In the typical year, Tokyo gets only one or two days of light snowfall, and the snow rarely remains on the ground for more than a few days, if it collects at all. Yet the city is located reasonably close to several of Japan's popular snow destinations, many of which are easy enough to access in a daytrip.
Tokyo is precipitous and has an annual rainfall that averages 60.2 inches (1530 millimeters) and infrequent annual snowfall that collects up to 3.1 inches (76.2 millimeters) of average snow throughout the year.
When is the snow season in Japan? Japan's snow season typically begins in mid- to-late December, just before Christmas, and continues through late March or early April. This will vary from resort to resort based on the actual snow conditions. The season peaks from mid-January to late February.
The traditional snow season in Japan coincides with the start of winter so you can expect to see snow on the ground from mid-December onwards. The snow season lasts about three months but can often extend into March and early April, meaning there's plenty of time to enjoy this country's beautiful white landscapes.
Snow is relatively rare in Tokyo in December, with the city typically experiencing its first snowfall in January or February.
In the typical year, Tokyo gets only one or two days of light snowfall, and the snow rarely remains on the ground for more than a few days, if it collects at all. Yet the city is located reasonably close to several of Japan's popular snow destinations, many of which are easy enough to access in a daytrip.
Among mesmerizing light displays, festivals, fireworks and Christmas markets, there is certainly no shortage of ways to enjoy the colder season. No matter what your idea of winter fun is, you'll surely find something entertaining to do in Tokyo!
It snows in several Australian states: New South Wales (NSW), Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria. For alpine ski enthusiasts, NSW is home to the magnificent Snowy Mountains. Boasting the highest mountain range in Australia, The Snowy Mountains receives an average of 1.9 metres of snowfall per year.
The snowiest city in the world, with an average of 26 feet — or eight meters — of snowfall every year, is Aomori City in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. For comparison, the average snowfall in Sapporo, Japan, — which comes in at number two on the list of snowiest cities — is 16 feet, or almost 5 meters.
Much of Southern and Eastern Japan receives scant amounts of snow during the winter — if any. For example Okinawa doesn't receive snow at all.
Snow in Melbourne is extremely rare. To experience the snow, head to the Victorian High Country, which receive good snowfall throughout winter. Skiers and snowboarders can hit the slopes at Hotham, Mount Buller and Falls Creek.
Snow in Sydney is extremely rare. Jindabyne is the gateway to the Snowy Mountains and is a 6 hour drive south of Sydney. Snow can also fall in regional parts of New South Wales including the Blue Mountains, Orange and the Upper Hunter.
Tokyo's winter weather: Clear and chilly
Temperatures average out at about 50 °F (10 °C), but luckily it's mostly dry, with only a handful of rainy days each month. Snow in Tokyo is never too intense, so unless you're heading up north or plan to go skiing, you won't need to worry about getting snowed in.
The coldest month in Tokyo is January, with an average temperature of around 5°C (41°F). However, December and February can also be quite chilly, with temperatures averaging around 7-8°C (45-46°F).
Weather patterns blow from Siberia across the (relatively warm) Sea of Japan, creating clouds with lots of moisture. When these clouds enter the higher altitudes of the Japanese Alps, they dump out all the precipitation they've built up in the form of snow.
Beijing experiences its winter season of potential snow from late November till late February. Here are the top 12 places to enjoy snow scenes and snow activities in Beijing, including the Great Wall, Longqing Gorge in Yanqing (a 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games venue), the Forbidden City, and Nanshan Ski Resort...
Aomori, Japan is the snowiest city in the world.
It gets an average of 312 inches, or 26 feet, of snow per year. The city gets so much snow because parts of the city are at least 5,000 feet up. Aomori is high in the Hakkoda Mountains, and like most mountainous areas, the winters are pretty snowy.
Surprisingly, Japan is the snowiest country in the world. According to the US-based AccuWeather survey, Japanese cities are among the top 3 in the world for annual snowfall in cities with over 100,000 people. Japan also has the heaviest recorded snow cover on earth, even in uninhabited areas.
The town of Rikubetsu (陸別) is located in the Tokachi area of eastern Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. Rikubetsu is known for being the coldest town in Japan, where the temperature drops down even as low as freezing -33°C (about -28°F) during the coldest months of winter.
The role of land mass in snow formation
The major reason snow is so rare in our cities, even those below the 35° line, is because of the land surrounding Australia – or lack of it. There's just so much more, well, earth in Earth's north compared to its south.
There are plenty of places to enjoy snow in Australia – some of the major destinations include the peaks of the Australian Alps like Perisher, Thredbo, Charlotte Pass, Mt Hotham, Falls Creek, Mt Buller, Selwyn, and Mt Baw Baw.
Australia's most southern state sees regular snowfalls, although it is surprisingly rare at sea-level where the larger towns are located. Most of the small inland towns see a snowfall at least once per year, including higher southern suburbs of Hobart on the slopes of Mount Wellington/Kunanyi.
Beijing can be very cold during winter. In January, Beijing is generally much colder than Tokyo. Temperatures in Beijing average around -4°C (26°F), and Tokyo stays around 5°C (42°F). People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year.
In Tokyo, December temperatures tend to be around 12ºC (54°F) in the afternoon and drop to about 5ºC (41°F) in the morning and at night. By January, afternoon temperatures drop to 10ºC (50°F) and morning temperatures tend to hover between 2ºC~3ºC (35°F~37°F).
Like in Tokyo or other areas that are not really snowy, the wind is freezing! You will need an inner (preferably cotton), warm knit, muffler, and a winter coat. During the peak of winter in January and February, you will need warm thick knit, a down jacket, and preferably with a muffler, knit hat, and gloves.