Metadata
Title
Climate in Japan
Category
international
UUID
64bdafbe64a147faaf2032b3650a97d9
Source URL
https://sup.bureau.tohoku.ac.jp/en/life-e/temperature-e/
Parent URL
https://sup.bureau.tohoku.ac.jp/en/
Crawl Time
2026-03-19T07:55:19+00:00
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Climate in Japan

Source: https://sup.bureau.tohoku.ac.jp/en/life-e/temperature-e/ Parent: https://sup.bureau.tohoku.ac.jp/en/

Contents

Temperature

In Japan, Celsius is used to represent temperature.

°C: Celsius °F : Fahrenheit
0 32
10 50
20 68
30 86
40 104
50 122
60 140
70 158
80 176
90 194
100 212

Conversion Calculator\ °C→°F 1.8 x°C +32=°F °F →°C （°F – 32）x 0.555=℃

Climate, temperature and precipitation

Although Japan is a country with four distinct seasons, Sendai (and the wider “northeast” region of Tohoku) has relatively short summers and colder winters. With summer highs averaging 27℃, the city seldom becomes as hot and humid as Tokyo. The winter carries an average temperature of 1.5℃, with many sunny days and little snow.

There is also a rainy season that lasts from June to July, so students planning to come to school by foot or bicycle will need raincoats and waterproof footwear. All students should have warm winter clothes, such as hats, gloves etc. Furthermore, as buildings tend to be quite drafty and usually lack central heating, it can be surprisingly cold inside as well as outside during the winter. Therefore, students will need some sort of indoor heat source, such as a heated carpet or space-heater at their accommodations.

In short, students should bring clothing suited to seasonal weather variations, and they should be particularly well-prepared for the winter cold. Finally, appropriate attire should be brought for special occasions, such as the entrance and graduation ceremonies. On such occasions, many international students wear traditional clothing from their home countries.

June (rainy season) July-August (summer season) January-February (winter season) September (typhoon season)
Average high temperature 22°C 27°C 5°C 24°C
Average low temperature 16°C 21°C -1°C 19°C
Average precipitation 140mm 165mm 45mm 220mm

What to Wear

The below is a reference on what to wear in Sendai throughout the season:

Spring

(March-May)

Top

Bottom

Summer

(June-August)

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Bottom

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Autumn

(September-November)

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Winter

(December-February)

Top

Bottom

Seasonal Precaution

Four season climates come with its own seasonal challenges. \ \ Here we introduce the challenges that you may face during each seasons, and the measures that can be taken to combat the issues.

Spring and Autumn

Hay Fever / Kafunsho

Pollen allergies is quite common in spring and autumn in Sendai. The release of pollen in the air causes allergic reaction such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, eye irritation.

Those who are sensitive to pollen will find this extremely uncomfortable to a point that it may interfere with their daily activities.

Measure to take :

Wear mask when going outside, and purchase antihistamines from the pharmacy to aleviate allergy symptoms.

Summer

Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke

Heatstroke, caused by overheating of the body is getting more common in Summer, and in extreme cases, it may lead to fatality.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion includes tiredness, dizziness, headache\ nausea, cramps in the arms, legs and stomach, fast breathing or heartbeat and unconsciousness.

Measure to take :

Constantly hydrate, stay in the shades and out of the heat, use a heat deflecting umbrella when going out, wear loose and breathable material, use ice packs to cool down.

Indoor Mold

During Japan’s rainy season, moisture build up in your home may cause mold issues in your home which may affect your health.\ \ Other than causing health issues, mold may also leave a permanent stain on walls and ceilings, and you may have to cover for this damages.

Measure to take :

Ventilate your home well, use dehumidifier, wipe down condensation immediately, use moisture absorber products in damp areas in your home.

Food Poisoning

Due to high temperatures and humidity during the summer months, food poisoning caused by bacterial growth on food is quite common in summer.

Measure to take :

Eat your food immediately or store them well, cook your meat thoroughly, wash you hands properly

Winter

Icy / Slippery Road

The roads in Sendai can get slippery in winter as roads can ice over if the temperature drops below 0 degrees celcius. \ \ During this time, be extra cautious as you may slip on the icy road and injure yourself. Road accidents increases in winter due to slippery road as well.

Measure to take :

Wear non-slip shoes, refrain from riding on bicycles, and be cautious while walking. Those who drive a car or ride a motorcycle need to exchange their tyres for winter tyres or attach chains onto the wheels.

Influenza

According to Japan’s Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare, influenza circulation occurs annually, and infection peaks between December and March.

Measure to take :

Get the annual flu shot, maintain good hygiene, eat well balanced diet and get proper rest.\ \ Tohoku University allows their faculty members to take a special leave (not taken out of their annual leaves) to get the annual flu shot.

Frozen Water Pipes

When the temperature falls below freezing point, the water inside piping may freeze and affect the water supply in your home, and even cause pipe burst in extreme cases.

Measure to take :

Drain the water inside the piping if you plan on being away for more than 2-3 days, or if the weather advisory advices you to do so. Ask your landlords or the management office for the location of water drainer and follow their intstruction to drain the water inside the piping. Insulate water pipe if necessary.\ \ Refer to the below for further details:

Condensation

Condensation is very common in winter due to the humidity and the difference in indoor and outdoor temperature.\ \ If left unattended, it can lead to indoor mold issues.

Measure to take :

Wipe off condensation immediately, and use condensation prevention sheet and spray available in the market. Ensure proper ventilation at home.