No, this isn’t a typo. Japan is now officially at a record breaking 41.2°C, which is hotter than your average oven preheat! The whole country is on fire, basically tempura left too long in the fryer.
But before we get too deep into this, let’s take a moment.
Drink Water or Go to the Hospital
Last week alone there were over 10,800 hospitalizations from heat-related incidents. Sixteen of which died, making it th deadliest week of heat strokes this year. The Japanese Fire and Disaster Management Agency confirmed it was worse than early July, when there were over 10,000 people hospitalized.
Also worth noting, there was over 322 observation points across Japan that recorded a temperature of 35°C or higher. This heat wave has been unrelenting.
Kyoto Reaches 40°C – an Officially Recorded First
Kyoto, the hub of tea ceremonies and bamboo groves, reached 40°C for the first in recorded history. Definitely not the ideal conditions to wear a kimono or visit a temple garden.
Tamba (Western Hyogo), was officially declared the “hottest place in Japan,” at 41.2°C – surpassing the previous national record of 41.1°C recorded in 2020 and 2018.
So, What’s Going On?
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, it’s due to the existence of a stationary Pacific high-pressure system over the region. And you guessed it—this high-pressure system isn’t going anywhere soon. From Saturday through Monday and beyond, expect additional blistering weather across northern and eastern Japan.
The JMA has been issuing heatstroke alerts across the board and especially since Tuesday when 38 new areas established records—Gujo in Gifu Prefecture reached a sweltering 39.8°C.
Your Summer Trip to Japan? You Better Bring AC
If you’re going for a summer vacation to Japan, you may as well consider yourself on your unofficial checklist to do list:
- Stay inside during noon
- Bring a fan or mini spray bottle
- Stay close to an air-conditioned space
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
- No kidding—review local advisories prior to going out.
Summer in Japan is done playing around.
Climate change is no longer just a cool word in your science class. Japan’s extreme heat is fast becoming a global trend—and it’s not going away. Each year, the mercury just seems to keep climbing, and summers are becoming less about fireworks and festivals, and more about survival strategies and electricity bills for your air conditioning unit.
So whether you are in Tokyo or Tamba, don’t treat this like a hot summer. This could be the new normal.
