Japanese weather officials are calling on people to stay alert for signs of heatstroke as a dangerous heat wave is expected to continue across many parts of the country.
The Meteorological Agency says a high pressure system covered a wide area from western to eastern Japan on Sunday. Officials also announced that the annual rainy season appears to have ended in the Chugoku and Kinki regions.
Temperatures soared in Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture, which recorded a daytime high of 38.5 degrees. Toyooka City in Hyogo Prefecture marked a high of 38.2 degrees.
The weather agency says scorching heat is likely to continue on Monday across much of Japan.
Daytime highs of 38 degrees are forecast for Kumagaya City in Saitama Prefecture and Kofu City in Yamanashi Prefecture. Temperatures in the cities of Nagoya and Takamatsu are likely to reach 37 degrees, while a high of 36 degrees is possible in both central Tokyo and Osaka City.
Humidity is expected be high as well.
The agency and the Environment Ministry have issued heatstroke alerts for 33 prefectures from the Kanto-Koshin region to Okinawa.
People are urged not to exercise and to refrain from going outside whenever the heat index published on the ministry's website reaches 31 or higher in their region.
Residents of heat-affected areas are advised to use air conditioning indoors and to regularly consume adequate amounts of fluids and salt. People are also advised to keep a close eye on infants and the elderly, as the very young and old are particularly vulnerable to heatstroke.