News
Weather Forecast Data for Business in Japan: What Companies Need to Know
2026.07.17
If your company provides digital services, platforms, applications, or business operations for users in Japan, and those services involve weather forecast data, Japan’s amended Meteorological Service Act may be relevant to you.
One of the changes introduced under the amended Act was a revision to the framework governing forecast services conducted by foreign entities.
Companies that use or provide Japanese weather forecast data in the Japanese market should review their own data sources and service delivery framework. They should also understand their providers’ compliance and service delivery frameworks, data quality, commercial usage terms, and other relevant conditions.
This article explains the key regulatory, quality, and operational considerations that companies using weather forecast data for Japan-facing services or business operations should understand.
Table of Contents
- Japan Has Strengthened Its Regulatory Framework for Weather Forecast Services
- What Regulatory Considerations Should Companies Check When Handling Forecast Data for Japan-Facing Services?
- Why Weather Forecast Data Matters for Business in Japan
- What Businesses Should Check When Choosing a Weather Data Provider for Japan
- How JWA Supports Companies Using Weather Forecast Data in Japan
- Reviewing Weather Data Sources for Japan-Facing Services
- FAQ
Japan Has Strengthened Its Regulatory Framework for Weather Forecast Services
Framework Already in Place Before May 29, 2026
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) states that when entities other than JMA intend to conduct forecast services for weather, waves, or other phenomena, they must obtain permission from the Director-General of JMA under Article 17 of the Meteorological Service Act.
It also states that permission is required when providing forecast services for Japan’s weather or other phenomena to users in Japan, regardless of whether the entity is located inside or outside Japan.
What Was Strengthened by the Amendment Effective May 29, 2026
Under the amended Meteorological Service Act, which came into effect on May 29, 2026, the framework for entities providing forecasts to users in Japan was revised. The procedures applicable to forecast services conducted by foreign entities and the measures against violations were also clarified and strengthened.
Specifically, the amendments introduced new requirements, including the obligation for foreign entities to designate a domestic representative or equivalent when obtaining permission to conduct forecast services, as well as provisions allowing the publication of the names of unauthorized providers.
What Regulatory Considerations Should Companies Check When Handling Forecast Data for Japan-Facing Services?
Companies should understand how they use or provide forecast data in their services, as well as their weather data provider’s compliance framework, service delivery framework, usage terms, and other conditions related to providing forecasts for users in Japan, and organize the relevant regulatory considerations and usage terms accordingly.
In particular, the relevant regulatory considerations may differ depending on whether forecast data obtained from a weather data provider is redistributed through a Japan-facing weather information service, or used internally to support business decision-making within the company’s operations in Japan.
In either case, when incorporating weather APIs or global weather services into Japan-facing services, it is important to understand the provider’s compliance framework and service delivery framework. Companies should also review the commercial usage terms, redistribution terms, and any other conditions applicable to their intended use or service delivery model.
Why Weather Forecast Data Matters for Business in Japan
Weather forecast data plays an important role in business decision-making for companies providing services for Japan or operating in the Japanese market, including logistics, retail, construction, events, energy, tourism, and insurance. It is also used in day-to-day decisions, such as whether deliveries can proceed, whether work should be suspended, whether business hours should be adjusted, how demand can be forecast, and how to ensure employee safety.
Japan’s weather varies significantly by region and season due to its long north-south geography, complex terrain, four distinct seasons, and seasonal wind patterns. Weather risks that affect business activities, such as the rainy season, typhoons, localized heavy rainfall, heavy snow, and extreme heat, occur throughout the year. Therefore, when using weather forecast data for Japan-facing services or business operations, it is important to consider not only data accuracy and update frequency, but also whether the information reflects Japan-specific weather risks and regional characteristics, and whether it is consistent with JMA official information, such as warnings and advisories.
For more information on why weather forecasting in Japan is challenging, see: Why Is Japan’s Weather So Difficult to Forecast? ―How the Four Seasons and Topography Create Weather Complexity and Affect Businesses―
What Businesses Should Check When Choosing a Weather Data Provider for Japan
Companies Providing Japan-Facing Weather Information Services Using Forecast Data from Another Provider
Even when displaying or providing forecast data received from another provider without modification, it is important to review the provider’s compliance framework, service delivery framework, and terms governing commercial use and redistributions for forecast services in Japan.
Depending on how a company uses forecast data obtained from another provider in its own services, those services may fall within the scope of Japan’s weather forecasting regulations. Therefore, companies should review the relevant laws and regulations in line with their specific service delivery model.
Using forecast data from an unauthorized provider, or data with reliability concerns, may create not only compliance risks but also risks to service reliability and quality.
Companies Using Forecast Data Received from Another Provider to Support Their Own Business in Japan
When forecast data received from another provider is used for internal business decisions, such as logistics, store operations, events, construction, renewable energy, insurance, disaster preparedness, or demand forecasting, the issues to consider differ from those involved in providing weather information services externally.
At the same time, using forecasts that do not align with Japan-specific weather risks, official disaster information frameworks, or regional characteristics, or using data with reliability issues, may lead to incorrect business decisions.
