Japanese weather officials said on Thursday that the rainy season appears to have ended in the Kanto-Koshin region including Tokyo, and the Tokai region to its west.

They made the announcement based on the forecast that fine weather will prevail in the coming week in the two regions.

The end of the rainy season comes one day earlier than average and four days earlier than last year in the Kanto-Koshin. In Tokai, it is one day earlier than average and two days later than last year.

Weather officials also called for caution against heatstroke as high temperatures were observed nationwide from Thursday morning.
Before 11:30 a.m., the mercury hit 35 degrees Celsius in Toyooka City in Hyogo Prefecture and Mitoyo City in Kagawa Prefecture, both in western Japan.

Heatstroke alerts have been issued in areas from southern to central Japan, including the prefectures of Okinawa, Osaka, Kyoto, Ishikawa and Aichi.

Daytime temperatures are forecast to reach 35 degrees or higher over the next week to around July 24 in areas from Okinawa to eastern Japan.

People are advised not to exercise outdoors and to refrain from going outside when a heat index on the Environment Ministry's website reaches 31 or higher in their region. Residents in those areas are also advised to use air conditioning indoors and take fluids and salt from time to time.

People are advised to keep an eye on infants and the elderly, as they are vulnerable to heatstroke.