Japan Climate – June 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Nagoya, and Sapporo
This month in numbers
Japan experienced its warmest June on record in 2026, with an average temperature of 21.08°C, a significant +3.0°C anomaly compared to the 1961–1990 baseline. This makes June 2026 the 1st warmest June in 86 years of records. The April–June 2026 period also ranked as the 3rd warmest on record, with an average temperature of 15.69°C, an anomaly of +1.7°C. Globally, June 2026 was the 3rd warmest on record for land temperatures, and the April–June period was the 2nd warmest.
What changed
The consistent warmth seen in June follows a trend of above-average temperatures throughout the spring, with April and May also recording positive anomalies. Japan's June anomaly of +3.0°C was significantly warmer than the average for the wider Asia group, which saw a +1.57°C anomaly, making Japan the warmest in its group for the month. The country's long-term warming trend stands at +1.64°C compared to the 1961–1990 baseline, with 2025 being the warmest year on record.
What’s driving change?
The current warming trend in Japan is being influenced by a weak El Niño, which developed in spring 2026 and is forecast to continue as a strong El Niño through the end of the year. While El Niño has historically been associated with cooler summers in Japan, the overriding impact of global warming is leading to continued high temperatures. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) noted that atmospheric conditions resemble those seen in 2023, which was tied for the second-hottest summer on record in Japan. Additionally, a tropical cyclone, Bavi-26, impacted Japan's southwestern islands from July 1st to July 10th, bringing strong winds and heavy rain, and representing 100% of the tropical cyclone events logged for Japan over the past 12 months, an unusual concentration. More information on extreme weather can be found at Extreme Weather tracker.
Looking ahead
The Japan Meteorological Agency forecasts above-normal temperatures nationwide for the summer of 2026 (June–August), with the Pacific high-pressure system expected to strengthen and extend over Japan, leading to a high likelihood of an extremely hot summer despite the El Niño conditions.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – Japan
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (rainfall: World Bank CCKP / CRU TS 4.08). Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Japan – Monthly Temperature – All Years
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (rainfall: World Bank CCKP / CRU TS 4.08). Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Records – Japan
Our World in Data / NOAA - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm / cold seasonsKöppen Dfa · ContinentalHow spring and autumn have shifted in Japan. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (10.7°C, from 1940–1969); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 24.2°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Mar (+2.9°C).
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (rainfall: World Bank CCKP / CRU TS 4.08). Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Rainfall & Precipitation
Rainfall & Rain Days – Totals
Headline: anomaly vs the 1961–1990 mean. Small figure: the actual value. Rank: position in the full record (1st = highest ever). Record: highest (or lowest) value on record with its year.
Emissions & Energy
Explore
Explore Climate Data
Data Sources
Data Sources for Japan
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Japan changing?
Japan is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and the warmest and coolest years on file.
Where does the climate data for Japan come from?
Climate data for Japan comes from Our World in Data, sourcing Copernicus ERA5 and HadCRUT5 (national temperature anomaly) and the Global Carbon Project via Our World in Data (CO₂ emissions), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Japan climate data cover?
The Japan climate profile covers Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Nagoya and surrounding areas. Temperature, rainfall and emissions data for Japan
How often is the Japan climate update refreshed?
The Japan climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.