka neighborhoods fall 20 to 30 percent from spring peaks. You trade warm weather for empty shrines and clear Mount Fuji views: January averages 6.3°C (43°F) and snow is rare in the city center. Winter is also strawberry season, when the greenhouses around the city offer all-you-can-eat picking from late December through May.
Best Time to Visit Shizuoka to Avoid Crowds: Weekdays and Winter
Shizuoka never gets as crowded as Kyoto or Tokyo, but weekends bring day-trippers to Nihondaira and the ropeway, with queue times of 20 to 30 minutes on Sunday afternoons. Visit on weekday mornings for near-empty viewpoints. February weekdays are the quietest overall. The shoulder seasons of mid-May and mid-October also see light crowds with good weather.
Best Time to Visit Shizuoka: Months to Avoid (June and September)
Avoid June if you can: it is the wettest month at about 283 mm with rain on roughly 18 days during the tsuyu rainy season, and humidity hovers near 80 percent. September is the second-wettest month at 246 mm and sits in peak typhoon season, when Pacific storms can shut down the Shinkansen and flights at Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport for a day at a time. August is hot and humid (highs of 31°C / 88°F) but workable if you stick to indoor sights and early mornings.
Best Time to Visit Shizuoka for Tea and Strawberries: May and December to March
If you come for green tea, aim for late April to early May, when the first-flush (shincha) harvest turns the Makinohara plateau a bright green and tea ceremonies and picking sessions are in full swing. Strawberry picking runs from late December through May, peaking January to March. Both pair well with the things to do in Shizuoka list and the food stalls at Shimizu Port, which is busy with tuna landings year-round.
For seasonal events, check the Shizuoka events and festivals calendar, and for where to base yourself, see where to stay in Shizuoka.
For arrival logistics and costs, read the Shizuoka travel tips page, and return to the Shizuoka travel guide for the full overview.
