Worst air pollution Shinjuku, today and tomorrow

Today (21 September): Air quality in Shinjuku is poor. AQI and NO2 are poor; PM1 is moderate; PM2.5, PM10, and SO2 are fair; O3, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (NO2: 73.6/100).
Tomorrow (22 September 2026): Air quality in Shinjuku is very poor. AQI worsens to very poor; PM2.5 increases to moderate; PM10 increases to moderate; NO2 increases to very poor; PM1 increases to poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (NO2: 98.1/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.

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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team

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Shinjuku's air quality reflects one of Tokyo's most intensely commercial and entertainment districts, with vehicle traffic on surrounding expressways and the extraordinary concentration of office towers, entertainment venues, and Shinjuku Station — the world's busiest railway station — generating sustained NO₂. The enclosed urban canyon geometry concentrates emissions, while the broader Tokyo metropolitan regional background elevates all readings and summer photochemical ozone from the vast Kanto corridor is the primary warm-season concern throughout the year.

Today - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 13:00

AQI:

Poor

73.6/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

39.8/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Fair

28.5/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Poor

73.6/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

11.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Fair

24.2/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.9/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

5.1/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Moderate

49.2/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 22 September | Pollution peaks at 17:00

AQI:

Very poor

98.1/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Moderate

47.5/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Moderate

42.5/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Very poor

98.1/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

14.8/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Fair

37.8/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

1.6/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

7.7/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Poor

68.0/100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Shinjuku right now?

On 21 September 2026, overall air quality in Shinjuku is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 73.6/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (NO2: 73.6/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Shinjuku?

On 22 September 2026, air quality conditions in Shinjuku will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at very poor at 98.1/100. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (NO2: 98.1/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Shinjuku?

Air quality in Shinjuku tends to be worse when vehicle traffic and heavy industrial and chemical processing build up and hot, still weather settles in. Photochemical reactions in the heat push ozone levels higher. Readings are generally lower during the cooler, cloudier months.

Are air quality levels in Shinjuku based on measurements or forecasts?

It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.

Why doesn’t the forecast always reflect wildfire impacts?

Airmine’s forecast uses CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) as its background atmospheric model. While CAMS includes wildfire emissions, these are derived from satellite observations and are not available in real time. During rapidly evolving wildfire events, there may therefore be a delay before increased emissions are incorporated into the model. As a result, the forecast may temporarily underestimate PM₂.₅ and other pollutants associated with wildfire smoke.

During rapidly evolving wildfire events, CAMS may lag by approximately 1–2 days before increased wildfire emissions are fully represented, which can lead to temporary underestimation of PM₂.₅ concentrations in Airmine’s forecast.

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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 22 September 2026 at 02:59 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)

This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.

Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.

Disclaimer: Forecasts are provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. Actual pollen and air quality conditions may vary from the forecast. If you have allergies, asthma, or another medical condition, consult a healthcare professional. Please see our Terms of Service for important information about limitations of liability.

Some text on this page may be generated or summarised using artificial intelligence (AI). Wherever possible, AI-generated content is enriched with Airmine's proprietary data to improve its accuracy and relevance. However, AI-generated content may still contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.

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