Shiga, Japan
Otsu
Otsu is a city in Shiga, Japan. It has a population of about 342,607 (2021). The climate is classified as humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa), with rain spread through the year and no real dry season.
Now20°C
Best timeApr–May · Oct
Population342,607
Local time10:25
35.00° N, 135.87° EElevation 131 mUTC+9 · Japan Standard Time
Postal codes520-0023, 520-0024 …October: high / low21° / 13°
Rain this month141mm
Best timeApr–May · Oct
Best: Apr–May · Oct. Warmth, sunshine and dry days, month by month.
Otsu at a glance
Sunrise · sunset06:10 · 17:1311 h 02 min of daylightThe moon tonightWaxing gibbous94% · Moonrise 15:49Next holiday3 NovemberCulture DayNext eclipse21 Feb 2027Penumbral lunar eclipse
Best time to visitApr–May · Oct
The months with the highest weather score
Warmest month31°C
Average high in August
Coolest month-1°C
Average low in January
Wettest monthJuly
234 mm of rain
Driest monthDecember
71 mm of rain
Monuments nearby10+
4 of them World Heritage
How Otsu has grown
People living in the built-up area (178 km² today), every five years since 1975; 2030 is the projection.
+17%505k in 1975 → 590k in 2025Weather in Otsu
Now and the next ten days. The 14 and 30-day outlooks are one click away.
20°C
Today hour by hourRain · wind 10 km/h · humidity 92%
Today24 Oct22°18°20 mm
Sun25 Oct22°20°22 mm
Mon26 Oct21°20°71.1 mm
Tue27 Oct22°16°1.5 mm
Wed28 Oct16°11°0.5 mm
Thu29 Oct17°7°
Fri30 Oct22°14°
Sat31 Oct21°14°0.5 mm
Sun1 Nov18°11°
Mon2 Nov16°11°1 mm
When to go to Otsu
Each month's weather score (warmth, sun, dry days) with its temperatures and rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 24 | 23 | 31 | 63 | 62 | 53 | 42 | 39 | 55 | 68 | 55 | 25 |
| High | 7° | 8° | 12° | 18° | 22° | 26° | 29° | 31° | 27° | 21° | 15° | 10° |
| Low | -1° | 0° | 3° | 8° | 13° | 17° | 22° | 23° | 19° | 13° | 7° | 2° |
| Rain (mm) | 78 | 91 | 134 | 131 | 181 | 237 | 234 | 134 | 196 | 141 | 90 | 71 |
| Wet days | 18 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 20 |
What's on in Otsu
Concerts, football matches, the public holidays ahead and the town's festivals through the year.
Music venues
滋賀県立芸術劇場 びわ湖ホール〒520-0806 滋賀県大津市打出浜15-1 · 1.2 km
18 showsOtsu's festivals through the year
Monuments and museums in Otsu
2 km
Mii-dera TempleBuilt 686
1.6 km
Lake Biwa Canal
1.5 km
Mio ShrineBuilt 859
2 km
Enman-in TempleBuilt 987
1.3 km
Gichū-ji Temple
UNESCO7.5 km
Kiyomizu-deraBuilt 778
Museum1.1 km
Museum of Shiga Prefecture Biwako-BunkakanBuilt 1961
Museum1.2 km
Setsuko Mitsuhashi Memorial MuseumMore museums: Garden Museum Hiei · 一燈園資料館「香倉院」 · 京の田舎民具資料館 · 公人屋敷（旧岡本邸） · 坂本民俗資料館 · 大津曳山展示館 · 大津百町館 · 数寄和ギャラリー · 文化財収蔵庫 · 木下美術館 · 水のめぐみ館 アクア琵琶 · 渡来人歴史館
Outdoors around Otsu
Hiking routes from the town, and what there is to do within 15 km: huts, viewpoints, climbing, camping, ski areas and dive sites.
TOEI Kyoto Studio ParkTheme parks
2.8 kmKyoto City ZooZoos
3.1 kmKyoto TowerViewpoints
3.8 kmKyoto AquariumAquariums
3.8 kmKyoto Golf Club Funayama CourseGolf courses
5 km大津CCGolf courses
5.3 kmびわ湖バレイ スキー場Ski area · 6 km of pistes · 7 lifts
24 km朽木スキー場Ski area · 1 km of pistes · 2 lifts
37 kmダイビングプロショップエリートDive site
13 kmNature around Otsu
Wildlife in October
The birds and mammals of Japan seen most this month, compared with the rest of their year.
The sky over Otsu
Earthquakes around Otsu
The last 30 days within 300 km, and the record since 1950.
