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Hakone, Japan · Alpine mountain climate

Hakone: best months for skiing or hiking

August (7.6/10) · March (1.2/10).

📅 Data updated: October 2026 🛰️ ERA5 · 10 years 📍 35.23°N · 139.01°E
⚡ Quick answer
May · Aug
Depends on your goals
7.6/10
⛷️ May
Top ski (4.4/10)
🥾 Aug
Top rando (7.6/10)
January
Transition
❄️ Alpine climate☀️ High-altitude UV🌦️ Changeable weather
Photo par erika m via Unsplash
Decide

When to visit Hakone?

The decision rests on several criteria. Climate score, tourist crowds and feasible activities.

Verdict: In Hakone, August and July clearly stand out. March concentrates the least favorable conditions.
Top & avoid
🏆 August · 7.6 July · 7.5 September · 7.3 May · 4.4 ⚠️ March · 1.2
4.1
Jan
4.0
Feb
1.2
Mar
4.1
Apr
4.4
May
4.4
Jun
7.5
Jul
7.6
Aug
7.3
Sep
4.2
Oct
4.1
Nov
4.1
Dec
Best period · ≥ 7 Decent period · 4 – 7 Tough conditions · < 4

What you grasp in 5 seconds

Hakone offers 3 comfortable months, with 1 months to avoid (March). The gap is sharp: 7.6 in August vs 1.2 in March.

What to check next

Your tolerance for crowds and budget. The best months concentrate tourist saturation and higher prices. Shoulder seasons offer a good compromise.

Next action

Scroll down to the detailed table to compare month by month, then open the page of the month that interests you.

How we calculate the score

For mountain destinations, we calculate two scores per month — skiing and hiking — and display the higher of the two.

⛷️Ski score DEC → MAY
  • 40% snow cover (slope T° corrected by lapse rate -3.6°F/1000ft)
  • 40% winter thermal comfort (23–41°F optimal)
  • 20% sunshine
  • Off-season penalty: ×0.70 adjacent months · ×0.35 outside season
🥾Hiking score JUN → SEP
  • 40% temperature (50–72°F optimal)
  • 40% rain (frequency + daily intensity)
  • 20% sunshine

Source : ERA5 · Open-Meteo · 10 years (2016–2025) · Full methodology →

Understand

Compare all 12 months

Month-by-month details: temperature, rain, sunshine, score and verdict.

✅ 3 comfortable months (Jul · Aug · Sep)
MonthT° minT° maxRain %mm/daySunScoreVerdict
🌥️ January →21°F37°F20%2.7mm6.2h4.1/10Decent period
🌥️ February →21°F39°F26%4.2mm5.9h4.0/10Decent period
🌧️ March →28°F45°F36%8.3mm5.8h1.2/10Tough conditions
🌥️ April →37°F54°F38%8.9mm6.1h4.1/10Decent period
🌥️ May →46°F61°F38%9.2mm6.1h4.4/10Decent period
🌥️ June →54°F66°F47%13.1mm4.9h4.4/10Decent period
☀️ July →61°F73°F44%11.5mm5.9h7.5/10Best period
☀️ August →64°F75°F41%8.1mm6.2h7.6/10Best period
⛅ September →57°F70°F45%10.0mm5.0h7.3/10Best period
🌥️ October →46°F59°F42%9.7mm4.8h4.2/10Decent period
🌥️ November →36°F50°F29%4.6mm5.5h4.1/10Decent period
🌥️ December →25°F41°F20%2.9mm5.8h4.1/10Decent period
📊 Quick read
Optimal window
Jul → Sep
Good transition
Jun · Oct
Tough period
Mar
🌡️ Detailed conditions (August)
🌡️ Feel
Comfortable
☀️ UV
6.9 · Moderate-Strong
💧 Humidity feel
64°F · Pleasant
☔ Rain
41% · 8.1 mm/day
🌅 Sunshine
6.2h/day
Week by week

Hakone week by week: your odds of avoiding rain

For each week of the year: in how many years out of 10 it was mostly dry (at most 2 rainy days), 2016 to 2025.

Safest week: Jan 1 to Jan 7, mostly dry in 10 years out of 10 (1.0 rainy day(s) on average).

