Japan Endures Hottest July Since Records Began in 1898

Japan has just experienced its hottest July since records began in 1898, the national weather agency has reported, warning that the extreme heat is likely to persist in the coming weeks.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the average temperature for July was 2.89°C higher than the 1991–2020 average — the highest increase ever recorded for the month. This marks the third consecutive year of record-breaking July temperatures.

On July 30, the country hit a new national high of 41.2°C in the western Hyogo region.

"The next month is expected to continue bringing severe heat across the country," the agency warned.

Precipitation was also unusually low across large parts of the country. Northern regions bordering the Sea of Japan saw record low rainfall, while the rainy season ended around three weeks early in the west — another unprecedented development.

Scientists attribute the intensifying and more frequent heatwaves to human-driven climate change, and Japan is no exception to this global trend.

The impacts of the warming climate are already visible. Japan’s iconic cherry blossoms are blooming earlier, or in some cases, failing to fully flower due to warmer winters. Meanwhile, the snowcap on Mount Fuji was absent last year until early November — the longest delay on record, compared to the average snow appearance in early October.

These shifts highlight growing concerns about how climate change is reshaping Japan’s seasons, ecosystems, and iconic landscapes.