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Weather & Climate in Karuizawa, Japan
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Karuizawa experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C). Winters average 26°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July. The area gets 232 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 57.1 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 8.0 inches of snow annually. The city sits at an elevation of 3,123 feet.
Temperature
26°F Jan (-4°C)
67°F Jul (19°C)
| Annual Average | 46.4°F |
| 14% below US avg | |
| January Average | 26°F (-4°C) |
| July Average | 67°F (19°C) |
| Sunny Days | 232 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 3,123 ft (952 m) |
| Area | 54.7 sq mi (141.8 km²) |
| Population Density | 366/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 36.3500°N, 138.6333°W |
| Timezone | Asia/Tokyo |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
913 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M6.6.
| Jul 16, 2007 | 20 km NNW of Kashiwazaki, Japan | M6.6 | 133 km | 12 km |
| Mar 11, 2011 | 13 km E of Arai, Japan | M6.2 | 77 km | 9 km |
| Mar 15, 2011 | 6 km NNW of Fujinomiya, Japan | M6.0 | 120 km | 9 km |
| Feb 25, 2013 | 29 km NE of Numata, Japan | M5.8 | 78 km | 10 km |
| Apr 16, 2011 | 6 km ENE of Tanuma, Japan | M5.8 | 91 km | 77 km |
| Mar 11, 2011 | eastern Honshu, Japan | M5.7 | 72 km | 12 km |
| Dec 3, 1996 | 35 km SE of Muramatsu, Japan | M5.7 | 147 km | 139 km |
| Jul 16, 2007 | 16 km NNW of Kashiwazaki, Japan | M5.7 | 129 km | 15 km |
| Nov 9, 2013 | 3 km WSW of Moriya, Japan | M5.6 | 129 km | 64 km |
| Mar 6, 1996 | 13 km NNE of Gotenba, Japan | M5.6 | 107 km | 33 km |
| Jul 15, 2011 | 5 km NE of Sakai, Japan | M5.5 | 112 km | 89 km |
| Dec 21, 1996 | 3 km E of Sugito, Japan | M5.5 | 108 km | 45 km |
| Aug 15, 1998 | 22 km WSW of Hotaka, Japan | M5.5 | 89 km | 10 km |
| Mar 15, 2012 | 3 km ENE of ?me, Japan | M5.5 | 84 km | 104 km |
| Apr 11, 2011 | 8 km WSW of Iiyama, Japan | M5.5 | 60 km | 17 km |
| Feb 15, 2005 | 2 km NNW of Iwatsuki, Japan | M5.5 | 103 km | 46 km |
| May 16, 2016 | 6 km NE of Kasukabe, Japan | M5.4 | 111 km | 45 km |
| Aug 28, 1998 | 14 km E of Kawasaki, Japan | M5.4 | 145 km | 76 km |
| Jun 5, 1990 | 13 km NE of Gotenba, Japan | M5.3 | 111 km | 122 km |
| Jan 4, 2001 | 20 km WSW of Shiozawa, Japan | M5.3 | 70 km | 21 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
30 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 3.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2019 | Faxai | Category 3 | 98 mph | 148 km |
| 2019 | Hagibis | Category 2 | 92 mph | 108 km |
| 2018 | Jebi | Category 1 | 86 mph | 210 km |
| 2018 | Shanshan | Category 1 | 75 mph | 282 km |
| 2018 | Jongdari | Category 1 | 81 mph | 241 km |
| 2016 | Mindulle | Category 1 | 75 mph | 241 km |
| 2014 | Phanfone | Category 1 | 81 mph | 163 km |
| 2011 | Roke | Category 2 | 92 mph | 71 km |
| 2007 | Fitow | Category 1 | 81 mph | 98 km |
| 2005 | Mawar | Category 2 | 81 mph | 156 km |
| 2004 | Ma-on | Category 3 | 92 mph | 134 km |
| 2004 | Chaba | Category 1 | 69 mph | 257 km |
| 2003 | Etau | Category 1 | 58 mph | 234 km |
