Geography
Long and narrow Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan is bordered on the north by the Japan Sea and on the south by mountainous Fukui Prefecture. About 70% of the area is covered in forests, with only some 12% under cultivation. In the southern part of the prefecture is the Hakusan National Natural Park and to the North is the Noto peninsula extending into the Japan sea. Highest mountain: Hakusan — 2,702m; Longest river: Tedorigawa — 65.65 km
Climate
Winters, which last from December through March, are cold, very snowy, and perfect for skiing. April and May are temperate, mild and relatively clear, but watch out for the rainy season, or tsuyu, which starts in June and can run through the end of July. Tsuyu can feel unseasonably cold, and is very humid. July and August are the official summer months, hot, humid and replete with fireworks and summer festivals. Autumn, from September through November, is, like spring, relatively clear, dry and comfortable. Average temperature: 14.3°C; annual rainfall: 2,654 mm.
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