It has been abundantly demonstrated by careful observations that the east coasts of Japan are slowly rising. This phenomenon was first noticed in the case of the plain on which stands the capital, Tōkyō. Maps of sufficiently trustworthy Secular Movement. accuracy show that in the 11th century Tōkyō Bay penetrated much more deeply in a northern direction than it does now; the point where the city’s main river (Sumida or Arakawa) enters the sea was considerably to the north of its present position, and low-lying districts, to-day thickly populated, were under water. Edmund Naumann was the discoverer of these facts, and his attention was first drawn to them by learning that an edible sea-weed, which flourishes only in salt water, is called Asakusa-nori, from the place (Asakusa) of its original provenance, which now lies some 3 m. inland. Similar phenomena were found in Sakhalin by Schmidt and on the north-east coast of the main island by Rein, and there can be little doubt that they exist at other places also. Naumann has concluded that “formerly Tōkyō Bay stretched further over the whole level country of Shimosa and Hitachi and northwards as far as the plain of Kwantō extends;” that “the mountain country of Kasusa-Awa emerged from it an island, and that a current ran in a north-westerly direction between this island and the northern mountain margin of the present plain toward the north-east into the open ocean.”
Mineral Springs.—The presence of so many active volcanoes is partially compensated by a wealth of mineral springs. Since many of these thermal springs possess great medicinal value, Japan may become one of the world’s favourite health-resorts. There are more than a hundred spas, some hot, some cold, which, being easily accessible and highly efficacious, are largely visited by the Japanese. The most noteworthy are as follows:—
Climate.—The large extension of the Japanese islands in a northerly and southerly direction causes great varieties of climate. General characteristics are hot and humid though short summers, and long, cold and clear winters. The equatorial currents produce conditions differing from those existing at corresponding latitudes on the neighbouring continent. In Kiūshiū, Shikoku and the southern half of the main island, the months of July and August alone are marked by oppressive heat at the sea-level, while in elevated districts a cool and even bracing temperature may always be found, though the direct rays of the sun retain distressing power. Winter in these districts does not last more than two months, from the end of December to the beginning of March; for although the latter month is not free from frost and even snow, the balminess of spring makes itself plainly perceptible. In the northern half of the main island, in Yezo and in the Kuriles, the cold is severe during the winter, which lasts for at least four months, and snow falls sometimes to great depths. Whereas in Tōkyō the number of frosty nights during a year does not average much over 60, the corresponding number in Sapporo on the north-west of Yezo is 145. But the variation of the thermometer in winter and summer being considerable—as much as 72° F. in Tōkyō—the climate proves somewhat trying to persons of weak constitution. On the other hand, the mean daily variation is in general less than that in other countries having the same latitude: it is greatest in January, when it reaches 18° F., and least in July, when it barely exceeds 9° F. The monthly variation is very great in March, when it usually reaches 43° F.
During the first 40 years of the Meiji era numerous meteorological stations were established. Reports are constantly forwarded by telegraph to the central observatory in Tōkyō, which Meteorology. issues daily statements of the climatic conditions during the previous twenty-four hours, as well as forecasts for the next twenty-four. The whole country is divided into districts for meteorological purposes, and storm-warnings are issued when necessary. At the most important stations observations are taken every hour; at the less important, six observations daily; and at the least important, three observations. From the record of three decades the following yearly averages of temperature are obtained:—
| F°. | |
| Taihoku (in Formosa) | 71 |
| Nagasaki (Kiūshiū) | 60 |
| Kōbe (Main Island) | 59 |
| Osaka (Main Island) | 59 |
| Okayama (Main Island) | 58 |
| Nagoya (Main Island) | 58 |
| Sakai (Main Island) | 58 |
| Tōkyō (Capital) | 57 |
| Kiōto (Main Island) | 57 |
| Niigata (Main Island) | 55 |
| Ishinomaki (Main Island) | 52 |
| Aomori (Main Island) | 50 |
| Sapporo (Yezo) | 44 |
The following table affords data for comparing the climates of Peking, Shanghai, Hakodate, Tōkyō and San Francisco:—
| Longitude. | Latitude. | Mean Temp., F°. | |
| Peking | 116° 29′ E. | 39° 57′ N. | 53 |
| Shanghai | 121° 20′ E. | 31° 12′ N. | 59 |
| Hakodate | 140° 45′ E. | 41° 46′ N. | 47 |
| Tōkyō | 138° 47′ E. | 35° 41′ N. | 57 |
| San Francisco | 122° 25′ E. | 37° 48′ N. | 56 |
| Hottest Month. | Mean Temp. of Hottest Month. | |
| Peking | July | 80 |
| Shanghai | ” | 84 |
| Hakodate | August | 71 |
| Tōkyō | ” | 79 |
| San Francisco | September | 63 |
| Coldest Month. | Mean Temp. of Coldest Month. | |
| Peking | January | 22 |
| Shanghai | ” | 26 |
| Hakodate | ” | 28 |
| Tōkyō | ” | 36 |
| San Francisco | ” | 49 |