Located in the heart of the Japanese Alps, Takayama falls under a humid continental climate (Koppen Dfa/Dfb) with some characteristics of humid subtropical climate. It features four distinct seasons with a wide range of temperature between the summer and winter, somewhat resembling parts of Northern Japan and Hokkaid?. Takayama is also part of the heavy snow area of Japan (g?setsu-chitai,) with snowfall most days throughout the winter season. Takayama along with many other cities and towns exposed to the Sea of Japan experience lake effect snow, generating some of the highest, most consistent snowfall in the world.
Spring is short lived, usually dry with mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine. Cherry blossoms (sakura,) can be seen arriving at Takayama from the middle to the end of April, around 3 weeks later than Nagoya.
Summer begins around the end of May to the beginning of June, it is humid and wet with the arrival of the rain season (tsuyu,), receiving high rainfall amounts during this period. It then yields to a hotter and generally less humid end to the summer with day-time temperatures usually higher than 30�C (86�F) and occasionally higher than 35�C (95�F) coupled with plenty of strong sunshine.
Autumn approaches during the middle of October and is short, yet dry and cool with diminishing sunlight. Autumn foliage (k?y?,?can be seen in the Takayama area from the end of October to the first week of November.
Winter arrives around the beginning of December and is moderately long, cold and icy with high amounts of snowfall annually amounting to an average of 5.11m (201.2 inches) commonly leading to the development of snow banks in the outer areas of the city. The first snowfall of the season usually arrives at the end of November and lasts through until the beginning of April. Yearly low temperatures in the city centre do on occasions drop as low as -15�C (5�F) and occasionally fail to reach above freezing point during the day
