When to go to Kuma Kogen & Omogo Gorge
Seasons, a month-by-month table, local festivals and when Kuma Kogen & Omogo Gorge is busiest.
The highlands have a mountain climate: cool summers, cold winters with snow, and a lot of rain in June, July and September. The table below is for Kuma Kogen town at about 500 metres; the karst is colder still.
Spring
Late to arrive — cherry blossom in mid-April, fresh green in May, and the karst road reopening around the end of March or April.
Summer
The best escape from lowland heat, with highs in the upper 20s. Cattle are out on the karst and children paddle in the gorge; expect afternoon showers.
Autumn
The headline season. Colour reaches the karst and upper gorge in mid-October and Omogo and Furuiwaya from late October to mid-November.
Winter
Snow, ice and closed mountain roads. The town and its temples remain reachable and very quiet; there is small-scale skiing.
Kuma Kogen & Omogo Gorge month by month
| Month | High / low | Rain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6° / −3° | 70 mm | ★★★ Fair |
| February | 7° / −3° | 90 mm | ★★★ Fair |
| March | 11° / 0° | 140 mm | ★★★ Fair |
| April | 17° / 5° | 150 mm | ★★★ Good |
| May | 22° / 10° | 190 mm | ★★★ Best |
| June | 24° / 16° | 310 mm | ★★★ Good |
| July | 28° / 20° | 330 mm | ★★★ Best |
| August | 29° / 20° | 230 mm | ★★★ Best |
| September | 25° / 17° | 290 mm | ★★★ Good |
| October | 20° / 10° | 140 mm | ★★★ Best |
| November | 14° / 4° | 90 mm | ★★★ Best |
| December | 8° / −1° | 70 mm | ★★★ Fair |
Temperatures (°C) and rainfall are rounded long-term averages for this part of the prefecture, for orientation only — check a forecast before you travel.
Festivals & events in Kuma Kogen & Omogo Gorge
- May – OctoberGrazing season on the Shikoku Karst
Cattle are turned out on the high pastures, the classic summer image of the plateau.
- July – AugustRiver season at Omogo
Paddling, picnics and cool air in the gorge during the hottest weeks of the year.
- Late Oct – mid NovAutumn colours
Omogo Gorge, Furuiwaya and the temple approaches are at their best; weekends are busy.
Crowds & booking ahead
The only real congestion is on autumn-colour weekends, when Omogo’s car parks fill by mid-morning, and on the karst in the August holidays. On weekdays you will often have the trails to yourself.
Ready for Kuma Kogen & Omogo Gorge?
Lock in a guide, a tasting or a day trip for Kuma Kogen & Omogo Gorge now — most GetYourGuide bookings can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before.