Weathernews aims to deliver the world's best weather forecasts together with our Supporters, making full use of the latest technology. We work to improve every day so that we can bring highly accurate weather forecasts to as many people as possible.
In surveys on weather forecast accuracy conducted by a third-party organization in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, our weather forecast service "Weathernews" ranked No. 1 for forecast accuracy (*) among the five major weather forecasting services in Japan, four years in a row.
No. 1 in Forecast Accuracy for 4 Years Running
Making Weather Forecasts Even Better
Highly accurate forecasts are not achieved simply by speeding up data processing. Weathernews develops its forecasts while constantly exploring approaches that go beyond the extension of existing weather forecasting.
One of them is the use of AI (artificial intelligence). By having highly skilled IT engineers and meteorologists collaborate and introducing our own AI technology into weather forecasting, we can now predict the development of rain clouds, and other phenomena that earlier prediction models could not represent well, in high resolution and with high accuracy.
Japan's largest observation network is also our greatest strength. In addition to meteorological observation data from 13,000 locations nationwide and satellite imagery, we use machine learning to analyze the world's largest database of weather reports ("Weather Reports"), built up over more than 20 years with users across Japan ("Weather Reporters"). By taking in feedback on the weather from the field, we continue to evolve.
Using these unconventional, innovative methods, Weathernews takes on a variety of challenges together with our Supporters and works every day to improve forecast accuracy, so that we can deliver the most accurate weather forecasts.
The "Weathernews" App
The definitive weather app! Highly accurate forecasts on your smartphone
"Weathernews" is a weather app operated by Weathernews Inc. The No. 1 ranked weather forecast is available on your smartphone anytime, anywhere. As of April 2024, total downloads have exceeded 55 million, and the app is used by a great many people.
It offers the popular ultra-high-resolution rain cloud radar, which shows cloud movement up to 30 hours ahead; pinpoint forecasts every 5 minutes, every hour and up to 10 days ahead; and extensive disaster-prevention information on typhoons, earthquakes, tsunamis and more. It is also packed with content useful in daily life, such as the weather-related pain forecast developed jointly with physicians and laundry information that tells you when your clothes will dry. Professionals who face weather risks around the clock update the information in real time, delivering not only weather information for everyday life but also the latest news on typhoons, heavy rain, sudden downpours, heavy snow, earthquakes and tsunamis as early as possible, which is useful when it matters most.
Through the app, "Weather Report", in which users post and share photos of the weather, the sky and the seasons, connects people across Japan through the sky. By taking part in weather forecasting, which used to be one-way communication, users help us deliver more accurate and valuable weather information. It is a one-of-a-kind community. We will keep upgrading it so that even more people can enjoy taking part.
Going forward, we will continue to improve forecast accuracy, develop new content and enhance the UI/UX, aiming to build an app that supports the safe and enriched lives of our users.
Weathernews LiVE
Delivering the latest weather and disaster information from the forecasting front line
"Weathernews LiVE" is a weather information program operated by Weathernews Inc. Broadcast live 24 hours a day, 365 days a year from a studio adjoining our Forecast Center, it delivers the latest weather and disaster-prevention information to video platforms, and reaches 46 million monthly views on YouTube.
Besides weather explainer segments that use maps and graphs to explain specialized topics clearly, the banter between our distinctive weather casters and commentators is popular. The program is friendly and fun in normal times, but when a typhoon, heavy rain or earthquake strikes, we make the most of live streaming to report faster than anyone else, with detailed explanations and disaster-prevention advice. We also offer original forecasts useful for daily life and health, such as laundry, clothing, pollen and weather-related pain forecasts, and content for enjoying the seasons and nature, such as cherry blossoms, autumn leaves and astronomical events.
By delivering the information viewers need as quickly as possible, we hope to help reduce damage from weather disasters. We also believe that getting more people interested in the sky and the weather leads to greater awareness of disaster prevention and mitigation. We will keep enriching the program and aim to make shows that viewers enjoy watching.
