Climate Insights for Matsushima

The climate in Matsushima is temperate. The average annual temperature is 13°C and approximately 1388mm of precipitation falls per year. Matsushima receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Matsushima is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: August, July, September. The coldest months are January, February, December, when temperatures can drop to 2°C. Light snow can occur between January and December.

Temperatures in Matsushima vary considerably across the year, with a 24°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. The warmest month is August, when average highs reach 26°C and the mean temperature sits around 25°C. January is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 2°C and an average of 4°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 4°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 6°C shift in average temperatures.

Matsushima is a fairly wet location, receiving approximately 1388mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 116mm per month. The wettest month is August, averaging 222mm of rainfall. October and July also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is February, with just 37mm. That's 185mm less than August, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic. Light snowfall can occur between January and December, totalling around 37cm annually. January is the snowiest month with approximately 18cm.

Matsushima is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 4km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is January, averaging 5km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in July, with average winds dropping to 3km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 2km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently summer in Matsushima, which began on June 21, 2026. Matsushima is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in August at around 26°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near 2°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 93 days from now.

The best time to visit Matsushima is during May, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 15°C with modest rainfall averaging 95mm per month. By contrast, August can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 26°C, while January is the coldest period with lows dropping to 2°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely — pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Matsushima based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.