Osaka Weather in May

Season: Spring
In short:
1. Osaka weather in May is perfectly warm for enjoying sightseeing.
2. In this month, the city seldom gets heavy rain, and rainy days total 8 averagely.
3. Osaka sees more tourists in Golden Week in early May, and the tour in the following days can be less crowded.

Cozy and Warm Temperature

The weather of Osaka in May is characterized by warm temperature, with the daily high mostly between about 18 to 25 degrees Celsius (64 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit). During the day, people generally feel quite comfortable when doing sightseeing. As summer approaches in late May, the highest temperature on some days can be 28°C (82°F), in which people feel a little hot around sunny noon.

As for daily low, it’s generally from around 15 to 20°C (59 to 68°F), so you will feel slightly cool after dawn. On occasion, the city experiences a decrease in temperature, when the low can be only 11°C (52°F) and thicker clothes are needed for outdoor activities.

You need to further note that the actual sensible temperature varies depending on where you are and how strong the wind is. For example, people who visit the Port of Osaka on windy days will feel obviously cooler than they do in the downtown area. Therefore, you’d better pay more attention to warm keeping in the port area, especially during the cooler early morning and evening and on windy days.

Moderate Rainfall, with Light Rain Dominating

Tsutenkaku Tower

In May, Osaka gets about 145 mm of precipitation on average, which is at a medium level throughout the year. In this month, the city averagely has 8 precipitation days. The historical statistics show that occasionally, the rain may fall continuously from one day into the next. However, concerning the intensity of rainfall, it’s generally low. In other words, even if you encounter rain during your trips, it is usually light and you can continue your plans for admiring the streetscape, enjoying authentic food, and exploring the port area with rain gear.

Long Enough Daytime & Occasionally Strong UV Radiation

Daytime of Osaka in May is long and expands day by day from about 13.5 hours to 14 hours and 20 minutes. In light of the warm climate and long daytime, you can visit attractions in both downtown and port areas of the city as many as possible, and gain various travel experiences. The long daytime accordingly makes the sunlight duration long, which is about 6 hours per day on average. On some sunny days this month, the sunshine may be quite intense with a maximum UV index of 9, so make sure to protect yourself from the sun, especially in the period from 12:00 to 14:00.

 See also: Japan Weather in May

Travel Clothing Suggestions in Osaka in May

Clothes: On cooler rainy days, it’s suggested to wear a sweatshirt and a thin jacket as tops, and sweatpants as bottoms. On sunny days, comfortable thin clothes are recommended, such as a long-sleeved shirt and casual pants. Plus, you may need an additional thin jacket for cooler dawn, dusk, and night. On windy days, pay attention to the windproof property of clothes, and consider replacing the thin jacket with a softshell jacket and putting on wind-resistant pants like jeans.

Shoes: Breathable sneakers / flats are suitable. Considering that there are some rainy days, better to choose waterproof and anti-slippery ones, or prepare waterproof shoe covers.

Requisites:
(1) Sun protection products such as high-SPF sunblock, a sun hat, sunglasses, and a sun-protective jacket are needed to prevent the harm of intense sunlight.
(2) You can pack a foldable parasol into your luggage to protect you on both rainy and sunny days.

Top Things to Do in Osaka in May

May is one of the best times to travel to Osaka since the weather is pleasant and less rainy most of the time. Based on this, various visiting activities can reward you with good experiences. For instance, you can:

1. Admire Tenshukaku of Must-go Osaka Castle

Given that the climate of Osaka in May is typically pleasant, it’s comfortable to enjoy outdoor sightseeing while wearing kimonos here. Besides, in the landmark Osaka Castle, the main keep Tenshukaku surrounded by a moat looks impressive under brilliant sunshine this month. In May with good visibility, you are also highly recommended to look down on the 8th floor of the keep to see the city surrounded by a vibrant scene of lush green trees.

Visit Osaka Castle on Sunny Day

Shi-Tennoji Buddhist Temple

2. Visit 1,800-year-old Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine

Another good place to visit on a warm and sunny day this month is the Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine with a millennium-long history and beautiful ancient buildings. You can find a perfect combination of colors in good weather: the vermilion bridge, the green pine branches, the grey torii gates, and the blue sky. Besides, it’s a quite famous spot for weddings in Osaka. So, you have a chance to see a traditional Japanese wedding during your visit.

3. Have a Night Tour in Bustling Dotonbori

This dynamic city is even more attractive after sunset with the assistance of colorful illumination. Since the weather is still comfortable when it gets dark, a night tour is quite worth a try. Fun ways to enjoy wonderful nightlife here include: (1) take Ebisu Tower Ferris Wheel with an oval track to admire the amazing night view; (2) take a sightseeing ship to cruise on the Dotonbori River; (3) taste Osaka delicacies of a wide variety that await you on both sides of the river.

Fantastic Night in Dotonbori

4. Explore the Port of Osaka

Balmy and rainless days are good times to visit the port area of Osaka. Once it’s sunny, a Saint Maria Cruise allows you to enjoy the fabulous inland sea scenery, and Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel provides you with a super-high perspective to enjoy views of both the sea and the city. Even if it’s cloudy or rainy, the nearby indoor Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is a wonderful place to view marine creatures.

Beautiful Statue in Port of Osaka

A Shoal of Fish in Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

Costs and Crowds in Osaka in May

From May 1 to 6 during the Golden Week of Japan, in addition to international tourists, numerous domestic visitors also make their tours here, making travel expenses high and attractions crowded during this period. If you have set your Osaka tour for these days, 2026, better to make bookings ahead of time. In the following days, both the prices of air tickets and hotel rooms and the number of tourists see decreases, so you are likely to gain a better travel experience and save travel costs.

Kuromon Market Street Scene

Osaka Weather by Month