Ready-made plans

Custom planning is temporarily unavailable for this route. Ready-made plans are still available.

Best Time for The Japan Alps: Matsumoto to Kanazawa

Last updated: 2026-08-16

Preferred months for this journey: May, June, July, August, September, October. Check the seasonal notes before choosing your dates.

Kamikōchi's valley is open (closed by snow mid-Nov–mid-April); October sets the larches on fire.
Shirakawa-go under two metres of snow is the classic postcard — the valley road stays open, Kamikōchi does not.

Month	Low	High	Rain	Daylight
January	−6.6°C	−0.2°C	137 mm	9.8 h	❄
February	−6.5°C	1.1°C	98 mm	10.6 h	❄
March	−3.2°C	5.4°C	117 mm	11.7 h	❄
April	1.9°C	12.4°C	115 mm	12.9 h	❄
May	7.9°C	18.4°C	117 mm	13.9 h
June	13.0°C	22.0°C	152 mm	14.5 h
July	17.5°C	25.3°C	228 mm	14.2 h
August	18.3°C	26.2°C	163 mm	13.4 h
September	14.2°C	22.3°C	189 mm	12.2 h
October	7.7°C	16.2°C	160 mm	11.1 h
November	1.8°C	9.7°C	127 mm	10.0 h	❄
December	−3.4°C	3.0°C	161 mm	9.5 h	❄