Niigata vs Shonai: which is sunnier?
🇯🇵 Japan vs 🇯🇵 Japan · 112 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Niigata is the sunnier overall: about 1,480 hours of sunshine a year to Shonai's 1,396. Niigata has the higher Sunshine Score in 4 of 12 months; the other 8 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Niigata | Shonai | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,480 | 1,396 |
| Sunniest month | May (71/100) | June (65/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 6/100 | 5/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 62/100 | 61/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,646 mm | 1,767 mm |
| Warmest sea | 29°C / 84°F | 29°C / 84°F |
| Peak midday UV | 6 (high) | 7 (high) |
Niigata vs Shonai month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niigata | Shonai | Niigata | Shonai | Niigata | Shonai | Niigata | Shonai | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 4° | 3° | 150 | 159 | 11° | 11° |
| February | 0 | 0 | 5° | 3° | 94 | 105 | 10° | 10° |
| March | 0 | 0 | 8° | 7° | 101 | 107 | 9° | 9° |
| April | 41 | 28 | 15° | 13° | 92 | 100 | 13° | 12° |
| May | 71 | 62 | 21° | 19° | 86 | 103 | 17° | 16° |
| June | 66 | 65 | 25° | 24° | 115 | 116 | 22° | 22° |
| July | 60 | 59 | 28° | 27° | 221 | 211 | 26° | 25° |
| August | 60 | 59 | 30° | 29° | 153 | 186 | 29° | 29° |
| September | 62 | 60 | 26° | 25° | 138 | 145 | 28° | 27° |
| October | 60 | 49 | 20° | 18° | 153 | 165 | 23° | 23° |
| November | 25 | 20 | 13° | 12° | 152 | 173 | 18° | 18° |
| December | 0 | 0 | 7° | 6° | 191 | 197 | 13° | 13° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Niigata · May Niigata · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct Niigata · Nov Niigata · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Niigata averages 6/100, Shonai 5/100. Daytime highs are similar (7°C vs 6°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Niigata (average score 37/100 vs 30). Niigata is the warmer, around 15°C daytime highs vs 13°C.
- June–August: too close to call — Niigata averages 62/100, Shonai 61/100. Daytime highs are similar (28°C vs 27°C).
- September–October: Niigata (average score 61/100 vs 55). Daytime highs are similar (23°C vs 22°C).
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 29°C / 84°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Niigata 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: Niigata weather by month · Shonai weather by month · Best time to visit Japan.
More comparisons: Niigata vs Sendai · Niigata vs Toyama · Niigata vs Ibaraki · Shonai vs Sendai · Shonai vs Akita · Shonai vs Yamagata · all head-to-heads