Japan
Nagoya in May
🌿 Late springPleasant and often rainy.
🎒 Pack: compact umbrella or rain jacket
Why May scores 8.9What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort8.7
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (25°C highs / 15°C lows)
- ✓Slightly humid (dew point 14.3°C)
- !Wet: ~150 mm rain, ~5 heavy-rain days
- Air quality8.3
- ✓Moderate (PM2.5 ~16 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline9.0
- ·Normal precautions
| May | Apr | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.9 Excellent | 8.8 Excellent |
| Season | 🌿 Late spring | 🌸 Spring (cherry blossom) |
| High / low | 25° / 15° | 20° / 10° |
| Rain | 150 mm | 128 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 14° | dew pt 10° |
| PM2.5 | 16 µg/m³ | 19 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Nagoya weather-station normals. Rainfall: Nagoya weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsMay 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.
- Golden Week 1–5 May · 5 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Nature calendarBlossoms, leaves & seasons in Nagoya
- 2026 forecast: Korankei2026 forecastPeak from ~16 Nov 2026
Last year the peak began 17 Nov. JWA expects most of Japan to be on time or a little later than usual this year.
Source: Japan Weather Association (tenki.jp), forecast 14 Oct 2026
- Cherry blossom 2026 (what actually happened)2026 actualFirst blooms 17 Mar 2026, full bloom 30 Mar 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 ~2 Apr
Typical dates (1991–2020 normal). In 2021–2026 first blooms came between 17 Mar and 28 Mar (17 Mar in 2026). Blossoms last about a week after full bloom.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency
- Autumn leaves: Korankei (day trip)Typical datesUsually mid-Nov to late-Nov
Usual peak viewing window for this spot.
- Autumn leaves: Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical GardensTypical datesUsually late-Nov to early-Dec
Usual peak viewing window for this spot.
Explore NagoyaEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyJapan's fourth-largest city and centre of the Chūkyō industrial region, known for its castle, Atsuta Shrine, Toyota heritage and distinctive local food.
Golden WeekAcross Japan
Four national holidays in one week; the busiest domestic travel period.
Coming up later
Atsuta FestivalEvery year5 June every year
The shrine's most important festival, with martial arts displays, lanterns and evening fireworks.
Why go: The shrine and nearby stations are very crowded in the evening.
Where: Atsuta Shrine
Grand Sumo Nagoya TournamentDate variesUsually July, 15 days
One of the six annual professional sumo tournaments.
Why go: Tickets go on sale in advance and popular days sell out.
Where: Nagoya
Nagoya FestivalDate variesUsually mid-October, on a weekend
A city festival with a parade of the three unifiers of Japan and karakuri puppet floats.
Why go: Parade routes in the centre are crowded.
Where: Hisaya Ōdōri and central Nagoya
Nagoya Castle
A castle with golden shachihoko ornaments and the reconstructed Honmaru Palace.
💡 The main keep has been closed for rebuilding; check before visiting.
Atsuta Shrine
One of Japan's most important Shinto shrines, said to house the sacred Kusanagi sword.
Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
A museum in an old Toyota textile mill covering looms and car manufacturing.
SCMAGLEV and Railway Park
A JR Central railway museum with Shinkansen and maglev trains.
Ōsu and Ōsu Kannon
A shopping district of covered arcades, street food and second-hand shops around a Buddhist temple.
Tokugawa Art Museum
Treasures of the Owari Tokugawa family, including samurai armour and scrolls.
Hitsumabushi
Grilled eel over rice, eaten three ways: plain, with condiments, and with broth.
Miso katsu
Pork cutlet topped with a rich red miso sauce.
Tebasaki
Peppery, sweet-savoury fried chicken wings.
Kishimen
Flat, wide udon noodles in broth.
Ogura toast
Toast spread with sweet red bean paste and butter, a cafe breakfast staple.
💡 Kissaten coffee shops with morning sets
Uirō
A chewy steamed rice-flour sweet that is a classic Nagoya souvenir.
💡 Nagoya Station shops
Arimatsu shibori
Traditional tie-dyed cotton from the historic Arimatsu district.
Seto ware
Ceramics from nearby Seto, a pottery centre for centuries.