Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Kusatsu experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C). Winters average 25°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 57.4 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 9.8 inches of snow annually. The city sits at an elevation of 3,776 feet.
Temperature
25°F Jan (-4°C)67°F Jul (20°C)
Annual Average
46.4°F
14% below US avg
January Average
25°F (-4°C)
July Average
67°F (20°C)
Sunny Days
232 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
3,776 ft (1,151 m)
Area
26.3 sq mi (68.2 km²)
Population Density
238/sq mi
Coordinates
36.6167°N, 138.6000°W
Timezone
Asia/Tokyo
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall57.4"
51% above US avg
Snowfall9.8"
Wettest Month (Sep)8.11"
Driest Month (Dec)1.85"
Air Quality
Earthquake History
853 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
103 km
12 km
Mar 11, 2011
13 km E of Arai, Japan
M6.2
49 km
9 km
Mar 15, 2011
6 km NNW of Fujinomiya, Japan
M6.0
150 km
9 km
Apr 16, 2011
6 km ENE of Tanuma, Japan
M5.8
98 km
77 km
Feb 25, 2013
29 km NE of Numata, Japan
M5.8
63 km
10 km
Dec 3, 1996
35 km SE of Muramatsu, Japan
M5.7
124 km
139 km
Jul 16, 2007
16 km NNW of Kashiwazaki, Japan
M5.7
99 km
15 km
Mar 11, 2011
eastern Honshu, Japan
M5.7
45 km
12 km
Jun 2, 2024
40 km NE of Anamizu, Japan
M5.7
150 km
9 km
Mar 19, 2011
8 km WNW of Daigo, Japan
M5.7
150 km
6 km
Nov 9, 2013
3 km WSW of Moriya, Japan
M5.6
145 km
64 km
Jan 1, 2024
54 km NE of Anamizu, Japan
M5.6
146 km
10 km
Mar 6, 1996
13 km NNE of Gotenba, Japan
M5.6
136 km
33 km
Jul 15, 2011
5 km NE of Sakai, Japan
M5.5
124 km
89 km
Jan 1, 2024
56 km NE of Anamizu, Japan
M5.5
146 km
10 km
Aug 15, 1998
22 km WSW of Hotaka, Japan
M5.5
94 km
10 km
Dec 21, 1996
3 km E of Sugito, Japan
M5.5
124 km
45 km
Apr 11, 2011
8 km WSW of Iiyama, Japan
M5.5
35 km
17 km
Mar 15, 2012
3 km ENE of ?me, Japan
M5.5
109 km
104 km
Feb 15, 2005
2 km NNW of Iwatsuki, Japan
M5.5
120 km
46 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
28 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
171 km
2019
Hagibis
Category 1
92 mph
134 km
2018
Jebi
Category 1
86 mph
193 km
2018
Jongdari
Category 1
81 mph
270 km
2016
Mindulle
Category 1
75 mph
270 km
2014
Phanfone
Category 1
75 mph
192 km
2011
Roke
Category 1
92 mph
96 km
2007
Fitow
Category 1
81 mph
125 km
2005
Mawar
Category 2
81 mph
179 km
2004
Ma-on
Category 3
92 mph
156 km
2004
Chaba
Category 1
69 mph
243 km
2003
Etau
Category 1
58 mph
243 km
2002
Higos
Category 2
86 mph
141 km
2001
Danas
Category 1
69 mph
148 km
2000
Kirogi
Category 1
86 mph
239 km
1998
Vicki
Category 2
69 mph
99 km
1998
Zeb
Category 1
58 mph
259 km
1998
Stella
Category 1
69 mph
109 km
1996
Violet
Category 1
81 mph
275 km
1996
Kirk
Category 1
63 mph
203 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
8 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
—
113 km
2007
HONSHU: W COAST
Earthquake
—
15
107 km
1802
NW. HONSHU ISLAND
Earthquake
—
19
123 km
1751
NW. HONSHU ISLAND
Eruption + Earthquake
—
2,100
79 km
1614
NIIGATA PREFECTURE
Earthquake
—
—
112 km
1448
SADO, JAPAN
Earthquake
—
—
104 km
887
NIIGATA
Earthquake
—
2,000
108 km
863
NW. HONSHU ISLAND
Eruption + Earthquake
—
—
76 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
15 volcanoes within 200 km.
Closest: Kusatsu-Shiranesan (6 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Kusatsu-Shiranesan
Stratovolcano(es)
2,165 m (7,103 ft)
2018
6 km
Shiga
Shield(s)
2,041 m (6,696 ft)
Unknown
11 km
Asamayama
Complex
2,568 m (8,425 ft)
2019
24 km
Harunasan
Stratovolcano
1,449 m (4,754 ft)
550
27 km
Myokosan
Stratovolcano
2,454 m (8,051 ft)
-750
53 km
Akagisan
Stratovolcano
1,828 m (5,997 ft)
Unknown
53 km
Niigata-Yakeyama
Lava dome
2,400 m (7,874 ft)
1998
61 km
Yokodake
Stratovolcano(es)
2,480 m (8,136 ft)
1200
64 km
Hiuchigatake
Stratovolcano
2,356 m (7,730 ft)
1544
72 km
Nikko-Shiranesan
Shield
2,578 m (8,458 ft)
1952
72 km
Nantaisan
Stratovolcano
2,486 m (8,156 ft)
-9540
81 km
Omanago Group
Lava dome(s)
2,341 m (7,680 ft)
-3050
83 km
Midagahara
Stratovolcano
2,621 m (8,599 ft)
1839
90 km
Washiba-Kumonotaira
Shield(s)
2,924 m (9,593 ft)
Unknown
93 km
Yakedake
Stratovolcano(es)
2,455 m (8,054 ft)
1995
101 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
25°F (-4°C)
2.3 in
Coldest
February
25°F (-4°C)
2.6 in
March
31°F (-0°C)
3.1 in
April
44°F (6°C)
3.9 in
May
53°F (12°C)
4.7 in
June
60°F (16°C)
7.4 in
July
67°F (20°C)
8.0 in
August
69°F (21°C)
7.8 in
Warmest
September
61°F (16°C)
8.1 in
Wettest
October
50°F (10°C)
4.9 in
November
40°F (5°C)
2.8 in
December
31°F (-1°C)
1.9 in
Driest
Kusatsu has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 25°F in January to 69°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 57.4 inches, with September being the wettest month (8.1") and December the driest (1.9").