Japan's climate is mostly temperate, with the exception of Hokkaido in the north, which experiences very cold weather, and the far south of the country, which has a sub-tropical climate. Most of the year, the climate is moderate, but in winter it is cold throughout most of the country, with the exception of the far south.

During the winter months the weather ranges from mild and sunny in the far south, where temperatures rarely fall below 0 degrees C, to very cold weather in Hokkaido in the north, which is covered in snow for up to four months. The Tokyo area generally experiences cold, sunny winters with occasional snow.

The weather in summer ranges from warm to very hot. Average July temperatures range from 28 degrees C (83 degrees F) in the south to only 23 degrees C (73 degrees F) near Hokkaido. June has the highest rainfall of the year, while July is hot and humid over much of the country.

Spring and autumn are generally mild throughout the country. Spring is marked in the Tokyo area by the cherry blossom season.

Japan has relatively low levels of rainfall compared with Western Europe.