For example, in logistics, construction, event operations, store operations, and factory or warehouse management, factors such as forecast accuracy, update frequency, coverage, and support systems can affect business decisions. When weather data is used to determine whether deliveries can proceed, whether work should be suspended, whether business hours should be adjusted, or how to ensure employee safety, data continuity and consistency with official information are also important.
Checklist by use case
When using forecast data for Japan-facing services or business operations, the points to check vary depending on the specific use case. It is important to choose a data provider that aligns with your company’s intended use based on the following perspectives.
| Use case | What to check |
|---|---|
| Displaying weather forecasts from another provider on Japan-facing websites or apps | The entity responsible for providing the forecast, and the provider’s compliance framework, service delivery framework, usage terms, and other conditions related to providing forecasts for users in Japan |
| Incorporating another provider’s weather API into internal business systems | Whether the terms for commercial use, secondary use, and system integration are clearly defined |
| Using another provider’s forecast data for internal disaster preparedness | Whether the provider’s forecast data is consistent with official information from the Japan Meteorological Agency, such as warnings and advisories, and whether the operational rules are appropriate |
| Using another provider’s forecast data in internal AI or demand forecasting models | Whether data continuity, quality, and procedures for handling specification changes are clearly defined |
| Using another provider’s weather API for Japan-facing services | Whether the API can be provided for use in Japan (including whether the provider has the necessary authorization for forecast services), and whether support systems and contract terms are clearly established |
Using weather APIs provided by entities outside Japan does not necessarily raise issues in every case. What matters is choosing an appropriate service after reviewing the provider’s reliability, terms of use, data quality, support system, and other relevant factors in relation to your company’s intended use.
How JWA Supports Companies Using Weather Forecast Data in Japan
Japan Weather Association (JWA) is a weather service provider with the necessary permissions and frameworks to deliver weather information for users in Japan. Since its establishment in 1950, JWA has been a leader in weather consulting services in Japan, providing weather observations, analysis, forecasting, data services, and consulting.
For more information about JWA, see: About Us
JWA supports companies in using weather data in line with their business needs, taking into account Japan’s weather risks, regional weather characteristics, official information from the Japan Meteorological Agency such as warnings and advisories, and industry-specific use cases.
JWA’s Weather Data API is designed for companies and developers to integrate weather data into business systems and web services. In addition to displaying weather forecasts, it enables the use of weather data in business operations, such as assessing weather-related disaster risks by location, demand forecasting, logistics planning, and disaster preparedness.
When considering implementation, companies can review key aspects such as required data elements, update frequency, terms of use, display methods, and integration methods with existing systems, based on their intended use in business systems and web services.
JWA also conducts ongoing verification of forecast accuracy to improve the quality of its services. For companies using forecast data in business decision-making, continuous monitoring and validation of data quality and accuracy are important considerations.
For more information on JWA’s forecast accuracy, see:2025 Japan Weather Association’s Forecast Accuracy Verification Results
Reviewing Weather Data Sources for Japan-Facing Services
In light of the amended Meteorological Service Act, companies that use or provide weather forecast data for the Japanese market should review their current data providers and how the data is used in their own services or business operations.
When reviewing their data sources, companies should check whether the data provider has a compliance framework and service delivery framework related to providing forecasts for users in Japan, whether commercial usage terms and redistribution terms are suitable for their own use and service delivery model, and whether data quality and support systems are appropriate for business use.
JWA has the necessary permissions and frameworks required to provide weather information for users in Japan, and supports the use of weather data based on Japan’s weather risks, regional characteristics, and industry-specific purposes. If you are considering using weather forecast data for Japan-facing services or business operations, or if you would like to review your current data provider or how the data is used, contact us.
FAQ
Q1. What should companies know when using weather forecast data for services in Japan?
A. Companies using weather forecast data for Japan-facing services should review how forecast data is used or provided within their own services. They should also confirm whether their weather data provider’s compliance framework and service delivery framework related to Japan-facing forecast services, data quality, commercial usage terms, and support system align with their intended use.
Q2. Do foreign companies need permission to provide weather forecasts to users in Japan?
A. When providing forecast services for Japan’s weather to users in Japan, permission under the Meteorological Service Act is required regardless of whether the entity is located inside or outside Japan. If a foreign company provides weather forecast services for Japan, it is important to review the applicable regulatory requirements and terms of use.
Q3. What is Japan’s amended Meteorological Service Act?
A. The amended Meteorological Service Act, which came into effect on May 29, 2026, revised the framework for foreign entities providing forecasts for users in Japan. For example, foreign entities are now required to designate a domestic representative when obtaining permission to conduct forecast services, and the names of unauthorized providers may be publicly disclosed.
Q4. What should businesses check when choosing a weather data provider for Japan?
A. Companies should review whether a weather data provider has an appropriate compliance framework and service delivery framework for providing forecasts to users in Japan. They should also check the terms governing commercial use and redistributions, data quality, update frequency, support systems, alignment with Japan-specific weather risks and regional characteristics, and consistency with official information from the Japan Meteorological Agency, such as warnings and advisories.