The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and mild winters (Köppen climate classification "Dfa"). The average annual temperature in Takayama is . The average annual rainfall is 1840 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around , and lowest in January, at around . It features four distinct seasons with a wide range of temperature between the summer and winter, somewhat resembling parts of northern Japan and Hokkaidō. Takayama is part of the with snowfall most days throughout the winter season. Takayama and many other places exposed to the Sea of Japan experience lake effect snow, generating some of the highest, most consistent snowfall in the world.