Most exposed: Sep 17 to Sep 23, mostly dry in 1 years out of 10 (3.9 rainy days on average).

Number = years out of 10 with at most 2 rainy days in the week. Source: ERA5 reanalysis (ECMWF) via Open-Meteo, daily data 2016-2025. Rainy day = at least 1 mm, as everywhere on the site.
JanJan 110/1038°FJan 89/1037°FJan 159/1037°FJan 226/1036°FJan 297/1037°F
FebFeb 58/1036°FFeb 126/1040°FFeb 196/1040°FFeb 268/1042°F
MarMar 54/1044°FMar 125/1046°FMar 196/1046°FMar 264/1049°F
AprApr 26/1050°FApr 95/1051°FApr 163/1056°FApr 236/1055°FApr 307/1059°F
MayMay 73/1058°FMay 145/1061°FMay 216/1063°FMay 287/1062°F
JunJun 45/1064°FJun 112/1065°FJun 182/1067°FJun 253/1070°F
JulJul 23/1072°FJul 92/1071°FJul 165/1074°FJul 237/1075°FJul 306/1077°F
AugAug 63/1076°FAug 132/1074°FAug 203/1075°FAug 274/1073°F
SepSep 33/1071°FSep 104/1070°FSep 171/1067°FSep 247/1066°F
OctOct 14/1064°FOct 85/1061°FOct 153/1057°FOct 223/1056°FOct 298/1054°F
NovNov 55/1053°FNov 127/1051°FNov 196/1048°FNov 267/1047°F
DecDec 39/1044°FDec 106/1042°FDec 178/1040°FDec 2410/1040°F

A specific date? The app computes the same figure day by day.

10-year trend

Annual temperatures — Hakone

Min/max temperature curves observed over the past 10 years (ERA5). Shows climate stability and trend.

T° maxT° meanT° min36°39°43°46°50°54°57°61°201620172018201920202021202220232024202558°F — decade peak (2024)+1.90°F / decade
Tailor

For your trip

A few angles depending on what kind of trip you are planning.

⛷️ Ski: Dec → May🥾 Hiking: Jun → Sept🧗 High mountains: guide
Book

Plan your trip

Hotels at their lowest outside peak season, highest on comfortable months. Shoulder seasons offer a good price/climate compromise.

🎟️ Activities & tours · Hakone

GetYourGuide selection · free cancellation

See all →
Affiliate link · GetYourGuide
Practical info

What you need to know before you go

Three angles: the country (language, currency, safety, budget), the year-round climate, and the specifics of a mountain stay.

Country · Japan

🗣️LanguageJapanese
💶CurrencyYen japonais (¥)
🚗DrivingLeft-hand
🛡️Safety ⓘSafe · 2/5
💰Cost of living ⓘModerate · 3/5

🌡️ Climate

🌍Climate typeAlpine mountain climate
📈Climate trend ⓘStable
🔥Hottest monthAugust · 75°F
❄️Coolest monthJanuary · 37°F
🌧️Rainiest month ⓘJune · 47%

🏔️ Mountain stay

⛰️Village altitude131 ft
🎿Ski area—
⛷️Ski seasonDec → May
🥾Hiking seasonJun → Sep
🧗High mountains ⓘGuide recommended
Explore

Related destinations & guides

If this destination doesn't fit your dates, here are alternatives and guides.

Location

Where is Hakone ?

Global position + regional geographic context.

🌍 World
🔍 Geographic context
Alpine mountain climate climate with a 7.6 → 1.2 gap between best and worst month. 10 years of ERA5 data to choose by project.
35.23°N · 139.01°E
Questions

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Hakone?
It depends on the activity. For skiing: January (ski score 7.4/10). For hiking/suiner: January (7.4/10, 3.0°F).
Can you ski in Hakone in winter?
Yes, it's peak ski season. Average ski score December–February: 6.8/10. Cold temperatures (3°F max in January) and frequent snowfall.
Is it warm in Hakone in suiner?
In January, temperatures average 3.0°F. Ideal for hiking and outdoor activities.
What is the wettest month in Hakone?
March is the wettest month with March has the lowest climate score of the year.