Akita vs Shonai: which is sunnier?
🇯🇵 Japan vs 🇯🇵 Japan · 97 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Akita and Shonai are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 1,394 vs 1,396 hours a year. Shonai has the higher Sunshine Score in 2 of 12 months; the other 10 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Akita | Shonai | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,394 | 1,396 |
| Sunniest month | June (66/100) | June (65/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 5/100 | 5/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 61/100 | 61/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,595 mm | 1,767 mm |
| Warmest sea | 28°C / 82°F | 29°C / 84°F |
| Peak midday UV | 6 (high) | 7 (high) |
Akita vs Shonai month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akita | Shonai | Akita | Shonai | Akita | Shonai | Akita | Shonai | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 3° | 3° | 117 | 159 | 10° | 11° |
| February | 0 | 0 | 3° | 3° | 85 | 105 | 9° | 10° |
| March | 0 | 0 | 6° | 7° | 99 | 107 | 8° | 9° |
| April | 23 | 28 | 12° | 13° | 101 | 100 | 12° | 12° |
| May | 51 | 62 | 17° | 19° | 104 | 103 | 15° | 16° |
| June | 66 | 65 | 22° | 24° | 112 | 116 | 21° | 22° |
| July | 59 | 59 | 25° | 27° | 199 | 211 | 25° | 25° |
| August | 59 | 59 | 27° | 29° | 180 | 186 | 28° | 29° |
| September | 60 | 60 | 24° | 25° | 146 | 145 | 27° | 27° |
| October | 49 | 49 | 18° | 18° | 150 | 165 | 22° | 23° |
| November | 20 | 20 | 12° | 12° | 148 | 173 | 17° | 18° |
| December | 0 | 0 | 5° | 6° | 154 | 197 | 13° | 13° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Shonai · May Shonai · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct even · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Akita averages 5/100, Shonai 5/100. Daytime highs are similar (6°C vs 6°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Shonai (average score 30/100 vs 25). Daytime highs are similar (12°C vs 13°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Akita averages 61/100, Shonai 61/100. Shonai is the warmer, around 27°C daytime highs vs 25°C.
- September–October: too close to call — Akita averages 55/100, Shonai 55/100. Daytime highs are similar (21°C vs 22°C).
Sea temperature
Shonai's sea gets warmer: 29°C / 84°F at its peak vs 28°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Akita about 5 months a year, Shonai about 5 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Akita weather by month · Shonai weather by month · Best time to visit Japan.
More comparisons: Akita vs Aomori · Akita vs Hanamaki · Shonai vs Sendai · Shonai vs Niigata · Shonai vs Yamagata · all head-to-heads