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Both cities lie near the transition of the humid continental and humid subtropical climate zones, but do have very apparent differences.
Some thoughts:
-Yamagata is a bit more insulated in the winter with average lows of 29 and 23 F / -1.8, -4.8 C in December and January respectively, compared to about 23 and 19 / -5.2, -6.9 C for KC.
-Yamagata receives quite a bit more snow in the winter than Kansas City.
-Both cities receive a good amount of precipitation. In Yamagata the months with the most precipitation are July and August, while in Kansas City it is May and June. Yamagata gets a good amount of precipitation year-round while Kansas City is markedly drier in the winter months.
-Yamagata's cooler springs/falls/summers but warmer winters indicate the climate has some oceanic notes, likely due to its proximity to the Sea of Japan. It is further pronounced when you look at the record highs and lows.
-Kansas City enjoys drastically more sunshine hours throughout the year, in most months receiving twice as many sunshine hours as Yamagata.
-Kansas City lies within Tornado Alley and is far more susceptible to severe weather than Yamagata.
My take: Kansas City is more of a true humid continental climate on the cusp of subtropical according to the Koppen definition, while Yamagata is more of a mish-mash of humid subtropical with both humid continental and oceanic influences. I like the amount of snow Yamagata receives as I prefer having snowy winters at that temperature point. Kansas City's snow tends to melt quite quickly. I also do prefer Yamagata's slightly milder weather. However, on paper at least, Spring and Fall in Kansas City seem to be more pleasant, and the low sunshine hours of Yamagata would really get to me I think. So I have to go with Kansas City.
NOTE: The link I provided for Kansas City has two data sets. I based my analysis off of the Kansas City Int'l Airport data set as it is more comprehensive and on par with Yamagata.
Simple: Yamagata in winter, Kansas City in summer. May in Yamagata looks OK too, but the height of summer is way too wet and cloudy, like seems to happen in most of east Asia.
Kansas City of course.
One of the best climate of Earth in my opinion because it's a diversified 4 seasons climate and almost all kind of weather occurred in this city.
Yamagata is pretty good but is too cloudy, especially the summers. It is better in the snow department and because the winter lows are less harsh than KC, but otherwise I'd go for the American midwest (as almost always)
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