Radio · Japan

Weather radio in Japan

Japan has 5 NAVTEX stations, 1 VHF coast station, 1 public radio station and 1 HF radiofax station. Kushiro NAVTEX [K] transmits at 01:40, 05:40, 09:40, 13:40, 17:40 and 21:40 UTC.

All radio schedules →Show stations and ranges on the map →

NAVTEX 5

Automatic text broadcasts on 518 kHz, printed by a NAVTEX receiver on board. Each station has fixed time slots.

Kushiro NAVTEX [K]

NAVTEX station [K] in NAV/MET area XI, 400 nm range. Six fixed time slots a day carry navigational warnings and meteorological information.

Operator: Japan (NAVTEX coast station)
Position: 42°57.35'N 144°35.37'E (antenna), NAV/MET area XI
Frequencies: 518 kHz
Language: English

Broadcast times as published

01:40, 05:40, 09:40, 13:40, 17:40, 21:40 UTCNAVTEX slot: navigational and meteorological warnings and forecasts (which slots carry a forecast varies by station)

Moji NAVTEX [H]

NAVTEX station [H] in NAV/MET area XI, 400 nm range. Six fixed time slots a day carry navigational warnings and meteorological information.

Operator: Japan (NAVTEX coast station)
Position: 34°00.90'N 130°56.10'E (antenna), NAV/MET area XI
Frequencies: 518 kHz
Language: English

Broadcast times as published

01:10, 05:10, 09:10, 13:10, 17:10, 21:10 UTCNAVTEX slot: navigational and meteorological warnings and forecasts (which slots carry a forecast varies by station)

Naha NAVTEX [G]

NAVTEX station [G] in NAV/MET area XI, 400 nm range. Six fixed time slots a day carry navigational warnings and meteorological information.

Operator: Japan (NAVTEX coast station)
Position: 26°05.47'N 127°40.12'E (antenna), NAV/MET area XI
Frequencies: 518 kHz
Language: English

Broadcast times as published

01:00, 05:00, 09:00, 13:00, 17:00, 21:00 UTCNAVTEX slot: navigational and meteorological warnings and forecasts (which slots carry a forecast varies by station)

Otaru NAVTEX [J]

NAVTEX station [J] in NAV/MET area XI, 400 nm range. Six fixed time slots a day carry navigational warnings and meteorological information.

Operator: Japan (NAVTEX coast station)
Position: 43°19.53'N 140°26.83'E (antenna), NAV/MET area XI
Frequencies: 518 kHz
Language: English

Broadcast times as published

01:30, 05:30, 09:30, 13:30, 17:30, 21:30 UTCNAVTEX slot: navigational and meteorological warnings and forecasts (which slots carry a forecast varies by station)

Yokohama NAVTEX [I]

NAVTEX station [I] in NAV/MET area XI, 400 nm range. Six fixed time slots a day carry navigational warnings and meteorological information.

Operator: Japan (NAVTEX coast station)
Position: 35°14.55'N 139°55.28'E (antenna), NAV/MET area XI
Frequencies: 518 kHz
Language: English

Broadcast times as published

01:20, 05:20, 09:20, 13:20, 17:20, 21:20 UTCNAVTEX slot: navigational and meteorological warnings and forecasts (which slots carry a forecast varies by station)

VHF / MF / HF coast radio 1

Spoken broadcasts by the coast radio station on VHF working channels, and on MF and HF for longer range, announced first on channel 16 or 2182 kHz. HF radiofax (charts) is a separate type.

Japan Coast Guard MRCCs (VHF warnings)

Navigational and storm warnings from the Japan Coast Guard's regional centres on VHF twice a day (local time). NGA lists no routine weather forecast on VHF.

Operator: Japan Coast Guard regional MRCCs
Language: Japanese and English

Broadcast times as published

10:03, 16:03 Asia/TokyoLocal navigational warnings and storm warnings (Moji)VHF ch. 16 announcement, then working channel
10:10, 16:10 Asia/TokyoLocal navigational warnings and storm warnings (Nagoya, Okinawa)VHF ch. 16 announcement, then working channel
10:15, 16:15 Asia/TokyoLocal navigational warnings and storm warnings (Hiroshima, Niigata)VHF ch. 16 announcement, then working channel
10:20, 16:20 Asia/TokyoLocal navigational warnings and storm warnings (Kagoshima, Maizuru, Yokohama)VHF ch. 16 announcement, then working channel
10:25, 16:25 Asia/TokyoLocal navigational warnings and storm warnings (Hokkaido)VHF ch. 16 announcement, then working channel
10:33, 16:33 Asia/TokyoLocal navigational warnings and storm warnings (Kobe, Shiogama)VHF ch. 16 announcement, then working channel

Public radio 1

Sea weather read out on national public radio (FM), easy to receive near the coast.

NHK AM weather report for sea and weather maps (気象通報, Kishō tsūhō)

The Japan Meteorological Agency's weather report, read slowly enough to draw a weather map: station and ship observations, typhoon information and the fishing-area weather (漁業気象).

Operator: NHK, content from the Japan Meteorological Agency
Frequencies: NHK AM (medium wave · nationwide)
Language: Japanese

Broadcast times as published

15:45 Asia/Tokyo⛅Weather report with fishing-area weather (20 minutes)(Mon–Fri)NHK AM
17:05 Asia/Tokyo⛅Weather report with fishing-area weather (20 minutes; also at this time on public holidays)(Sat–Sun)NHK AM

HF radiofax 1

Weather charts sent over HF radio, received with an SSB receiver and a computer or fax decoder.

Tokyo (JMH) radiofax

HF radiofax weather charts from Tokyo, Japan. Received with an SSB radio and a fax decoder; chart-by-chart times are in the official schedule.

Operator: Japan Meteorological Agency · JMH / JMH2 / JMH4
Position: City position (approximate), not the transmitter site
Frequencies: 3622.5 kHz · 7795 kHz · 13988.5 kHz
Language: Charts (radiofax)

Broadcast times as published

Chart-by-chart times are not listed yet. Use the official schedule linked below.