Japan logs record-high temperature of 41.2°C in Hyogo Prefecture

Japan's temperature soared to a new all-time high of 41.2°C in the western prefecture of Hyogo on Jul. 30, NHK reported.

On the same day, cities in Kyoto and Okayama prefectures also sweltered above 40°C.

It is the first time in 2025 that temperatures in Japan went over 40°C, The Japan Times reported. In 2024, the mark was reached on Aug. 16.

Heatstroke alerts have been issued for 33 of Japan's 47 prefectures.

Before this day, the highest temperature recorded had been 41.1°C, observed in 2020 in Hamamatsu city, and in 2018 in Kumagaya city, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The agency also said that a Pacific high-pressure system will cover much of Japan for several days, bringing an extended heat wave to the country.

According to the Meteorological Agency, a Pacific high-pressure system will cover much of Japan from Saturday through Monday, bringing extreme heat to wide areas.

A similar phenomenon happened in the middle of June, pushing temperatures up to 38.2°C on Jun. 17 in Yamanashi prefecture, while Tokyo hit 36.8°C.

Rise in heat-related illnesses

The extreme heat has sent an increasing number of people to hospitals for heatstroke, heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses in Japan.

There were 10,804 such cases in the week before Jul. 30, leading to 16 deaths, Kyodo News reported, citing Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

The total figure is significantly more than the 5,309 recorded the week before that.

Tokyo saw 1,099 cases, the most among all prefectures, followed by Saitama and Hokkaido.

Japanese authorities are urging the people to stay hydrated and use air conditioners and cooling fans.

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