Skip to main content

 Climates to travel
 World climate guide
 
 Open menu
 Home

 Africa

 N.America

 S.America

 Antarctica

 Asia

 Caribbean

 Europe

 M.East

 Oceania

 All the countries
Open menu
 Home

 Africa

 N.America

 S.America

 Antarctica

 Asia

 Caribbean

 Europe

 M.East

 Oceania

 All the countries
Select units of measurement for the temperature and rainfall tables (metric or imperial).

Climate in Shikoku (Japan)


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours

Flag - Japan

Shikoku (Japan), position the map


You are here: Home --> Asia --> Japan --> Shikoku


Share this page:
Facebook LinkedIn Whatsapp Email



In Shikoku, the smallest of the main islands of Japan, the climate is temperate, at least on the coasts, quite similar to that of the south side of Honshu: the winters are quite mild, and the summers are hot, muggy and rainy. According to the Köppen classification, the climate on the coasts is humid subtropical (Cfa).
Like the rest of Japan, the island is affected by the monsoon circulation: in winter, the northwest cold currents prevail, while in summer, they are replaced by hot and humid currents of tropical origin.
The northern coast, facing the Seto Inland Sea, is a little colder in winter than the southern coast, and definitely less rainy.

Snow in the plains is very rare everywhere, however, it can occasionally snow, even more easily on the south coast than on the north coast. For example, at the end of December 2022, 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) of snow fell in Kochi, on the south coast, and 10 cm (3.9 in) in Tokushima, on the northeast coast, while it did not snow in Takamatsu, on the north coast.
During cold waves, the temperature at night does not drop much, as it usually only drops a few degrees below freezing.

In summer, during heat waves, the temperature can reach 36/37 °C (97/99 °F).

Takamatsu

Climate chart - Takamatsu
Here are the average temperatures in Takamatsu, on the north coast.
Takamatsu - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
Temperatures (°C)
MonthMinMaxMean
January2.19.75.9
February2.210.56.4
March514.19.6
April9.919.814.8
May15.124.820
June19.827.523.6
July24.131.727.9
August25.13329
September21.228.825
October15.123.219.2
November9.117.513.3
December4.312.18.2
Year12.821.116.9

As for the rains, as mentioned, there is a clear difference between the two sides. The north side has a dry winter, and the annual rainfall is not very high, in fact it's around 1,150 mm (45 in) per year in Takamatsu, 1,200 mm (47 in) in Maragume, and 1,400 mm (55 in) in Matsuyama (the main city on the island).
Here is the average rainfall in Takamatsu.
Takamatsu - Average precipitation
MonthRain (mm)Days
January396
February467
March819
April759
May1018
June15310
July1609
August1067
September1679
October1208
November556
December476
Year115096

On Shikoku Island, the sea is quite mild even in winter, although not for swimming, while it becomes pleasantly warm from July to September.
Takamatsu - Sea temperature
MonthTemperatures (°C)
January16.5
February15
March15
April16.5
May19
June22
July25.5
August27.5
September26
October23.5
November21">
December18.5
Year20.6

Image of Matsuyama Castle

Kochi

Climate chart - Kochi
In Kochi, on the southern coast, the winter temperatures are slightly higher, and the January average is 7 °C (45 °F).
Kochi - Average temperatures (1991-2020)
Temperatures (°C)
MonthMinMaxMean
January2.112.27.2
February3.113.28.2
March6.416.311.4
April10.920.915.9
May15.524.820.2
June19.727.123.4
July23.930.827.4
August24.532.128.3
September21.429.525.4
October15.62520.3
November9.719.614.6
December4.214.49.3
Year13.122.217.65

The south side is decidedly more rainy: in Kochi, 2,650 mm (105 in) of rain fall per year, and the rains are very abundant from April to October. However, here the winter is a relatively dry season too.
Kochi - Average precipitation
MonthRain (mm)Days
January595
February1087
March17510
April22510
May28010
June36014
July35713
August28412
September39812
October2088
November1307
December836
Year2665112

On the southern coast, the sea is also a little milder in winter than on the north coast.
Kochi - Sea temperature
MonthTemperatures (°C)
January18
February17
March17
April18
May20
June23
July26
August27.5
September26.5
October24.5
November22">
December20
Year21.7

In the mountainous area that divides the two sides of Shikoku, the temperature decreases, even though at the same altitude it is not as cold as in the center-north of Honshu. The highest peak is Mount Ishizuchi, 1,982 meters (6,503 feet).
Here are the average temperatures of Mount Tsurugi, 1,955 meters (6,413 ft) high.
Tsurugi - Average temperatures (1961-1990)
Temperatures (°C)
MonthMinMaxMean
January-10.3-4.1-7.2
February-9.9-3.1-6.5
March-6.90.5-3.2
April-0.37.13.4
May4.311.47.8
June8.614.411.5
July12.917.915.4
August13.218.215.7
September9.615.212.4
October3.39.86.6
November-1.951.6
December-7.3-0.8-4
Year1.37.74.5

Precipitation in the mountains is even more abundant than on the southern coast. On Mount Tsurugi, it amounts to 3,370 mm (132 in) per year, and in winter it usually occurs as snow.
Tsurugi - Average precipitation
MonthRain (mm)Days
January12617
February14715
March20817
April21113
May27813
June46316
July43516
August51716
September53316
October22412
November13910
December9113
Year3370172

Like the rest of Japan, from June to October (but especially from August to early October), the island of Shikoku can be hit by typhoons, the tropical cyclones of the western Pacific. The areas most at risk are the mountainous area, where heavy rains can cause floods and landslides, and the southern coast, more exposed to wind and storm surges.

The cherry blossoming in Shikoku, at least in the lowlands, normally occurs from late March to early April.


© Copyright Climatestotravel.com. 

Back to Asia --> Japan

All the countries


Share this page:
Facebook LinkedIn Whatsapp Email

 Cities:

 Matsuyama

 Continents:
 Africa
 North America
 South America
 Antarctica
 Asia
 Caribbean
 Europe
 Middle East
 Oceania

Search in the website:

Home About Contact Us Useful Links Policy
Home
About
Contact Us
Useful Links
Policy