Niigata vs Yamagata: which is sunnier?
🇯🇵 Japan vs 🇯🇵 Japan · 121 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Niigata and Yamagata are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 1,480 vs 1,521 hours a year. Niigata has the higher Sunshine Score in 3 of 12 months; the other 9 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 | Yamagata | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,480 | 1,521 |
| Sunniest month | May (71/100) | May (70/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 6/100 | 5/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 62/100 | 62/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,646 mm | 1,546 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 6 (high) | 6 (high) |
Niigata vs Yamagata month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niigata | Yamagata | Niigata | Yamagata | Niigata | Yamagata | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 4° | 2° | 150 | 126 |
| February | 0 | 0 | 5° | 2° | 94 | 81 |
| March | 0 | 0 | 8° | 7° | 101 | 93 |
| April | 41 | 35 | 15° | 14° | 92 | 92 |
| May | 71 | 70 | 21° | 20° | 86 | 94 |
| June | 66 | 66 | 25° | 25° | 115 | 116 |
| July | 60 | 60 | 28° | 28° | 221 | 204 |
| August | 60 | 60 | 30° | 29° | 153 | 168 |
| September | 62 | 61 | 26° | 25° | 138 | 142 |
| October | 60 | 50 | 20° | 18° | 153 | 153 |
| November | 25 | 21 | 13° | 12° | 152 | 127 |
| December | 0 | 0 | 7° | 5° | 191 | 150 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Niigata · May even · 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, Yamagata 5/100. Niigata is the warmer, around 7°C daytime highs vs 5°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Niigata averages 37/100, Yamagata 35/100. Daytime highs are similar (15°C vs 14°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Niigata averages 62/100, Yamagata 62/100. Daytime highs are similar (28°C vs 27°C).
- September–October: Niigata (average score 61/100 vs 56). Daytime highs are similar (23°C vs 22°C).
Full month-by-month guides: Niigata weather by month · Yamagata weather by month · Best time to visit Japan.
More comparisons: Niigata vs Sendai · Niigata vs Toyama · Niigata vs Ibaraki · Yamagata vs Sendai · Yamagata vs Hanamaki · Yamagata vs Shonai · all head-to-heads