In August, Nagano Prefecture is crowded with tourists from home and abroad. In highland resort areas such as Hakuba, Shiga Kogen, Kamikochi, and Karuizawa, popular hotels and other facilities fill up early. In fact, in August, the temperature in Nagano Prefecture is cooler and more comfortable than in other areas of Honshu. However, from August to September, the Japanese archipelago is subject to typhoons. Heavy rainfall is possible, so please pay attention to the weather forecast.
Table of Contents
Overview of Nagano Prefecture’s climate (year-round)
NAGANO CIRCA AUGUST 11 2017. Hikers and climbers in Japan celebrate newly created national holiday Mountain Day by climbing Mount Shirouma in the Northern Alps near Hakuba = Shutterstock
In Nagano prefecture, there is a big difference in climate depending on the location such as mountainous areas and basins. So, first, let’s get an overview of the climate of Nagano prefecture throughout the year.
Mountainous areas are cold and snowy
In Nagano prefecture in the central region of Honshu, mountainous areas (Japanese Alps) with an altitude of 2,000 to 3,000 m are connected from north to south, and major cities such as Nagano City and Matsumoto City are located in the basin. Mountainous areas such as Hakuba, Kamikochi, and Shiga Kogen are cold and ideal as summer resorts, but in winter it is very cold and it snows a lot.
Basins have relatively little snow
On the other hand, in Nagano City, Matsumoto City, Suwa City, Iida City, etc., which are located in the basin, the maximum temperature is as high as in Tokyo during the daytime in summer, but it is cool in the morning and evening. It doesn’t snow as much as in the mountains in winter, but it’s colder than in Tokyo and Osaka.
Karuizawa does not get much snow in winter
Karuizawa, an hour away from Tokyo on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, is a popular highland resort area as a summer resort. However, Karuizawa has much less snow than Hakuba and Shiga Kogen. The entire area of Nagano has less rainfall than other areas such as Tokyo. The cherry blossoms bloom a little later than in Tokyo and after early April.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear in Nagano Prefecture in August?
In August, summer clothes are best in Nagano Prefecture. Even in highland resorts such as Kamikochi and Karuizawa, temperatures rise during the daytime. However, mornings and evenings are much colder than in Tokyo and Osaka, so be sure to remember to bring a light jacket. For more information on summer clothing, please refer to the article below.
Weather in Nagano Pref. in early August
Tourists in Chairlift at the kurumayama mountain in summer on Aug 9, 2015 in Nagano,Japan = Shutterstock
| Average temperature Highest temperature (Lowest temperature) |
Total precipitation (Total snowfall depth) |
|
| Nagano City | 26.2℃ (79.16°F) 32.2℃ (90.0°F) 22.1 ℃ (71.8°F) |
27.4 mm (1.08 inch) – |
| Matsumoto | 25.8℃ (78.4°F) 32.4℃ (90.3°F) 21.1 ℃ (70.0°F) |
30.0mm (1.18 inch) – |
| Hakuba | 23.4 ℃ (74.1°F) 29.6℃ (85.3°F) 19.0 ℃ (66.2°F) |
37.4 mm (1.47 inch) – |
| Karuizawa | 21.4 ℃ (70.5°F) 27.1℃ (80.8°F) 17.5 ℃ (63.5°F) |
36.5 mm (1.44 inch) – |
※ Source: All figures are the average for 30 years of 1991-2020 announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency
>> Click here for a [quick reference] converted from Celsius to Fahrenheit.
Weather in Nagano Pref. in mid-August
Lake Suwa Fireworks Festival on August 15th, Nagano, Japan = Shutterstock
Narai-Juku, Japan – August 12, 2017 : People wearing traditional Kimono and Yukata walking and enjoying the view of traditional houses at old historical village of Narai in Kiso Valley = Shutterstock
| Average temperature Highest temperature (Lowest temperature) |
Total precipitation (Total snowfall depth) |
|
| Nagano City | 25.6℃ (78.1°F) 31.3℃ (88.3°F) 21.7 ℃ (71.1°F) |
40.1 mm (1.58 inch) – |
| Matsumoto | 25.3℃ (77.5°F) 31.6℃ (88.9°F) 20.7 ℃ (69.3°F) |
27.2 mm (1.07 inch) – |
| Hakuba | 22.8 ℃ (73.0°F) 28.5℃ (83.3°F) 18.7 ℃ (65.7°F) |
66.2 mm (2.61 inch) – |
| Karuizawa | 21.0 ℃ (69.8°F) 26.3℃ (79.3°F) 17.3 ℃ (63.1°F) |
47.3 mm (1.86 inch) – |
※Source: All figures are the average for 30 years of 1991-2020 announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency
Weather in Nagano Pref. in late August
Nagano, Japan -August 27, 2019: Lover tourists in flower field at Hananomiyako flower park =Shutterstock
| Average temperature Highest temperature (Lowest temperature) |
Total precipitation (Total snowfall depth) |
|
| Nagano City | 24.4℃ (75.9°F) 30.1℃ (86.2°F) 20.7 ℃ (69.3°F) |
44.4 mm (1.75 inch) – |
| Matsumoto | 24.2 ℃ (75.6°F) 30.4℃ (86.7°F) 19.8 ℃ (67.6°F) |
38.9 mm (1.53 inch) – |
| Hakuba | 21.7 ℃ (71.1°F) 27.3℃ (81.1°F) 17.9 ℃ (64.2°F) |
74.2 mm (2.92 inch) – |
| Karuizawa | 20.1℃ (68.2°F) 25.3℃ (77.5°F) 16.4 ℃ (61.5°F) |
57.8 mm (2.28 inch) – |
※ Source: All figures are the average for 30 years of 1991-2020 announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency
Monthly weather in Nagano Pref.
Below are articles about the weather in Nagano Prefecture. Click on the month of interest to see articles about that month.
| January | February | March |
| April | May | June |
| July | August | September |
| October | November | December |
Weather in tourist destinations around Japan
Below are pages showing the climates of various regions in Japan at the same time of the year.
| Tokyo | Osaka | Kyoto |
| Hokkaido | Sendai | Nagano |
| Nagoya | Hiroshima | Fukuoka |
| Okinawa |
Now, let’s plan to make your vacation in Japan the best experience ever!
