Hita City in Oita Prefecture recorded a temperature of 35 °C on Monday, marking Japan's first midsummer day of 2026 [1].
The event is significant because the temperature was reached at 12:55 p.m. [1], making it the earliest nationwide recording of a midsummer day for the year. This unseasonable heat has prompted the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue heat-stroke warnings as temperatures spiked across several regions.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the temperature in Hita reached 35 °C [1]. This surpasses the previous earliest record for a midsummer day in Hita, which occurred on May 24, 2013 [1].
Other regions also experienced extreme heat on Monday. In Toyooka, Hyogo, the temperature was 34.9 °C at 1 p.m. [1]. Meanwhile, Tottori recorded a temperature of 34.1 °C at the same time [1].
"Hita in Oita Prefecture reached 35 °C, becoming the first midsummer day of the year nationwide," the Japan Meteorological Agency said [1].
The agency continues to monitor these temperature spikes, which are unusual for mid-May, and advises the public to take precautions against heat-related illnesses.
“Hita City in Oita Prefecture recorded a temperature of 35 °C on Monday”
The occurrence of a 'midsummer day' (defined in Japan as 35 °C or higher) in mid-May suggests an accelerating trend of unseasonable heatwaves. By breaking the previous local record set in 2013, this event highlights a shift in seasonal temperature patterns that may increase the risk of early-season heat-stroke and put additional pressure on public health infrastructure before the traditional summer peak.
