Travel

Weather officials forecast hot weather across Japan, warn of heatstroke

Jun 17 (NHK) - Sweltering weather prevailed across western and eastern Japan on Friday with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius in many parts.

The mercury soared especially on the Pacific side of eastern and western Japan.

The Meteorological Agency says daytime highs reached 31.6 degrees in Ichihara City's Ushiku in Chiba Prefecture, 31.5 degrees in Hita City in Oita Prefecture, 31.1 degrees in Shimanto City's Nakamura in Kochi Prefecture, and 31 degrees in the city of Shizuoka. The mercury also climbed to over 30 degrees in central Tokyo.

Temperatures in the cities of Fukuoka, Osaka and Sapporo reached close to 30 degrees.

Weather officials say hot weather will continue on Saturday and Sunday across wide areas from western to northern Japan due to a high pressure system.

They forecast that daytime highs can reach 33 degrees on Saturday in some areas, including Kumagaya in Saitama Prefecture, Nagoya, and Kyoto. Fukushima, Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture and Tottori cities will have 32 degrees. Temperatures above 30 degrees will also be seen in Tokyo's central area, the cites of Kitami in Hokkaido, Sendai, Nara, Osaka, Takamatsu and Fukuoka.

Sharp increases in temperature, nearly 10 degrees higher than Friday, are forecast in parts of northeastern and eastern Japan.

The officials are calling on people to stay on alert against heatstroke over the weekend.

They are asking people to use air conditioners appropriately to keep room temperatures below 28 degrees and drink water before they feel thirsty. People are also advised to take occasional breaks when working outside.

Source: ANNnewsCH

Do Bears Prefer Acorns or Berries?

Bear sightings across Japan have already climbed to nearly twice the level recorded during the same period last year, prompting entry bans in mountain areas behind Kyoto’s Ninna-ji Temple and the cancellation of hiking events in Kansai, while new research suggests that the key to reducing encounters may lie in understanding what bears eat in each region.

Copper Thieves Target Japanese Shrines

Copper roofing panels were stolen from several shrines in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, including a city-designated cultural property, in the latest case amid a nationwide surge in copper thefts targeting shrines and temples across Japan, where soaring metal prices have fueled crimes that leave historic religious buildings damaged, exposed to the elements, and facing repair costs of millions of yen.

1200-Year-Old Temple on Miyajima Reduced to Ashes

Flames broke out on the morning of May 20th on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, home to one of Japan's World Heritage sites, destroying Reikado Hall near the summit of Mount Misen.

From Bento Boxes to Garbage Bags, Rising Costs Hitting Daily Life Across Japan

Uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East is beginning to affect daily life in Japan, as concerns over crude oil supplies spread to restaurants, cleaning services and even household garbage disposal systems across the Kansai region.

Tochigi Robbery-Murder Suspect’s Wife Posted Dance Videos on Social Media

A 25-year-old woman arrested as a suspected ringleader in a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture once posted cheerful dance videos on social media and was remembered by those who knew her as an energetic and outgoing young woman.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Early Rainy Season Chill Brings Heavy Rain Across Japan

After days of near-summer heat through May 20th, rain believed to mark the start of Japan's rainy season front swept across the country on May 21st, bringing sharp temperature drops, strong winds, and warnings for potentially heavy downpours.

How to Plan a Trip with a Best Friend Without Losing the Connection

More people are skipping the couple's getaway in favor of booking a flight with their closest friend. It's a shift that says something about how priorities have changed.

Cormorant Fishing Marks Arrival of Early Summer in Southern Japan

Traditional ukai cormorant fishing, a seasonal custom signaling the arrival of early summer, began on May 20th along the Chikugo River in Asakura, Fukuoka Prefecture, following the opening of ayu sweetfish fishing on the river that flows through southern Fukuoka.

Historic Walk Through Miyama’s Thatched-Roof Village

Surrounded by mountains in Kyoto Prefecture, Miyama’s Kitamura district preserves one of Japan’s most iconic rural landscapes, where rows of traditional thatched-roof houses have been maintained for generations through strong community cooperation and deeply rooted village traditions.