Last 30 days0magnitude 2.5+ within 300 kmSince 195058magnitude 5+ within 150 kmSignificant earthquakes on record84within 300 km
Strongest nearby since 1950
6.9Akashi 8 km ↓1995 · 90 km
6.8Katsuyama 19 km →1961 · 143 km
6.3Gero 14 km ←1969 · 142 km
6.3Mihama 21 km ↖1963 · 88 km
Tropical storms · Otsu
C4Typhoon Lan (2023)89 km · 83 km/hC5Typhoon Trami (2018)79 km · 130 km/hC5Typhoon Jebi (2018)61 km · 148 km/hC2Typhoon Jongdari (2018)34 km · 111 km/hC4Typhoon Noru (2017)45 km · 102 km/hC4Typhoon Malakas (2016)81 km · 102 km/hC5Typhoon Vongfong (2014)56 km · 74 km/hC4Typhoon Meari (2004)47 km · 102 km/hC5Typhoon Dianmu (2004)75 km · 93 km/hC3Typhoon Etau (2003)73 km · 120 km/hTSTropical Storm Waldo (1998)52 km · 65 km/hC2Typhoon Vicki (1998)21 km · 167 km/hC1Typhoon Peter (1997)82 km · 83 km/hC5Typhoon Eve (1996)12 km · 65 km/hC4Typhoon Orchid (1994)89 km · 148 km/hTSTropical Storm Zola (1993)74 km · 74 km/hTSTropical Storm Roger (1989)27 km · 74 km/hTSTropical Storm of 13 August 1988 (1988)76 km · 65 km/h
Universities and research institutes
Shiga Junior CollegeUniversity or college · founded 1970
Shiga Prefectural Education CenterUniversity or college · founded 1971
Shiga University of Medical ScienceUniversity or college · founded 1974
Shiga Prefectural Higashi Otsu High SchoolUniversity or college · founded 1975
Seian University of Art and DesignUniversity or college · founded 1993
びわこ成蹊スポーツ大学University or college · founded 2003
Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto UniversityResearch institute · founded 1991
Lake Biwa Environmental Research InstituteResearch institute · founded 2005
Towns and villages around Otsu
Each with its own page: weather, climate and the best time to visit.
Tsurunosato1 kmAkibadai1.7 kmZeze2 kmFujimidai2.6 kmHonmaruchō2.6 kmKitaōji3.9 kmAwazuchō4 kmKokubu4.4 kmŌe4.5 kmSeta4.8 kmŌgaya4.9 kmShimo-sakamoto5.8 kmŌhira5.8 kmIshiyamadera5.9 kmNangō7.3 kmInazu7.5 kmSakamoto7.9 kmShibahara8.7 kmEda9.1 kmHaguri9.2 kmNakano9.3 kmSekinotsu9.3 kmSato9.5 kmHirano9.6 kmShinme9.6 kmIshiyama-sotohatachō10 kmKamitanakami-makichō10 kmŌishi-sotsuka11 kmŌishi-higashi11 kmKiryū11 kmŌishi-ryūmon12 kmOgi12 kmŌishi-tomikawa13 kmŌishi-odawara13 kmKatada14 km
Otsu from above
Around Otsu40 places to see, do and reach nearby
Takase River, KyotoNature8.9 kmTakano RiverNature9.2 kmShirakawa River, KyotoNature7.3 kmDaido RiverNature8.6 kmKusatsu RiverNature5.1 kmOtowa FallNature7.4 kmYabase Kihan IslandNature4.4 kmMount BunagatakeMountain28 kmMount HōraiMountain23 kmMount DomanMountain27 kmMount MinakoMountain23 kmMount Mikuni, FukuiMountain36 kmMount AtagoMountain22 kmびわ湖バレイ スキー場Ski area24 km朽木スキー場Ski area37 kmDive siteDive site13 kmMii-dera TempleMonument1.9 kmLake Biwa CanalMonument1.6 kmMio ShrineMonument1.5 kmEnman-in TempleMonument2.0 kmGichū-ji TempleMonument1.3 kmKiyomizu-deraMonument7.5 kmKyoto PrefectureMonument10 kmKinkaku-ji TempleMonument13 kmMuseum of Shiga Prefecture Biwako-BunkakanMuseum1.1 kmSetsuko Mitsuhashi Memorial MuseumMuseum1.2 kmOtsu City Museum of HistoryMuseum2.1 kmŌtsu City Science MuseumMuseum2.5 kmClock Museum and Treasure House, Ōmi JingūMuseum3.8 kmStationStation0.4 kmStationStation0.9 kmStationStation1.0 kmOtsu · ferry portFerry port1.6 kmOtsu · ferry portFerry port3.7 kmArashiyamaPlace17 kmKyotoPlace11 kmKusatsuPlace9.3 kmYawataPlace21 kmShimamotoPlace23 kmMoriyamaPlace13 km
Postal codes
520-0023520-0024520-0025520-0026520-0027520-0031520-0032520-0033520-0034520-0035520-0037520-0041520-0042520-0043520-0044520-0045520-0046520-0047520-0051520-0052520-0053520-0054520-0055520-0056520-0057520-0061520-0062520-0804520-0805520-0806520-0807
Getting to Otsu
Osaka Itami International AirportITM
46 kmKobe AirportUKB
72 kmKansai International AirportKIX
85 km大津Railway station
0.4 km島ノ関Railway station
0.9 km石場Railway station
1 km三井寺山科
1.6 km山科三井寺 · 蹴上
3.7 kmPlaces near Otsu
Places with a climate like Otsu
Matched month by month on temperature, rain and sunshine.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Otsu?
Based on 30-year climate normals, April, May and October offer the best balance of comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and sunshine in Otsu.
What is the hottest month in Otsu?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 31°C and lows of 23°C.
What is the coldest month in Otsu?
January is the coldest month, with average highs of 7°C and lows of -1°C.
What is the rainiest month in Otsu?
July is the wettest month with about 234 mm of precipitation on 21 wet days.
What is the postal code of Otsu?
Otsu has 31 postal codes: 520-0023, 520-0024, 520-0025, 520-0026, 520-0027, 520-0031, 520-0032, 520-0033, 520-0034, 520-0035, 520-0037, 520-0041 ….