Does It Snow In Japan? All You Need to Know in 2022

Yes, it snows in Japan. Japan's island country has a wide range of climatic conditions similar to those seen along North America's East Coast, from Georgia to Nova Scotia. The country is distinguished by a high level of rain and humidity.

Photo by Michael Sum on Unsplash

Climate is influenced by proximity to the ocean, geological features, and ocean currents. In Japan, spring lasts from March to May, summer from June to August, autumn from September to November, and winter from December to February. Japan receives a significant amount of snowfall each winter.

What Months Does It Snow In Japan?

Japan has a relatively long winter, lasting from early December through late February and occasionally into early March. The country's winter is defined by heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures. Temperatures in Tokyo's capital city average 54°F (12°C). During the day and 41°F (5°C) at night in early December. The temperature in January ranges from 35°F to 37°F (2°C to 3°C). In February, it goes from 42°F to 50°F in the afternoon and 37°F at night.

In Japan, where does it snow?

Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost and second-largest island, is well-known for its snow and ski resorts. The powder is thought to be lighter, and the temperatures are lower than the national norm.

Honshu, Japan's major island, is located further south. It is home to some of the most prominent ski resorts in the country. It's milder than Hokkaido, but the mountains are higher, and the higher you go, the colder it gets.

Nature of Snowfall in Japan

Snow is seen as a typical event in Japan, even though it is meteorological. Cold Siberian air sweeps over the warm oceans of the Sea of Japan between December and March, freezing the water vapor and accumulating snow on Honshu and Hokkaido's highlands.

The Great Lakes region of the United States has a similar phenomenon. Still, unlike the Great Lakes, which freeze and prevent cold air from absorbing additional precipitation, the Sea of Japan remains relatively warm, and the currents continue to dump heavy snow on the surrounding lands.

The coastal mountains, which rise to roughly 1,000 feet, amplify the snowstorm. The mountainous regions receive anywhere from 300 to 600 inches of snow during the winter, with higher elevations receiving twice as much. Despite receiving less snow than Japan's north, the Great Lakes region of North America received more snow.