, with quite mild winters and hot, moist, and rainy summers.
: in winter, the northwest cold currents prevail, while in summer, they are replaced by hot and humid currents of tropical origin.
Kumamoto is a city of 740,000 inhabitants, located in southwestern Japan, in central Kyushu (the southernmost of the large Japanese islands), on the coast within a bay.
The city is located at a low latitude (at almost 33 degrees north latitude), but close enough to the Asian continent to receive cold air masses in winter, which are able to lower the temperature to some extent.
, the largest active volcano of Japan. The highest peak around the caldera, Takadake, is 1,592 meters (5,223 feet) high.
in Kumamoto is abundant, in fact, it amounts to 2,000 millimeters (78.5 inches) per year. Winter is the driest season. The rainiest months are June and July, ie the first period of the rainy season (called
), which is particularly intense in southern Japan: sometimes, the rains can be torrential.
In southwestern Japan, autumn is a decent season, and already in October, the rains decrease considerably.
, there are fairly mild periods, with highs above 10 °C (50 °F), alternating with cold periods, with wind and rain, highs around 5/7 °C (41/45 °F) or less, and possible falls of sleet or snow. Snowfalls, however, are generally light.
On the coldest nights of the year, temperatures drop to -5 °C (23 °F), especially in the eastern outskirts of the city, where the airport is located. In the city, the coldest record is -9.2 °C (15.4 °F), set in February 1929.
are hot and humid. There can be periods of good weather, with maximum temperatures around 35 °C (95 °F), tropical nights and high humidity, but also periods of bad weather due to the summer monsoon. August is the hottest month, both because of the thermal inertia of the sea and because of the lower frequency of periods of bad weather.
From June to October (but especially from August to early October), Kumamoto may be affected by
The best times to visit Kumamoto are spring and autumn, and particularly from mid-April to mid-May and from mid-October to mid-November. In autumn, the rains are rarer, but the days are shorter.
in Kumamoto occurs, with variations depending on the year, from late March to early April, with a peak around March 29th. About 8-9 days pass between the start and the peak of the flowering. Even though in some years it can get a little cold, with highs around 12 °C (54 °F), you can also take advantage of this period.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
6.1 °C, with a minimum of
1.6 °C and a maximum of
10.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-6.5 °C in January 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17 °C. However, it reached
20.4 °C in January 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
57.2 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average sea temperature is of
18.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
February is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
7.5 °C, with a minimum of
2.6 °C and a maximum of
12.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3 °C. However, it dropped to
-6.7 °C in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19.5 °C. However, it reached
24.5 °C in February 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
83.2 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average sea temperature is of
17.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11 °C, with a minimum of
5.9 °C and a maximum of
16.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.8 °C in March 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23 °C. However, it reached
26.8 °C in March 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
124.8 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average sea temperature is of
18.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16 °C, with a minimum of
10.6 °C and a maximum of
21.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.2 °C in April 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27.5 °C. However, it reached
30.7 °C in April 1998.
Precipitation amounts to
144.9 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average sea temperature is of
19 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.8 °C, with a minimum of
15.6 °C and a maximum of
26 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10 °C. However, it dropped to
6.9 °C in May 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31 °C. However, it reached
34.4 °C in May 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
160.9 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average sea temperature is of
20.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
June is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
24.2 °C, with a minimum of
20.2 °C and a maximum of
28.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15.5 °C. However, it dropped to
12.5 °C in June 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
36.1 °C in June 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
448.5 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average sea temperature is of
23.3 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
July is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28 °C, with a minimum of
24.2 °C and a maximum of
31.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21 °C. However, it dropped to
17 °C in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C. However, it reached
38.8 °C in July 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
386.8 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average sea temperature is of
26.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
29 °C, with a minimum of
24.8 °C and a maximum of
33.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21.5 °C. However, it dropped to
16.9 °C in August 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36.5 °C. However, it reached
38.5 °C in August 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
195.4 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average sea temperature is of
28.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
September is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
25.6 °C, with a minimum of
21.2 °C and a maximum of
30.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15.5 °C. However, it dropped to
11.2 °C in September 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C. However, it reached
37 °C in September 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
172.6 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average sea temperature is of
27.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20 °C, with a minimum of
14.9 °C and a maximum of
25 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
3.6 °C in October 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30.5 °C. However, it reached
33.7 °C in October 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
87.1 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average sea temperature is of
25.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.8 °C, with a minimum of
8.8 °C and a maximum of
18.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.6 °C in November 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24.5 °C. However, it reached
27 °C in November 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
84.4 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average sea temperature is of
23.1 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
December is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
8.2 °C, with a minimum of
3.4 °C and a maximum of
12.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-4.9 °C in December 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19 °C. However, it reached
24 °C in December 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
61.2 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average sea temperature is of
20.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.