Rainy Season 2014 Cycling in Kyoto

梅雨京都自転車サイクリング

Rainy season finally arrived - and with a bang.

The winds are howling and a storm is barreling up from Kyushu.

In Kyoto, heavy rains are expected for tonight and through to Saturday.

May was hot and the farmers, as they always do, suffered.

Now it is a cool 25 degrees - and wet wet wet.

That however did not stop us or anyone else this morning. The roads were thronged with commuters on bikes.

Enjoy your commute.


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Kyoto Cycling Weather Hot and PM 2.5 Particles

京都ＰＭ２・５＋真夏日

Tiny particles known as PM 2.5 are filling the skies of western Japan now.

Most of the pollution is believed to be emanating from factories and automobiles in China.

We are wearing the mask when we cycle now, no matter awful it looks.

In addition, it is truly hot in Kyoto.

Today's high temperatures are predicted to hit 32 (89 F).


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Spring Arrives in Kyoto?

京都に春がきたのか？

After a blast of arctic air that finally lifted on Wednesday, spring-like weather appears to have arrived in Kyoto.

Monday morning saw snow in the hills and mountains that surround Kyoto, and it was cold on the bike.

We had on the lobster mitts and the funky hat with ear flaps that fits under a bike helmet.

Hopefully, the heavy duty winter gloves and underwear will be packed away until December.

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Usui (light rain) Period Begins in Japan

雨水

According to the pre-Gregorian calendar used in Japan, we are now in the period known in Japanese as "Usui" (light rain).

The period began on Wednesday February 19.

Usui is one of the 24 periods that make up the year in the solar calendar.

It begins when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 330° and will end when it reaches the longitude of 345°.

According to the modern calendar it will last until 5 March.

At that point, "Keichitsu" (啓蟄) - when hibernated insects begin to awake - starts.

It is cold in Kyoto, but according to the weather Gods at NHK next week will bring temperatures in the mid-teens (around 60 F).


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Kyoto Weather Update Cycling

京都天気予報サイクリング

Kyoto is closing in on the six-week period known as "rainy season." It is not always rainy and not always sticky, but it is in general not a pleasant time of year.

Normally, mid- to late-May is one of the best times to be in the city, but this year it is already hot.

Rainy season usually arrives around June 10 and runs, according to local lore, until Gion Matsuri festival (July 17) when the skies magically part and blue skies reign until the September rains.

Global warming appears to be messing with the calendar however.

Kyoto is already experiencing high summer (mid-July to mid-September) like weather.

Still, humidity is not through the roof, and early mornings and evenings are divine.

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Summer Arrives in Kyoto

京都で５月の真夏日

After a cold and wet April that extended into early May - the heater was on during Golden Week - it is now summer in Kyoto.

Temperatures in western Japan hit 30 degrees centigrade (86 F) yesterday.

Humidity is still manageable, but it was hot.

That is unseasonably so.

May and October are the two months of the year when cyclists are pretty much guaranteed good weather.

Still, mornings and evenings are crisp - perfect for riding - and the middle of the day while hot is doable.


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Spring Has Sprung in Kyoto

京都春がきたぞ

It is still chilly this morning in Kyoto, but spring - temporarily at least - is on its way.

According to the NHK weather report, Kyoto is going to enjoy high temperatures of around 20 (68F) starting tomorrow and lasting through the weekend.

Time indeed to take a ride.

Winter is not through with us yet this year, but the plum trees have bloomed, crocuses are pushing up, and in a month or sooner we will be under the cherry blossoms in Hirano Shrine drinking sake and ogling Ritsumeikan University students.

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