Climate

Winter

Japanese winters are invigorating! Snow falls from October in Hokkaido and northern Honshu, and is present until March. The snow on the Pacific coasts of these areas tends to be finer than in the western coasts of Japan. Further south, there is less snow, with only mountaintops covered for short periods in the southern island of Kyushu, and it snows very rarely in the subtropical islands of Amami and Okinawa in the south. Temperatures are between -10 and 0°C in Hokkaido, and winters in the east of the island where Red-crowned Crane and the wintering populations of Steller's Sea Eagle and seabirds can be seen, tend to be crisp and dry, mostly sunny. It is worth noting the daylight hours in Hokkaido in winter: 7am until 4pm.

Further south in Honshu, temperatures range from -3 to 8°C, and weather tends to be sunny and dry along the eastern Pacific side. Watching Mandarin Duck, Crested Kingfisher and Japanese Green Pheasant, as well as searching for the elusive Copper Pheasant, can be very pleasant in the warming sun, but temperatures drop suddenly in the late afternoon and nights are cold!

Although the green temperate forests and higher temperatures (5-10°C) of Kyushu indicate a milder climate for winter birding, visitors to the Izumi area in Kagoshima (the famous wintering site for thousands of endangered Hooded and White-naped Cranes) should prepare themselves for the chilly wind that blows down from the Korean peninsula. This and other sites along the west coast of Kyushu can often feel colder in winter than areas in north Hokkaido, on account of this wind!

Winter temperature in the Ryukyu islands of Amami and Okinawa are pleasant and mild (10-17°C) and mostly dry. All the fantastic endemic species of these islands can be viewed well at this time, with the exception of Okinawa Rail, which becomes elusive as it hides from wintering Grey-faced Buzzards.

Spring and autumn

These seasons are very popular in Japan as throughout the archipelago there are many days of sunshine and fair weather and temperatures are warmer, but often cooled by fresh breezes. Both seasons occur at different times according to latitude:

There are normally showers in late April in the main islands, but as this coincides with large amounts of migratory birds returning to their breeding grounds, rain can be a gift for the birder who is keen on seeing migrants. Most days are sunny, and provide excellent light for photography.

Woodland species like Japanese and Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers are often easier to se at these times, and spring offers the birdwatcher a great chance to experience Japan's varied dawn chorus: from the trills and whistles of Ryukyu Robin and Black Paradise Flycatcher in the south, to the lush phrases and mimicry of Siberian Rubythroat in the north.

The famous cherry blossom season lasts for a week from late March (Kyushu) through April in Honshu and Hokkaido, making a trip to Japan at this time a memorable one. Autumn colours in many areas rival the US fall colours in richness and contrast, providing a stunning setting for a morning's walk along a woodland trail.

Summer

Each year, the sultry north Pacific air mass comes to Japan, bringing with it high temperatures and humidity off the scale. The temperatures at this time offer a stark contrast to the rest of the year: in July and August they often exceed 30°C, even in Hokkaido! The tsuyu or rainy season ushers in the humid climate: this is a period of humid, rainy weather that last from between one month and six weeks and varies from year to year. As the rainy season clears (in June or early July in Kyushu; in mid- July in Honshu) the temperatures stabilise and the rest of summer throbs to the dizzying chorus of cicadas. From as early as June through to October, this season is often punctuated by a series of typhoons that hit the archipelago from the south and east. Around 10-14 typhoons occur each year with varying intensity. A strong typhoon can affect a birding trip in July or August with rainy and stormy weather lasting for 2-3 days. Typhoons mostly affect the Pacific coast.

There are possibilities for bird watching in early summer in Japan. The much sought-after and colourful Fairy Pitta arrives on its breeding grounds at Miike, southern Kyushu, in late May, and early June is a great time to search for this species and other temperate forest dwellers like Japanese Grosbeak, Black Paradise Flycatcher and Ruddy Kingfisher. Okinawa Rail becomes much easier to observe in Okinawa than at other times of year. The Hokkaido summer is slightly cooler and is less affected by the rainy season (and normally) typhoons. A visit in June or early July to Hokkaido offers the birdwatcher their best chance of seeing Middendorff's and Gray's Warblers, Siberian Rubythroat and Siberian Blue Robin, as well as the enigmatic Blakiston's Fish Owl, which can be vocal at this time.