Kanazawa records about 2399mm of rain across roughly 148 wet days a year, which is a 41% chance on an average day. December is the wettest month at 262mm (11% of the annual total) and April the driest at 132mm. Local rain type: snow mix. Kanazawa — the "Little Kyoto" — is one of Japan's wettest cities. The famous Kenroku-en Garden was designed to be beautiful in rain and snow.
Chance of rain on an average day: 41%
Rainfall climatology for Kanazawa. The live hour-by-hour answer for today loads at the top of this page from Open-Meteo and refreshes through the day — the figures below describe a typical year, not today.
Last updated: · Live forecast data refreshes hourly.
| Annual rainfall | 2399mm |
| Rain days per year | 148 |
| Odds on an average day | 41% |
| Wettest month | December — 262mm over 17 days |
| Driest month | April — 132mm over 9 days |
| Rain type | snow mix |
| Best dry window | May and June offer the relatively driest conditions. |
| Worst rain window | November through January brings heavy snow from the Sea of Japan. |
December delivers 98% more rain than April (262mm vs 132mm). That gap is the difference between planning around showers and ignoring them.
No single month holds more than 11% of the annual total, so rain in Kanazawa is spread through the year — there is no season you can rely on being dry.
Kanazawa rain typically comes as discrete showers, so a compact umbrella and a flexible plan are usually enough.
Rain falls on about 17 days in December against 9 in April — the frequency swing matters more for planning than the millimetre totals.
Climate normals. Use them to judge whether today's live forecast at the top of the page is typical or unusual for the season.
| Month | Rainfall | Rain days | Chance on a given day | Highs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 262mm | 17 | 57% | 7°C |
| February | 165mm | 11 | 37% | 7°C |
| March | 148mm | 10 | 33% | 10°C |
| April | 132mm | 9 | 30% | 16°C |
| May | 132mm | 9 | 30% | 21°C |
| June | 175mm | 12 | 40% | 27°C |
| July | 202mm | 13 | 43% | 30°C |
| August | 140mm | 9 | 30% | 30°C |
| September | 218mm | 14 | 47% | 27°C |
| October | 175mm | 12 | 40% | 21°C |
| November | 232mm | 15 | 50% | 16°C |
| December | 262mm | 17 | 57% | 10°C |
Rain probability is the chance that at least 0.2mm falls at your location — not how long it rains. For Kanazawa we combine the hourly probability curve, expected volume in millimetres, and the city's own rainfall record into a single umbrella verdict.
| Factor | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly probability | 40% | Peak and sustained chance of measurable rain across the next 24 hours. |
| Expected volume | 30% | Total millimetres, which separates a passing shower from a genuine soaking. |
| Timing & duration | 20% | When rain starts, when it eases, and the longest continuous dry window. |
| Local rain type | 10% | Drizzle, brief showers, thunderstorms or monsoon — each needs different gear. |
Live hourly values come from Open-Meteo and refresh through the day. Monthly rainfall figures are climate normals, so they describe a typical year rather than a forecast.
Kanazawa records rain on roughly 148 days a year — about a 41% chance on any given day — totalling around 2399mm.
December, with about 262mm over 17 rain days. That is 11% of the entire year's rainfall in a single month.
April is the driest month at 132mm across roughly 9 days. May and June offer the relatively driest conditions.
Kanazawa — the "Little Kyoto" — is one of Japan's wettest cities. The famous Kenroku-en Garden was designed to be beautiful in rain and snow.
No. Probability is the chance that at least 0.2mm of rain falls at your location at some point in the period. Check the expected millimetres alongside it: 40% with 0.4mm is a passing shower, 40% with 12mm is a soaking.