HOKKAIDO - Temperatures fell to their lowest levels of the season across much of Japan on the morning of October 18, with Rikubetsu in Hokkaido recording minus 4.3 degrees Celsius, the country's lowest temperature so far this autumn, before sunshine brought warmer conditions during the day and some areas experienced unseasonably hot weather.
In Rikubetsu, frost covered car windshields as temperatures dropped below freezing. A visitor from Kushiro, also in Hokkaido, described watching the temperature gauge inside the car fall rapidly after stepping outside, saying the experience showed just how cold Rikubetsu becomes at this time of year.
Central Tokyo also experienced its coldest morning of the season, with the temperature falling to 13.8 degrees Celsius due to radiational cooling. In Ginza, many pedestrians were seen wearing scarves and warm jackets as the autumn chill settled over the capital.
However, temperatures rose sharply under clear skies during the afternoon, reaching a high of 24.7 degrees Celsius in central Tokyo, just below the 25-degree threshold used in Japan to classify a summer day.
Some parts of the country experienced even more pronounced temperature contrasts. Yatsushiro in Kumamoto Prefecture recorded 31.5 degrees Celsius, exceeding the 30-degree threshold for a midsummer day despite the calendar approaching late October.
The wide temperature swings coincided with a series of seasonal events across Japan, including the Tokyo Meat Market Festival, where visitors gathered to enjoy beef and pork dishes as part of the country's traditional autumn food season.
At the Tokyo Meat Market, steak rice bowls prepared with Japanese Black Wagyu beef from Kumamoto Prefecture were sold at discounted prices, while beef shabu-shabu and pork shabu-shabu were served free of charge.
Visitors welcomed the opportunity to enjoy premium meat at affordable prices. One participant said the Wagyu beef was tender and delicious, adding that it was an enjoyable experience because they rarely had the chance to eat it. Another expressed delight at being able to eat so much beef, saying such an opportunity came only occasionally.
With food prices remaining high, long lines formed before the gates opened as visitors sought free samples of beef and pork.
Kumamon, Kumamoto Prefecture's popular promotional mascot, also appeared at the event, adding to the festive atmosphere. Vendors offered a wide selection of meat cuts, with shoppers purchasing large quantities to take home.
One visitor showed off a package of American beef intended for steak, saying it had cost 3,000 yen and that the plan was to make it last until the end of the year.
Meanwhile, in Kami, Kochi Prefecture, visitors enjoyed a different autumn tradition at the Cutlery Festival and Yamada Scarecrow Contest, an event celebrating the region's traditional Tosa forged blades and seasonal scarecrow displays.
A scarecrow inspired by the Japanese folktale "Hanasaka Jiisan," or "The Old Man Who Made the Trees Blossom," attracted attention after winning the competition's top prize. Visitors gathered to photograph the award-winning creation.
The festival also showcased a wide range of traditional cutting tools, including sickles and hatchets, highlighting the craftsmanship of local blacksmiths.
Skilled craftsmen demonstrated blade sharpening, giving visitors an opportunity to see the techniques used to maintain the region's renowned cutting tools.
One visitor praised the sharpness of a blade, saying it cut exceptionally well. Asked about cooking at home, the visitor said they regularly prepared simple dishes such as miso soup.
Visitors examined the handcrafted tools on display, appreciating the skill and precision of local artisans as autumn festivities continued across the country.
Source: FNN
