Japan: what is the weather like generally throughout the year?

Question

and how does it change throughout the seasons?

Answer 1

It really depends on which part of Japan you are in. As
others have said, the further north you go, the cooler it is and the difference definitely shows during the cooler months. For example this time of year in Kyushu, the daytimes are quite mild though the nights can get quite cold. Sometimes even the daytimes are cold. Now at the
same time in Hokkaido, their location is blessing them with snow and all sorts of cold weather with temperatures barely above zero degrees Celsius.
As far as summer goes here, well it can get rather uncomfortable. Much of Japan experiences swelteringly hot temperatures and high humidity. Again in Kyushu, that weather persisted until mid-October before it began to cool down significantly to more comfortable weather. Bare in mind that from late August to October is notoriously Typhoon season, and one or to may show up.

So as a quick summary:

Spring= Starts off rather cool-cold from central to north- but progressively gets mild. Quite dry.

Summer= Gradually gets very hot, can be quite wet too at times and uncomfortable humidity.

Autumn= depending on latitude, the heat and humidity remains gradually easing off . Potentially wet through possibility of Typhoons and storms in the beginning. Occasionally cold towards the end, and wet weather infrequent. Quite cold in the far north toward the end and potential for snow.

Winter= again, depending on latitude, quite cool to cold or freezing. Snow can be expected even in central Japan, rarely any further south. Okinawa seldom gets cold!

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

It's hard to generalize because Japan is a long country, stretching from a climate close to some parts of Canada in the north (Hokkaido) to the tropical islands of Okinawa in the south.

Let's say you're in a major city on the island of Hondo (like Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, etc.):

Winter is cold, not reaching into the minuses too much (Celsius that is). Usually no major snowstorms. Spring is when the cherry trees blossom. Light jacket weather. Summer is often incredibly hot and humid. Be prepared to bring a butter knife to cut through the air. Fall is nice.

A lot of Japanese like to talk about how Japan has 4 seasons and ask you how many seasons are in your country.

Answer 3

I found it to be quite temperate when I was in Yokohama- there was never any serious rain. Winter was pretty cold, had to sleep with an electric heater on next to the bed- Summer was stifling in a similar manner, the air just filled up with clammy moisture. I used to leave my windows open to let a bit of cold air in at night, but there wasn't any cold air, the whole country seemed to be under a hot cloud... which is why air-conditioning is vital.

Around August, sorry, June time there is supposed to be a rainy season called 'Tsuyu,' but I never managed to be in Japan until August, so I can't really comment on that... In the Winter, wind speeds can pick up a fair bit too- 8 metres per second or above is known as the 'kogarashi', or 'tree-witherer' wind. Typhoons seem to pop up throughout the year, but I was never in one... August and September are supposed to be when the most typhoons come towards Japan, but they don't always land...

Answer 4

4 distinct seasons.
Of course as you go north, the weather is typically colder and the opposite as you go south.

June is the rainy month, and it is the time spring switches to summer. All the cherry blossoms will be gone after the rainy season, and the temperature starts to raise.

July is when the beaches and outdoor swimming pools open. It used to be on 20th or 21st, but I think they say the 3rd Monday of the month or something like that....

Once the leaves start to change colors, it is the arrival of fall.
After August, the weather starts to get colder for fall.

The coldest month is typically February, and that is when we expect snow, even in the central Japan.

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

It depends where you live. Here in Toyohashi (near Nagoya) it's really hot and humid in summer, cool with some rain in Autumn, Freezing cold with no snow in winter and warmish with pretty flowers blooming in spring. I hate summer and winter here due to the extreme temperature changes but at least Japan has 4 distinct seasons.

Answer 6

Click "weather info" in this blog.

Answer 7

It depends-you can still ski in August at Gassan, but Okinawa is tropical.