| 2002 | Higos | Category 2 | 86 mph | 124 km |
| 2001 | Danas | Category 1 | 81 mph | 129 km |
| 2000 | Kirogi | Category 1 | 86 mph | 220 km |
| 1998 | Vicki | Category 2 | 69 mph | 109 km |
| 1998 | Zeb | Category 1 | 58 mph | 263 km |
| 1998 | Stella | Category 1 | 69 mph | 97 km |
| 1996 | Violet | Category 1 | 81 mph | 254 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
12 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 0.2 m (1 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1987 | HONSHU ISLAND | Earthquake | 0.2 m | — | 140 km |
| 2007 | HONSHU: W COAST | Earthquake | — | 15 | 136 km |
| 1855 | TOKAIDO | Earthquake | — | 6,757 | 131 km |
| 1751 | NW. HONSHU ISLAND | Eruption + Earthquake | — | 2,100 | 106 km |
| 1633 | SAGAMI BAY | Earthquake | — | 150 | 138 km |
| 1614 | NIIGATA PREFECTURE | Earthquake | — | — | 140 km |
| 1448 | SADO, JAPAN | Earthquake | — | — | 134 km |
| 1257 | SAGAMI BAY, JAPAN | Earthquake | — | — | 150 km |
| 1241 | KAMAKURA, SAGAMI BAY | Earthquake | — | — | 145 km |
| 887 | NIIGATA | Earthquake | — | 2,000 | 136 km |
| 863 | NW. HONSHU ISLAND | Eruption + Earthquake | — | — | 101 km |
| 818 | TOKAIDO | Eruption + Earthquake | — | — | 141 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
15 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Asamayama (12 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Asamayama | Complex | 2,568 m (8,425 ft) | 2019 | 12 km |
| Harunasan | Stratovolcano | 1,449 m (4,754 ft) | 550 | 24 km |
| Kusatsu-Shiranesan | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,165 m (7,103 ft) | 2018 | 31 km |
| Shiga | Shield(s) | 2,041 m (6,696 ft) | Unknown | 39 km |
| Yokodake | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,480 m (8,136 ft) | 1200 | 41 km |
| Akagisan | Stratovolcano | 1,828 m (5,997 ft) | Unknown | 55 km |
| Myokosan | Stratovolcano | 2,454 m (8,051 ft) | -750 | 76 km |
| Niigata-Yakeyama | Lava dome | 2,400 m (7,874 ft) | 1998 | 83 km |
| Nikko-Shiranesan | Shield | 2,578 m (8,458 ft) | 1952 | 83 km |
| Hiuchigatake | Stratovolcano | 2,356 m (7,730 ft) | 1544 | 89 km |
| Nantaisan | Stratovolcano | 2,486 m (8,156 ft) | -9540 | 89 km |
| Omanago Group | Lava dome(s) | 2,341 m (7,680 ft) | -3050 | 92 km |
| Washiba-Kumonotaira | Shield(s) | 2,924 m (9,593 ft) | Unknown | 93 km |
| Yakedake | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,455 m (8,054 ft) | 1995 | 95 km |
| Midagahara | Stratovolcano | 2,621 m (8,599 ft) | 1839 | 97 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26°F (-4°C) | 1.6 in | Coldest |
| February | 26°F (-3°C) | 2.1 in | |
| March | 31°F (-0°C) | 3.0 in | |
| April | 44°F (6°C) | 4.1 in | |
| May | 53°F (12°C) | 4.9 in | |
| June | 60°F (15°C) | 7.9 in | |
| July | 67°F (19°C) | 8.1 in | |
| August | 69°F (21°C) | 8.2 in | Warmest |
| September | 61°F (16°C) | 8.4 in | Wettest |
| October | 50°F (10°C) | 5.0 in | |
| November | 40°F (5°C) | 2.6 in | |
| December | 31°F (-0°C) | 1.3 in | Driest |
Karuizawa has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 26°F in January to 69°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 57.1 inches, with September being the wettest month (8.4") and December the driest (1.3").