[Things to know before moving! #2] About the climate | #About Akan

For those from outside Hokkaido, many of you might have a strong image of Hokkaido as something special, or perhaps a "different world," right?
Among those aspects, especially regarding the "climate", there are many aspects that are unimaginable or unknown, which can be a major source of anxiety for those considering moving or relocating.

This time, I would like to introduce the "climate of Akan Town" by breaking it down by season.

■ Akan's "Spring"

● It starts to feel like spring in "May"

The average "arrival of spring" in Japan is from the end of March to April. However, the arrival of spring in Akan Town, Hokkaido, is a little later than that.
Warm weather, cherry blossoms blooming, and new buds on trees—the season that feels like spring is "around May".

● About the temperature

In April, the average maximum temperature reaches double digits, but it still feels chilly. The average minimum temperature actually records below freezing.
It is not until May that the temperature makes you feel like winter is finally over. Even so, it gets cold at night, so a jacket is essential.

● Studless tires until Golden Week!?

One of the essential items for life in Hokkaido is "studless tires."
The timing for changing them varies from person to person, but when listening to the townspeople, I feel that many people say,
"Use studless tires from early November until after Golden Week."
.

There have been times in the past when it snowed during Golden Week! Also, if you are crossing mountain passes, it is still a time when you cannot let your guard down.
Winter in Hokkaido is just long!! Always be careful when driving!

■ Akan's "Summer"

● The cool and dry summer of Akan (though it gets hot sometimes)

"Summer resort" The Kushiro region is characterized by a cool climate, even within Hokkaido, to the point where it is called a. Even in weather forecasts, Kushiro's temperature is often the only one that is low and stands out...
The reason it feels cool is not just the temperature, but also the "humidity." Instead of the humid heat of summer, you can feel a dry and pleasant summer.

● About the temperature

On average, it is characterized by a cool climate. The difference is obvious even compared to Tokyo. Furthermore, there are many days when the temperature is such that you will need a light jacket at night.
That said, there are often midsummer days exceeding 30°C recently. For about one to two weeks, there are days where you might think, 'This isn't much different from Tokyo!'

I feel like there is a tendency for it to get cooler as soon as the Obon season passes.
The period from the end of July to the beginning of August can be called the 'Akan summer'.

● Is it true that there is no rainy season?

I think everyone learned something like this during social studies in elementary school.

'There is no rainy season in Hokkaido'

I am one of those who was taught that. It seems that teaching has not changed even now.
Now, is this really true?

To be blunt, my honest impression after living here for 3 years is 'But there is a rainy season!'.
Cloudy and rainy days continue quite a bit from June to August. It's to the point where original rainy season words like 'Ezo Tsuyu' (Hokkaido rainy season) have been coined within the prefecture.
Besides that, the feeling that 'there is a rainy season' can also be seen from the data.

This is the average value of precipitation for each month over the three years from 2020 to 2022.
Although there is a difference of nearly double in July, it is not the case that the precipitation is overwhelmingly low throughout.
Recently, it is often affected by typhoons, so it can be said that there is a tendency for precipitation to be relatively high.

The definition of the rainy season is said to be 'a phenomenon in which there are many rainy or cloudy days from the end of spring to summer, or such a period.' That is a very rough definition. And above all, since Hokkaido is very large, the climate varies from region to region. It might not be possible to say definitively that 'there is a rainy season in Hokkaido.'

■ Akan's 'Autumn'

● Autumn in Akan that passes in an instant

Spring is slow to arrive, but autumn is the opposite. Autumn passes in an instant.
Cool breezes that feel like autumn start to blow from the end of August. Days with a maximum temperature of around 20°C start to appear one after another.

Once September arrives, it becomes even more autumn-like, and the temperature difference between day and night increases. Days with minimum temperatures in the single digits also become noticeable. Then, the autumn leaves in the mountains progress all at once.
The autumn foliage season in Honshu (such as Tokyo) is said to be mid-November, but the autumn foliage season in Hokkaido is around the end of September. Autumn in Hokkaido passes in an instant, to the point where you might come to see the autumn leaves in October only to find they are already over...!

● About the temperature

From September to November, the temperature drops rapidly.
By October, the minimum temperature drops to the low single digits, and by November, it drops below freezing. Speaking of November, it's more winter than autumn, isn't it?
Also, since the temperature difference between day and night becomes large during this period, you need to be very careful about managing your health!

Changing to studless tires is also frequently done between October and November.

■ Akan's "Winter"

● Akan's winter is cold because the clear weather continues

If I were to describe winter in Akan Town simply, I might say,“It’s sunny and there’s little snow, but it’s just plain cold!” Thankfully, the high percentage of sunny days is surprising.
A climate where sunny days continue in winter is not limited to Kushiro and Akan; it is a characteristic often seen in the eastern part of Hokkaido (especially on the Pacific side).
Even when national news reports that “Sapporo is having heavy snow!”, it is often the case that not even a single snowflake has fallen here. Having little snow is a huge help for those new to Hokkaido.

However.
Because there is little snow and the sunny weather continues,the severe cold persists.Since there are no clouds in the sky,radiative coolingis a phenomenon that easily occurs, making the eastern Hokkaido area one of the coldest regions in the prefecture.

● About the temperature

January is the coldest month of the year.
Since the average is “minus 16°C,” it can get even colder depending on the day. By the way, the lowest temperature in 2022 was“minus 22.1°C.”Thinking that it is even lower in the mountains makes me shiver just imagining it.

It is extremely cold, but there are spectacular views that can only be seen because it is cold.
Fragments of ice (ice flowers: shiga) flow down the river like drift ice, and you can see a phenomenon called rime ice, where water vapor freezes on tree branches and shines pure white.

You might feel a bit discouraged just hearing about the temperatures, but it shows you scenery you can only see here, so I can't help but love it.

● Akan's winter has little snow!

As a characteristic climate of the eastern Hokkaido area, including Akan Town,“low snowfall”can be mentioned. Many people may have the image that “Hokkaido = snow,” but the amount of snow varies by region within the prefecture.

Let's compare the precipitation in Sapporo and Akan Town in January 2022.

The difference is obvious.The precipitation in Akan Town is about 1/3 that of Sapporo. Although there are days with “heavy snow” where 20 to 30 centimeters fall in a single day about 4 or 5 times a year, it rarely continues to fall intermittently.
Even when the news says “heavy snow in Sapporo,” it is often clear and sunny in Kushiro and Akan. That is how much regional difference there is.

For those who are not used to life in Hokkaido (such as those who have moved here), this“little snow”can be said to be a very big advantage.
And above all, having less snow shoveling work is truly easy...

So, how was it?
Were you able to get a glimpse of a year in Akan?

Please use this information about the “climate of Akan Town” not only as information before moving, but also as advance information before traveling!
See you later!

(👇 If you have any questions or topics you are curious about, please feel free to leave a comment! 👇)