Niigata vs Toyama: which is sunnier?
🇯🇵 Japan vs 🇯🇵 Japan · 224 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Toyama is the sunnier overall: about 1,590 hours of sunshine a year to Niigata's 1,480. Toyama has the higher Sunshine Score in 3 of 12 months, Niigata in 2 (7 within 2 points).
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Niigata | Toyama | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,480 | 1,590 |
| Sunniest month | May (71/100) | May (66/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 6/100 | 9/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 62/100 | 60/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,646 mm | 2,012 mm |
| Warmest sea | 29°C / 84°F | 29°C / 84°F |
| Peak midday UV | 6 (high) | 6 (high) |
Niigata vs Toyama month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niigata | Toyama | Niigata | Toyama | Niigata | Toyama | Niigata | Toyama | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 4° | 5° | 150 | 189 | 11° | 13° |
| February | 0 | 0 | 5° | 6° | 94 | 125 | 10° | 12° |
| March | 0 | 11 | 8° | 10° | 101 | 134 | 9° | 10° |
| April | 41 | 48 | 15° | 17° | 92 | 126 | 13° | 13° |
| May | 71 | 66 | 21° | 23° | 86 | 118 | 17° | 16° |
| June | 66 | 60 | 25° | 27° | 115 | 154 | 22° | 22° |
| July | 60 | 60 | 28° | 30° | 221 | 242 | 26° | 25° |
| August | 60 | 60 | 30° | 31° | 153 | 171 | 29° | 29° |
| September | 62 | 60 | 26° | 27° | 138 | 200 | 28° | 29° |
| October | 60 | 60 | 20° | 21° | 153 | 162 | 23° | 24° |
| November | 25 | 35 | 13° | 15° | 152 | 164 | 18° | 19° |
| December | 0 | 0 | 7° | 8° | 191 | 227 | 13° | 16° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar Toyama · Apr Toyama · May Niigata · Jun Niigata · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct even · Nov Toyama · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: Toyama (average score 9/100 vs 6). Toyama is the warmer, around 9°C daytime highs vs 7°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Toyama (average score 42/100 vs 37). Toyama is the warmer, around 17°C daytime highs vs 15°C.
- June–August: too close to call — Niigata averages 62/100, Toyama 60/100. Daytime highs are similar (28°C vs 29°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Niigata averages 61/100, Toyama 60/100. Daytime highs are similar (23°C vs 24°C).
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 29°C / 84°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Niigata about 5 months a year, Toyama about 5 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Niigata weather by month · Toyama weather by month · Best time to visit Japan.
More comparisons: Niigata vs Sendai · Niigata vs Ibaraki · Niigata vs Yamagata · Toyama vs Tokyo · Toyama vs Nagoya · Toyama vs Shizuoka · all head-to-heads