Live aurora forecast

Northern lights Japan tonight

Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, sits at 43-45° magnetic latitude. Aurora is visible during strong geomagnetic storms - the Kp index needs to reach 5-6 or above. Wakkanai at Japan's northern tip is the best-positioned city, with Kp 5 events recorded during the current solar maximum. Events are less frequent than at high-latitude Arctic destinations, but the 2024 and 2025 solar maximum produced several clear displays across Hokkaido.

Aurora forecast - Japan

Unlikely tonight

Kp 1 is well below the Kp 5-6 from Wakkanai threshold. No significant aurora activity is expected at this time.

Current Kp

of 9

Best threshold in Japan: Kp 5-6 from Wakkanai Ref. latitude: ~45°N mag.

↓ Bz — nT Solar wind — km/s Density — p/cm³ ☁ —% at ref. site

Conditions right now: — Kp + Bz + solar wind + cloud + moon

7-day outlook for Japan

Today

15 May

Quiet

Tomorrow

16 May

Quiet

Sun

17 May

Quiet

Mon

18 May

Quiet

Tue

19 May

Quiet

Wed

20 May

Quiet

Thu

21 May

Quiet

Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours. Badges show the best-case location in Japan.

Aurora visibility by Japanese location

Wakkanai

Unlikely

Japan's northernmost city - lowest aurora threshold in Japan

~45°N mag. lat. Needs Kp 5+

Abashiri

Unlikely

Northeast Hokkaido coast, Sea of Okhotsk, drift ice

~44°N mag. lat. Needs Kp 6+

Sapporo

Unlikely

Hokkaido's capital, best used as a base for darker sites

~43°N mag. lat. Needs Kp 6+

Best time to see the northern lights in Japan

Aurora in Japan requires significant geomagnetic storms. Only the deep mid-winter months offer nights dark and long enough for viewing, and only during periods of elevated Kp.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Japan aurora at a glance

Japan sits at the southern edge of aurora visibility for the northern hemisphere. Hokkaido is the only realistic viewing location - the main islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu are too far south to see aurora in all but the most extreme geomagnetic events. The threshold across Hokkaido runs from Kp 5 at Wakkanai in the north to Kp 6-7 at Sapporo. During G2-G3 storms (Kp 5-6), Wakkanai and the northeast coast have the best chance.

The solar maximum of 2024-2025 has been one of the strongest in two decades, producing multiple Kp 7+ storms that generated aurora photographs from across Hokkaido and attracted significant attention in Japan and across Asia. The strategy for aurora in Japan is monitoring the NOAA space weather forecast closely during the active season (October to March), having dark sites identified in advance, and being prepared to move quickly when a G2+ storm is forecast. Waiting for guaranteed conditions before planning will mean missing events.

Aurora Locations Worldwide

Global hub for all aurora forecast regions.

Northern Lights Wakkanai Tonight

Wakkanai - Japan's northernmost city and best aurora position.

Northern Lights Abashiri Tonight

Abashiri - northeast Hokkaido coast and drift ice.

Northern Lights Sapporo Tonight

Sapporo - Hokkaido capital, aurora base with dark site access.

Aurora Australis Guide

Southern hemisphere comparison - how aurora australis differs.

Common questions

Aurora in Japan - Hokkaido, thresholds, and solar maximum strategy.

Can you see the northern lights in Japan?

Yes, from Hokkaido during strong geomagnetic storms. The Kp index - a global measure of geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 (quiet) to 9 (extreme storm), updated every 3 hours - needs to reach 5-6 or above. Wakkanai at 45° magnetic latitude can see aurora at Kp 5-6. Sapporo needs Kp 6-7. Events are not nightly but occur several times per year during solar maximum. The main islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu are too far south for aurora in all but the most extreme events.

What Kp is needed for aurora in Japan?

Kp 5-6 from Wakkanai and the far north of Hokkaido. Kp 6 from Abashiri on the northeast coast. Kp 6-7 or above from Sapporo. The current solar maximum of 2024-2025 has produced the most frequent aurora visible from Japan in two decades, with multiple events exceeding Kp 6 during the active periods.

Where is the best place to see aurora in Japan?

Wakkanai is Japan's best-positioned city for aurora at 45° magnetic latitude. Cape Soya - Japan's northernmost point - is 30 km from Wakkanai and faces north over open sea with no significant light pollution. Abashiri on Hokkaido's northeast coast is the next best option, with dark coastal sites and a north-facing sea horizon.

When is aurora season in Japan?

October to March. Winter nights are long and clear weather is more common than in summer. The Sea of Okhotsk coast in northeast Hokkaido is particularly clear in winter when Siberian high pressure dominates. The equinox months of October and March are among the most geomagnetically active periods of the year.

How does Japan aurora compare to Iceland or Norway?

Iceland needs a Kp of 2-3 for aurora. Norway's far north needs Kp 1-2. Japan at 43-45° magnetic latitude needs Kp 5-7 - a fundamentally different category that requires major geomagnetic storms rather than routine activity. Japan is appropriate for travellers already visiting Hokkaido who want to take advantage of the current solar maximum, not as a dedicated aurora destination comparable to Arctic sites.