Japan is a beautiful country, many even call it fabulous. Ancient traditions and culture, fantastic landscapes… The climate in Japan is also peculiar. Thanks to the latter, this country is different from the rest of the world.
Japanese seasons
The climatic year in this state is clearly divided into four seasons. Ask about what is unusual about this? It's just that each of the four seasons has its own specifics.
And this is important to know, for example, for tourists or fishermen and sailors. The best time to visit Japan is spring and autumn. Read on to find out why. In general, the inhabitants of this country since ancient times divide the year into twenty-four seasons, each of which has its own name and color scheme.
Description of Japan's climate
Since the state is strongly stretched from north to south, this could not but affect the weather. Or rather, the climate. Another important factor is that Japan is an island state. And so in winter it is blown by the monsoon from the mainland. The latter can bring Siberian frosts to the island. This is especially true for the northcountries. There is snow throughout the winter. Precipitation in general for the island is very characteristic, thanks to the winds. And they fall out very plentifully, including in winter. For the most part, this applies to the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido, where the Hida mountains become in the way of the winds. On the slopes of the latter, by the way, it is much drier from the side of the Pacific Ocean.
Spring starts already in March, when the trees are in bloom. Plums bloom first, followed by peaches. But all the Japanese are looking forward to when the cherry (sakura) blossoms. This is a real holiday for the country, which begins at the end of March. Moreover, the cherries do not bloom at the same time. This holiday seems to be marching across the country. In any case, you can enjoy it for no more than two weeks.
In summer, the monsoon already blows towards the mainland. Its influence is not so obvious, and mainly affects the south-east of the country. But the peak of summer precipitation, the so-called "plum rains", is associated with it. Summer begins quickly enough, with warm and even hot days. And then the rainy season and tropical typhoons open. Autumn begins in Japan in September and ends in November. It is believed that this is the most beautiful time of the year for the country. During this period, there are many folk holidays, including the rice festival. The weather at this time is the most favorable: the rains end, and the heat weakens. Nature changes its color from green to yellow-gold.
If we describe the climate of Japan by months, we can single out the cold period - December, January and February. This is followed by a warm and beautiful spring: March, April and May. The summer months are very hot and humid - June, July, August. Classic autumn lasts from September to November.
Typhoons
In the southern part of Japan, the climate is subtropical. And every year it is attacked by hurricanes. It mostly happens in summer and early autumn. During the season, up to thirty typhoons form in the archipelago, the wind speed at the epicenter of which can reach sixty meters per second.
Of these, an average of up to four can gain strength as a hurricane. They rise north to the Japanese islands. Happened in the history of the country and hurricanes with devastating consequences. In any case, almost every year for Japan, they turn out to be a natural disaster with floods and forced relocation of people.
By the way, this is from the Japanese word "taifu" (which means "tropical cyclone") formed the international "typhoon". This unfavorable season ends for the Japanese in September.
Hokkaido
This is Japan's northernmost island and the climate is relatively harsh. The thermometer in winter falls far below zero and sometimes even reaches minus forty. In general, the climate of this island is considered moderate: it is characterized by hot summers and classic snowy winters. Precipitation here falls up to three hundred millimeters during the cold season. So in January it snows almost every day. As mentioned above, the continental monsoon is to blame. Frosts often occur in spring. Summer mostlywarm. The air warms up to thirty degrees and above, but on average the thermometer stays at plus twenty-five to twenty-six Celsius. However, it often rains. In the city of Sapporo, for example, up to three hundred days a year.
Honshu
The largest island in Japan has a much milder climate than Hokkaido. Winter is shorter here, but snowfalls happen here too, and quite often, and in terms of precipitation, they do not differ much from those in the north. The latter, of course, is surprising for subtropical latitudes. Nevertheless, it is quite warm here in winter. Temperatures rarely drop below freezing at night. And during the day it stays at a quite comfortable level of five to six degrees plus. Spring comes very soon. And already in early April, you can see the symbol of Japan - cherry blossoms. At this time, the temperature outside rises above fifteen degrees. Summer begins with plum rains. This is the period when the monsoon brings heavy rainfall to the island. Best time to plant rice.
When the humidity is high, the temperature during the day exceeds thirty degrees, and at night it rarely drops to twenty. On the coast, of course, it is easier - here the unusual climate of Japan softens the fresh sea breeze. And the monsoon weakens only by autumn. That's when the rains stop. The heat subsides, and perhaps the most pleasant time of the year for residents and visitors of the island is coming.
Ryukyu and Okinawa
Despite the fact that these islands are remote from the main archipelago, the monsoons have a strong influence on the climate here too. However, unlike the rest of Japan, it is not cold at all in winter. And for months like January and February, the temperature during this period averages thirteen degrees at night and fifteen during the day. Which is quite comfortable. In summer, the air warms up to plus thirty during the day and rarely drops below twenty-five at night. There is also high humidity. A fresh sea breeze softens this climate a little.
Kuroshio current and other factors
In conclusion, let's talk about what affects the climate in Japan. First of all, it is, of course, the winds. Winter and summer monsoons bring a lot of moisture to the country. They also affect the temperature regime in winter and summer.
The location of the archipelago also plays an important role: it stretches strongly from north to south, and is also located near the zone of formation of tropical typhoons. What moderates Japan's climate is the warm Kuroshio Current. There is, however, also Tsushima, as well as Oyashio. The latter, on the contrary, cools the eastern coast of the country. But the Kuroshio Current makes the climate of Japan hot and humid. It washes the southern shores of the archipelago.
Well, now you know what the climate is like in Japan and when is the best time to visit this country.
