Concentrations　of　gaseous　elemental　mercury　(GEM)　were　continuously　measured　from　October　2005　to　August　2006　in　Tokai-mura　(36.27°N,　140.36°E),　a　small　city　on　the　Pacific　side　of　central　Japan.　The　concentration　of　atmospheric　mercury　in　summer　and　autumn　is　higher　than　in　winter　and　spring,　and　an　11-month　average　of　1-hour　measurements　is　3.78　±　1.62　ng/m3　(n　=　7551).　Our　results　showed　that　changes　in　the　GEM　level　in　Tokai-mura　are　largely　determined　by　temperature　and　relative　humidity,　but　are　independent　of　wind　speed　and　direction.　Two　contrary　patterns　were　observed　in　the　daily　cycle　of　GEM　concentrations:　the　most　frequent　pattern　of　lower　concentrations　at　noon　and　a　pattern　of　higher　concentrations　at　noon,　which　was　only　observed　in　November.　Our　results　showed　that　two　nearby　potential　anthropogenic　sources　of　mercury,　a　coal-fired　power　plant　and　incineration　facility,　have　only　little　effect　on　the　gaseous　elemental　mercury　(GEM)　in　Tokai-mura　based　on　only　GEM　measurements.　Copyright　2007　by　the　American　Geophysical　Union.