, with mild winters and hot, muggy summers, and it's famous in Japan for being rain-soaked all year round.
The island is located at the 30th parallel, south of Kyushu, and together with other islands such as Tanegashima, Kuchinoerabu-jima, Kuroshima, and Iojima, is part of the
, the northernmost of the Ryukyus. In winter, it is affected by weather disturbances due to the clash between cold air masses coming from the Asian continent and mild and moist air masses that lie on the East China Sea. In summer, there are periods of bad weather due to the summer monsoon, as well as to typhoons.
are similar to those of Mediterranean islands such as Sicily. In winter, the temperature never drops below freezing, but there may be cold periods, during which highs drop below 10 °C (50 °F), the wind blows, and lows approach 0°C (32 °F). Sometimes it can even snow.
is very abundant: on the coast, more than 4 meters and a half (14 feet) of rain fall per year, of which 860 millimeters (34 inches) fall in June, the wettest month.
, 1,936 meters (6,351 feet) high, the situation is even worse, since precipitation reaches 10 meters (33 feet): so, this is one of the rainiest places in the world. On the mountain, a famous forest is found, visited by many tourists and protected by UNESCO; it hosts ancient cedars, the most famous of which is called
, which is 25 meters (82 feet) high and is thought to be at least 2,000 years old. The tree is located at 1,300 meters (4,300 feet) above sea level.
In winter, the mountain can be covered with snow. On the top, the temperature is on average 11.5 degrees Celsius (20.5 °F) lower than in the plain (and the difference becomes even greater during outbreaks of cold air).
in Yakushima is scarce in winter, when cloudy skies prevail, it is mediocre in spring and autumn, while it is decent in July and August, at least on the coast, when the rains are still abundant, but they are not so frequent, and there are 6.5/7 hours of sunshine per day.
in Yakushima is cool in winter, but not impossible for a swim. It's warm enough for swimming, with a temperature equal to or higher than 23 °C (73 °F) from May to November, and it becomes pleasantly warm from July to September.
As mentioned, in summer and early autumn, from June to October (and more likely from August to early October), Yakushima can be affected by
It is difficult to find the best time to visit Yakushima, because there is no dry and sunny period. In addition, in winter it can get cold, while in summer and autumn, tropical cyclones can pass.
In July and August, the sunniest months, there is humid heat at sea level, but the temperature is milder in the mountains.
At sea level, the mildest temperatures are recorded in April-May and from early October to mid-November.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.6 °C, with a minimum of
8.6 °C and a maximum of
14.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
1 °C in January 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21 °C. However, it reached
25 °C in January 1991.
Precipitation amounts to
295 mm, distributed over 17 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 23% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
20.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
19.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.1 °C, with a minimum of
8.9 °C and a maximum of
15.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5 °C. However, it dropped to
1.7 °C in February 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22 °C. However, it reached
25.6 °C in February 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
290 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 27% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
20.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
19.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
14.4 °C, with a minimum of
10.9 °C and a maximum of
17.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6 °C. However, it dropped to
1.5 °C in March 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24 °C. However, it reached
27.9 °C in March 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
385 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
19.3 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
19.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.6 °C, with a minimum of
13.9 °C and a maximum of
21.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9 °C. However, it dropped to
6.1 °C in April 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C. However, it reached
28.7 °C in April 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
405 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
17.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
21 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.8 °C, with a minimum of
17.2 °C and a maximum of
24.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13 °C. However, it dropped to
10.5 °C in May 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28.5 °C. However, it reached
32 °C in May 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
445 mm, distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 36% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23.7 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
June is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
23.9 °C, with a minimum of
20.8 °C and a maximum of
26.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17 °C. However, it dropped to
13.8 °C in June 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32 °C. However, it reached
35 °C in June 2007.
Precipitation amounts to
860 mm, distributed over 20 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 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 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 24% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
July is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
27.1 °C, with a minimum of
23.8 °C and a maximum of
30.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21.5 °C. However, it dropped to
19 °C in July 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
35.1 °C in July 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
360 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.4 °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
27.7 °C, with a minimum of
24.4 °C and a maximum of
30.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
22 °C. However, it dropped to
20.1 °C in August 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
35.4 °C in August 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
255 mm, distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
28.4 °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
25.7 °C, with a minimum of
22.6 °C and a maximum of
28.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
19 °C. However, it dropped to
13 °C in September 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31.5 °C. However, it reached
34.7 °C in September 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
450 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
14.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
27.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
22.2 °C, with a minimum of
19.1 °C and a maximum of
25.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14.5 °C. However, it dropped to
11.1 °C in October 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
31.3 °C in October 2015.
Precipitation amounts to
310 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
17.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
26.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
November is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
18 °C, with a minimum of
14.9 °C and a maximum of
21.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10 °C. However, it dropped to
7.2 °C in November 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C. However, it reached
30.7 °C in November 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
310 mm, distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 31% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
17.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.7 °C, with a minimum of
10.6 °C and a maximum of
16.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6 °C. However, it dropped to
2.4 °C in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22.5 °C. However, it reached
26.6 °C in December 2018.
Precipitation amounts to
280 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 25% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
19.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
21.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.