Japan 2

Japan is the snowiest place on Earth. It’s also one of the most fun places to visit on Earth. We know for certain that Hakuba, Japan saw 600″ of snow in town in only 10 weeks in 2015. We can’t even begin to image how much fell 6,000 feet above the town in the high mountains. Toyama is the capital of Toyama Prefecture and the third snowiest city in the world. Located in central Honshu on the Sea of Japan coast, the city experiences an annual snowfall of 143 inches, despite having a humid subtropical climate. Almost all of Toyama’s snow falls between December and March, with January typically considered the snowiest month. With record highs of 103 degrees F (39.5 degrees C) in summer, Toyama’s winter snow is a phenomenon caused by the city’s proximity to the coast and its location within Japan’s snow belt. Toyama is traditionally recognized as a centre for medicine and pharmaceuticals, and as a convenient gateway to excellent skiing and snowboarding in the Japanese Alps. The city itself has several worthwhile art galleries, museums, and historical landmarks, but the most important attraction for snow aficionados is the nearby Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. Designed to showcase the dramatic scenery of Mount Tateyama, the sightseeing route is closed from December to early April; however, towering snow walls edge the road well into the summer. Yearly Snowfall Ranking by City No.1: Aomori (approx. 7.92m) No.2: Sapporo (approx. 4.85m) No.3: Toyama (approx. 3.63m) No.4: St. John’s (Canada) (approx. 3.32m) 5th: Syracuse (USA), Quebec City (Canada) (approx. 3.14m) Japan also has the heaviest recorded snow cover on earth, even in uninhabited areas. In 1927, the world’s deepest snow cover of 1,182cm was at Mount Ibuki, a record that has not been broken for nearly 100 years. The country that receives the most snowfall is generally considered to be Japan, particularly the western coast of the island of Honshu. The region known as the "Japanese Alps" and areas like Hokkaido also experience significant snowfall. Reasons for Heavy Snowfall in Japan: Geography: The Japanese archipelago is located in the path of cold air masses from Siberia. As these cold winds travel over the warm waters of the Sea of Japan, they pick up moisture, which falls as snow when the air rises over the mountains. Topography: The mountainous terrain of Japan enhances orographic lift, where moist air is forced to rise over mountains, cooling and condensing to produce precipitation, primarily in the form of snow in winter. Weather Patterns: The combination of cold continental air from the north and moist air from the ocean leads to frequent snowstorms in winter, particularly in the regions facing the Sea of Japan. Notable Areas: Aomori Prefecture: Known for receiving some of the highest snowfall in the world. Hokkaido: Famous for its powder snow and winter sports.