Weather or Not...

Japan lies between 25 ° N and 45 ° N latitudes and 122 ° E to 145 ° E longitudes. Because of its wide range of latitude, Japan has a variety of climates, with a range often compared to that of the east coast of North America, from Nova Scotia to Georgia. Tokyo is at about 30 ° N , comparable to that of Tehran, Athens, or Los Angeles. Socorro, New Mexico lies at 34 ° N.

There are four distinct seasons, and the severity depends upon how far north or south you are. In the south, in summer, it is rather humid and hot, but in winter it is mild and somewhat drier, making it a great place to visit or live. Interestingly, places located along the coast of the Sea of Japan experience snowfall in the winter and places along the Pacific coast are drier. the far north, such as the Hokkaidō Prefecture, there is significant snow fall and cold temperatures in the winter.

The 1972 Olympics were held in Sapporo Japan, capital of the Hokkaidō Prefecture, a part of the country where there is a lot of snow, mountains, and great skiing. Until these Games, the XI, Japan had never won a gold medal in the Olympics. In 1972, Japan won three medals, one bronze, one silver, and one gold, sweeping the men's ski jumping event and placing 11th in highest number of medals won/country.

Here is some good trivia for you...These Games are the last where a skier won the gold medal using all-wooden skis. Now cross-country skiers use skis made mostly of fiberglass synthetics.

Back to weather in Japan...

The rainy season, "Tsuyu", is during June and July. Average annual rainfall is about 1700-1800mm (67-70 inches), falling throughout the year, but mostly in June-September.

The best time to visit Japan for the most pleasant weather is April and October. The temperature is very cool during this time and in spring, there are beautiful cherry blossoms. Rainfall and humidity is low during this time.

As you can see from my photos of Tokyo, our weather today, October 16, is perfect for exploring and sightseeing. While most of our day is full of classes and lectures, at breakfast I caugtht a shot or two of the landscapes from the hotel. Tokyo Tower is the tall tower that looks a little bit like the Eifel Tower in Paris, which can easily be seen from my hotel. It is the tallest building in Japan. With a little imagination, you can see Mount Fuji in the second city scene. The teenagers and the man on the bicycle with his dog were at Shebuya Station, enjoying a beautiful night out.

What makes the weather in Japan? Japan is an interesting country when it comes to weather, with several complex, influencing factors. Two major ocean currents affect Japan's climate pattern: the warm Kuroshio Current (Black Current; also known as the Japan Current); and the cold Oyashio Current (Parent Current; also known as the Okhotsk Current). The Kuroshio Current flows northward on the Pacific side of Japan and warms areas as far north as Tokyo; a small branch, the Tsushima Current, flows up the Sea of Japan side. The Oyashio Current, rich in plankton enjoyed by coldwater fish, flows southward along the northern Pacific, cooling adjacent coastal areas. The meeting point of these currents at 36 north latitude contributes to Japan's abundant fisheries.

A second major contributing factor to the weather in Japan is its proximity to the Asian continent. In winter, a high-pressure area develops over Siberia, and a low-pressure area develops over the northern Pacific Ocean. The result is a flow of cold air eastward across Japan that brings freezing temperatures and heavy snowfalls to the central mountain ranges facing the Sea of Japan, but clear skies to areas fronting on the Pacific. The climate from June to September is hot, wet weather brought by tropical airflows from the Pacific Ocean and Southeast Asia. During this time, several typhoons pass over or near Japan, occassionally resulting in significant damage.

The Japan Weather Association, begun in 1950, has helpful information about information such as weather forcasting, public awareness of weather and natural disasters, working for safety and comfort of human and natural environments.

You can learn interesting facts and up-to-date forcast information from the US National Weather Service.

Here are weather reports for the cities I am visiting...

Tokyo Weather Fukuoka Weather Hiroshima Weather

To explore the weather of more Japanese cities, click here.

To learn more about the weather in Japan, check out the Japan Meteorological Agency, Tropical Cyclone or Storm Information, severe weather warnings.