Climate and best seasons to visit Japan. Actual weather forecast

Due to the fact that Japan extends from north to south, the climatic conditions on the various islands differ very much from each other. Therefore, a quite harsh climate prevails in Hokkaido. In winter, the air temperature here drops to -20°C. On the other hand, the temperature reaches 30°C in summer. Honshu and Shikoku are dominated by a milder climate due to subtropical latitudes. It is quite warm here during the winter; the air temperature is about 5-7°C during the day. The humidity of the air is very high, in some cases reaching 100 in the warm season.

The monsoon type of climate prevails in the Ryukyu and Okinawa islands, hence the weather conditions mostly depends on the movement of the air masses. Winter here is also warm while summer is hot. With the arrival of winter, the temperature in all regions that are located on the Pacific coast significantly reduces but rarely falls below zero. In Northern Japan, snowy weather begins in the first days of December and lasts almost all winter, whereas precipitation is low in central Japan. In the southern part of Japan, there is no snow at all during winter. Spring in Japan is characterized by sunny and relatively warm weather. Air temperature virtually throughout the country already reaches 10°C. In April, the legendary cherry blossoms and apricot trees start to bloom, filling the air with fragrances. At the end of May, the air temperature in the warmest regions of the country can warm up to 30°C.

Summer in most of Japan begins in June but is characterized by frequent and abundant rains. June is usually called the rainy season; the rains may not end for weeks. At the same time, coastal areas are struck by typhoons. Quite often during this period, the country is affected by natural disasters. Humidity rises significantly and the air temperature exceeds 30°C. In July, the precipitation becomes lower and humidity drops to 90%. From the end of August, the temperature begins to drop. In September, the air temperature can still reach 30°C, but in mid-October the average temperature is 13°C. Precipitation in autumn is quite rare. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Japan is quite a popular destination when we speak about tourism. Tourists most often come here for the cherry blossom season. This period in the country is called Hanami. Due to the territorial extension of the country, it is possible to witness the flowering of these incredibly beautiful trees for several months. On the island of Okinawa, the trees begin to blossom at the end of February. In other large islands of Japan, the cherry blossom season starts from the beginning of March to the end of May. From this we can conclude that the best time for “flower viewing” is in spring. In addition, the air temperature at this time of year is comfortable enough and sunny clear days prevail.

The onset of summer is not the best time to visit the country, as the rainy season is only just starting on the territory. In July, there is little precipitation, but the air temperature rises significantly. In August, it is very hot and very humid. It is therefore better to come to the beach during the last two summer months. Fans of surfing go to the Kamakura resort in the middle of summer. Excellent conditions are also created in the Ryukyu archipelago and Okinawa islands. In early August, diving fans are attracted by coral reefs located on the islands of Kerama. By the way, it is here that you can watch whales.

The wellness season also falls on the end of summer and early September. During this period, lots of travelers come to the city of Shirahama to enjoy white quartz sand, as well as to relax in hot springs. In summer, very colorful festivals are held in the country, including firework evenings, which you can enjoy on the coasts of resort towns. The peak of tourist activity is the middle of autumn. At the end of October, there are spectacular festivals, the main one being Jidai Matsuri. This event takes place in Kyoto on October 22nd.

The next fairly large influx of tourists is usually recorded in Japan on the eve of New Year and Christmas holidays. Already from mid-December, major cities in Japan as well as small provinces, is embraced by the festive mood. In the northern part of the country, everything is covered with snow. In addition to this, during winter travelers often go to thermal springs which are located near Mount Fuji. There is a very unusual snow festival in Sapper in early February. As a rule, it lasts for 7 days.