Sendai vs Niigata: which is sunnier?
🇯🇵 Japan vs 🇯🇵 Japan · 159 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Sendai and Niigata are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 1,521 vs 1,480 hours a year. Sendai 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
| Sendai | Niigata | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,521 | 1,480 |
| Sunniest month | May (72/100) | May (71/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 7/100 | 6/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 62/100 | 62/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,361 mm | 1,646 mm |
| Warmest sea | 27°C / 81°F | 29°C / 84°F |
| Peak midday UV | 6 (high) | 6 (high) |
Sendai vs Niigata month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sendai | Niigata | Sendai | Niigata | Sendai | Niigata | Sendai | Niigata | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 3° | 4° | 97 | 150 | 10° | 11° |
| February | 0 | 0 | 4° | 5° | 62 | 94 | 12° | 10° |
| March | 6 | 0 | 9° | 8° | 82 | 101 | 11° | 9° |
| April | 48 | 41 | 16° | 15° | 84 | 92 | 14° | 13° |
| May | 72 | 71 | 21° | 21° | 86 | 86 | 17° | 17° |
| June | 67 | 66 | 25° | 25° | 113 | 115 | 20° | 22° |
| July | 60 | 60 | 29° | 28° | 202 | 221 | 24° | 26° |
| August | 60 | 60 | 30° | 30° | 149 | 153 | 27° | 29° |
| September | 62 | 62 | 26° | 26° | 138 | 138 | 25° | 28° |
| October | 61 | 60 | 20° | 20° | 143 | 153 | 22° | 23° |
| November | 29 | 25 | 13° | 13° | 94 | 152 | 18° | 18° |
| December | 0 | 0 | 6° | 7° | 111 | 191 | 15° | 13° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar Sendai · Apr Sendai · May even · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct even · Nov Sendai · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Sendai averages 7/100, Niigata 6/100. Daytime highs are similar (7°C vs 7°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Sendai (average score 42/100 vs 37). Daytime highs are similar (15°C vs 15°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Sendai averages 62/100, Niigata 62/100. Daytime highs are similar (28°C vs 28°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Sendai averages 62/100, Niigata 61/100. Daytime highs are similar (23°C vs 23°C).
Sea temperature
Niigata's sea gets warmer: 29°C / 84°F at its peak vs 27°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Sendai about 4 months a year, Niigata about 5 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Sendai weather by month · Niigata weather by month · Best time to visit Japan.
More comparisons: Sendai vs Ibaraki · Sendai vs Yamagata · Sendai vs Hanamaki · Niigata vs Toyama · Niigata vs Ibaraki · Niigata vs Yamagata · all head-to-heads