THE CLIMATE OF JAPAN 45 



days. In western Hokkaido heavy snowfalls ai'e also experienced. But 

 as the temperature is very low, snow does not fall in large flakes, but 

 in minute crystals, lilce powder in api)earance. In northern Japan 

 snow frequently falls also on the Pacific side, especially in Aomori 

 I^refecture. At ISTobechi and Karibazawa near Asamushi, noted for 

 its hot spring, railroad traffic is often interrupted by heavy snow- 

 storms. At Sendai snow covers the ground in winter but as there 

 the temperature is sufficiently high to melt it in the daytime, roads 

 which are not paved become very muddy to the annoyance of pede- 

 strians. The Pacific provinctss, however, are generally very dry in the 

 winter. Often for many weeks no appreciable quantity of precipitation 

 is measured. So also in the Inland sea district winter is the driest 

 season. 



The summer rainy season begins during the second fortnight of 

 June and continues till the first fortnight of July, lasting therefore 

 about thirty days. Tliis rainy season is called the '' Bai-u," or the 

 season of plum-rain, since it occurs as the plums are getting ripe. In 

 this season the Pacific high barometric pressure area bulges out towards 

 our east coast on account of the comparatively low temperature which 

 prevails there owing to the increased flow of the cold ocean current 

 known as the '■'■ Oyashiwo," which comes from the Behring Sea and 

 flows along our east coast. The cold air coming from this high area 

 causes gloomy weather in Eastern Japan generally, undercutting the 

 warmer air stratum over the district. Moreover, barometric depressions 

 approaching one after another from the Eastern sea and the Yangtse 

 valley, are checked by the high area on their way towards the east, 

 and come almost to a standstill over eastern Japan, gradually decreasing 

 in intensity. Thus gloomy rainy weather continues all over this country, 

 especially from Nagasaki to Tokyo. But the amount of precipitation 

 in this rainy season is not large. Heavy rains accompany the tropical 

 cyclones called " Typhoons " which visit this country frequently in 

 August and September. 



As regards the distribution of the annual rainfall, it suffices to 

 say that the total amount of precipitation for the whole year is about 

 1000 mm. in Hokkaido, 1000 mm. to 1500 mm. in Tohoku or north- 

 eastern Japan, 1500 mm. to 2000 mm. in Tokaido, and about 2000 

 mrn. to 2500 mm. in Southern Kiushiu. In the Inland sea district 

 the rainfall is comparatively scanty, the annual amount being generally 



