Japan
Matsuyama in January
❄️ WinterCool and some showers.
🎒 Pack: warm jacket for evenings
Why January scores 8.5What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.7
- !Cool (10°C highs / 3°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 2.4°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~51 mm rain)
- Air quality8.8
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~12 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline9.0
- ·Normal precautions
| Jan | May | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.5 Excellent | 9.1 Excellent |
| Season | ❄️ Winter | 🌿 Late spring |
| High / low | 10° / 3° | 24° / 15° |
| Rain | 51 mm | 130 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 2° | dew pt 14° |
| PM2.5 | 12 µg/m³ | 13 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Matsuyama weather-station normals. Rainfall: Matsuyama weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsJanuary 2027
Holiday weekA long local holiday falls this month. Expect crowds at sights, fuller trains and flights, and higher hotel prices on those dates. Book ahead.
- New Year 1–3 Jan · 3 days off in a row
- Coming of Age Day 9–11 Jan · 3 days off in a row
- Year-end & New Year break 29 Dec – 3 Jan
Most businesses and some attractions close; trains and flights are busy around the start and end. Source: Japan National Tourism Organization
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Nature calendarBlossoms, leaves & seasons in Matsuyama
- Cherry blossom 2026 (what actually happened)2026 actualFirst blooms 24 Mar 2026, full bloom 4 Apr 2026
Observed by JMA at the city's official sample tree. The 2027 forecast isn't out yet: Japanese weather companies such as the Japan Weather Association usually publish the first one in January, and we add it then.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency
- Cherry blossomTypical datesFirst blooms ~24 Mar, full bloom ~3 Apr
Typical dates (1991–2020 normal). In 2021–2026 first blooms came between 15 Mar and 27 Mar (24 Mar in 2026). Blossoms last about a week after full bloom.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency
- Autumn leaves: Matsuyama CastleTypical datesUsually late-Nov to early-Dec
Usual peak viewing window for this spot.
Explore MatsuyamaEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyMatsuyama is the largest city in Shikoku, known for Dōgo Onsen, one of Japan's oldest hot springs, its hilltop castle and Ehime citrus.
New Year (Hatsumōde)Across Japan
Shrine visits, temple bells and traditional foods to start the year.
Chinese New YearAcross Japan
Lunar celebrations in Yokohama Chinatown and Nagasaki.
Coming up later
Matsuyama Castle cherry blossomsDate variesUsually late March to early April
Cherry trees bloom around the castle hill.
Why go: Popular for hanami picnics; peak timing varies with the weather.
Where: Matsuyama Castle grounds
Matsuyama Autumn FestivalDate variesUsually 5-7 October
Portable shrines are clashed together in the Dōgo area in a lively shrine festival.
Why go: The mikoshi clashes are crowded and boisterous; keep a safe distance.
Where: Dōgo and around the city
Dōgo Onsen Honkan
A historic wooden public bathhouse at the centre of the Dōgo hot spring district.
Matsuyama Castle
One of Japan's twelve original castle keeps, on a hill reached by ropeway or chairlift.
Ishite-ji
Temple 51 of the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage, near Dōgo Onsen.
Botchan Karakuri Clock
A mechanical clock at Dōgo station with figures from Natsume Sōseki's novel Botchan.
Botchan Ressha
A replica steam-style tram that runs on parts of the city tram network.
Shiki Memorial Museum
A museum about haiku poet Masaoka Shiki, a Matsuyama native.
Tai-meshi
Rice cooked or served with sea bream, an Ehime specialty.
💡 Japanese restaurants in the city and Dōgo
Matsuyama nabeyaki udon
Sweet-broth udon served in an aluminium pot.
💡 Local udon shops
Jakoten
Fried fish cake made from small whole fish, from southern Ehime.
💡 Shops in Dōgo and Matsuyama station
Mikan
Ehime mandarins, eaten fresh and as juice.
💡 Markets and juice stands
Botchan dango
Three-coloured skewered sweets named after the novel Botchan.
💡 Dōgo shopping arcade
Taruto
Sponge roll filled with yuzu-flavoured bean paste, a Matsuyama classic.
💡 Confectioners and Matsuyama station
Mikan juice and citrus goods
Ehime citrus juices, jams and sweets.
💡 Dōgo shopping arcade and stations
Tobe-yaki
Thick white porcelain with blue designs from nearby Tobe.
💡 Craft shops and Tobe kilns
Airport transfer Kiwitaxi
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