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The combination of Japan’s mountainous territory
and the length of the
archipelago (covering about 20° of latitude) makes for a complex
climate. Most of the country is located in the northern temperate
zone,
which yields four distinct seasons. In addition, there are
significant
climatic differences between Hokkaido in the north, which has short
summers and lengthy winters with heavy snowfalls, and the southern
islands, such as Okinawa in Nansei-shoto (Southwest Archipelago),
which
enjoy a subtropical climate.
In the winter months (December to February), cold, dry air-masses
from
Siberia move down over Japan, where they meet warmer, moister
air-masses from the Pacific. The resulting precipitation causes huge
snowfalls on the side of the country that faces the Sea of Japan.
The
Pacific Ocean side of Japan receives less snow but can still be
quite
cold, while the big cities of Honshu like Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and
Kyoto have winters with highs in the single digits or even low teens
and lows a few degrees above zero (Celsius). The odd January or
February day will be colder, but these cold snaps usually don’t
last.
The summer months (June to August) are dominated by warm, moist air
currents from the Pacific, and produce high temperatures and
humidity
throughout most of Japan (with the blissful exception of Hokkaido).
In
the early part of summer, usually mid-May to June, there is a rainy
season lasting a few weeks that starts in the south and gradually
works
its way northward. Although it can be inconvenient, this rainy
season
is not usually a significant barrier to travel. August, September
and
October is typhoon season, which can make travel in Okinawa, the
Izu-shoto and Ogasawara-shoto difficult.
In contrast to the extremes of summer and winter, spring (March to
May)
and autumn (September to November) in Japan are comparatively mild.
Rainfall is relatively low and the days are often clear. These are,
without a doubt, the very best times to visit the country.
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Japan Regions