Heaviest snowfall in five years
Tokyo received its heaviest snowfall in five years as nine centimeters of snow fell on the capital on Saturday, Jan. 21.
Cancelled flights in Narita and Haneda left thousands stranded at the airports. Over a hundred Tokyo residents have been injured from slips and falls. Although the snow began melting by Sunday morning, dangerous patches of ice on roads and sidewalks remained.
While Tokyo is not unaccustomed to some light snowfall in winter and the odd occasional spring snow, this winter has been more than a little unusual. In the Northwest section of Japan, over a hundred people have died in snow-related incidents as record-breaking snowfalls have blanketed areas with sometimes up to four meters of snow.
Tokyo, while snow-free until Saturday, has been much colder than usual this winter, driving up heating bills.
Japan is suffering from part of the cold wave that is affecting much of Asia from Japan to Northern India. China is seeing record snowfalls in the northwestern province of Xinjiang and the eastern province of Shandong, while temperatures in some regions have been at their lowest in 20 years.
Russia’s winter is hitting low temperatures that haven’t been experienced since 1927. Dozens have died due to exposure from the harsh weather. Others have died in gas heater explosions.
Dozens have died across India from exposure. In the earthquake-stricken area of Kashmir, a number of emergency tents have collapsed under the weight of the snow. Dal Lake in Kashmir has frozen over for the first time in ten years.
In sharp contrast, Australia has experienced roasting heat waves in the mid-40s that have killed elderly people, started bushfires, and affected the Australian Open.
The cold wave, which according to meteorologists originated in Siberia, is to blame for this winter’s extra sharp bite. It also pushing into Europe, affecting Belarus, Estonia, and Poland.
All text and photos ©2005 D.Weber
It is inconvenient, true. But those are some amazing pics, David! Whow.. Reminds me why I want to go to Japan so badly (snow I’m used to.)
Aw the pictures are all so pretty
I would just go outside and run around like a loon if it was snowing like that.
Although funnily the picture of the neon signs reminds me of the love hina christmas special lol.
I thought it was eight years?
A whole 9 centimetres!! Shocking!! The entire country of Japan really does revolve around Tokyo’s every movement…
It’s true Nico - metres of snow have been falling on the other side of the country, but the minute Tokyo gets some…! Kawaisouna Tokyojin!
“Tokyo is not unaccustomed to some light snowfall in winter”
9 cm of snow in a place that doesn’t normally get that amount all at once is enough to cause havoc to those not used to dealing with it. I live in Michigan where we get a good amount every winter. My friend is visiting from Georgia and has never driven in snow, so it’s been quite an anxious time for her to get around.
hardly massive. pretty, picturesque, but not massive. you shulda been there in 1849!
Hehe, no worries for us Norwegians, but I would still much prefer to go to Tokyo… only 5 more months…
Erm i think you will find the huge amounts of snow around Japan were already reported here. So its certainly not as though Japundit is simply reporting about Tokyo.
Infact even half of this story isn’t about Tokyo, its about northwestern Japan, India, China etc.
Thanks, Tom! Indeed it’s already been reported here about the snowfall the NW area of Japan has received by me no less
and you’re right this story not solely about Tokyo though the pictures are. I can’t afford to fly off to Russia, India, and China for a few pics.
Anyway, some folks need to chill
with the misplaced sarcasm.
Wasn’t a jibe at David or at Japundit, Tom. Just a gentle jab at the capital, taking a chance to stick the Southern boot in.
Far from it, in fact. Great pictures, David.
Love that street photo during the snowfall. Nice.
[…] Over the weekend, Tokyo was blanketed with the heaviest snow in five years. Antipixel and Japundit have pictures. Jose Manuel Tesoro « Singapore, Indonesia: T […]
Snow is the greatest thing ever! I miss snow so much!! Tokyo is facing a wonderful yet painful snow cover. Why painful? In places where snow is rare or semi-rare it is likely that people don’t know how to control them selves while driving or it might drive people into complete panic (southern usa anyone?). Regardless I love snow and when that hits my most favorite foreign country I just go :3
several news reports (Japan Times and Reuters) said heaviest in 5 years but I was here 5 years ago and I don’t really recall a snow this heavy. Others liek Curzon have said 8 years which I think is more accurate.
Haha, is that Ueno-Koen? I knew that looked familiar.
Man, I’m always in Japan in the wrong season - usually summer, where mt body’s exuding all it’s fluid volume at an alarmingly fast rate and where I’m trying to sleep in a bedroom that’s been sealed off by those infernal amado with only a fan to keep me from suffocating
Must concur with crowd…
Snow makes nice pictures! Is that the pagoda at Senso-ji?
My fave is the picture of the yuki-note…
thanks, abraxis! The pagoda belongs to the Toshogo Shrine complex in Ueno and is located inside Ueno Zoo.
Catching up on old postings, it looks like the Sapporo snow pictures overwrote all the Tokyo ones. Can you bring back the original photos?