Month by month
| Month | Afternoon | Sea | Rain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5.5 °C | 13 °C | 26 days | Unfavourable season |
| February | 6.2 °C | 11.4 °C | 21 days | Unfavourable season |
| March | 10.6 °C | 10.7 °C | 17 days | Unfavourable season |
| April | 15.8 °C | 12 °C | 15 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| May | 21.1 °C | 15.8 °C | 13 days | Pleasant — a good time to go |
| June | 24.1 °C | 20.3 °C | 13 days | Pleasant — a good time to go |
| July | 28.1 °C | 24.7 °C | 17 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| August | 29.8 °C | 27.7 °C | 16 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| September | 26.1 °C | 25.9 °C | 17 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| October | 20.1 °C | 22.3 °C | 17 days | Possible, with trade-offs |
| November | 14.8 °C | 18.9 °C | 19 days | Unfavourable season |
| December | 8.9 °C | 15.9 °C | 25 days | Unfavourable season |
Nearby in May
Before you go
Three things to check once you have picked your dates.
Entry
Visa issued on arrival for stays of up to 90 days. Passport valid until your return date. A 'visa on arrival' stamp is issued for up to 90 days with no advance application; a blank page is needed for the stamp; 90-day extension possible.
For a British passport, per the UK Foreign Office on 28 August 2026. Rules change: check before booking.
Safety
No specific restrictions
Usual precautions apply.
Official advice updated 28 August 2026
Health
Vaccines · hepatitis B if you are not already vaccinated; hepatitis A and Japanese encephalitis depending on activities and areas visited. Routine vaccines up to date (measles in particular).
Yellow fever · No yellow fever locally, vaccine not recommended. No entry requirement.
Malaria · None.
Per the CDC (page reviewed 25 August 2026); see a travel clinic a few weeks before departure.
Beau Fixe is not a safety or health authority. These notes summarise dated public texts and link to their source: France Diplomatie (Licence Ouverte 2.0), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gov.uk, Open Government Licence v3.0), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). Only the competent authorities are authoritative.
FAQ
Can you swim in Jōetsu in May?
The sea averages 15.8°C in May — too cold for most swimmers.
How hot is Jōetsu in May?
Expect 21.1°C in the afternoon and 12°C at night, averaged over the last 10 years.
Does it rain a lot in Jōetsu in May?
Around 13 days with rain (≥ 1 mm) in the month — 42% of days.