How does the climate differ in the various parts of Japan?
The northern areas of Japan, including Hokkaido and northern Honshu, have cold winters and warm, pleasant summers. The areas of central and southern Honshu have a mild winter season and hot, humid summers. At the southern end of the Japanese archipelago lie the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku, which have dry, mild winters and extremely hot, humid summers. Although the climate differs in the various areas of Japan, the clear changes in temperature and weather in each season are an important aspect of Japanese life. • Locate the major areas occupied by mountains in Japan. How do these mountains affect the weather patterns in Japan? Mountains cover most of the land area of Japan. Ranges of mountains, including the Central Alps, run down the center of Japan from the far north to the south. The mountains divide the country into two distinct climatic zones. The west coast – the side of the country that faces the Sea of Japan – receives the cold, moisture-bearing seasonal winds from the steppes
