The Allure of Snow in Japan

Japan gets some of the highest snowfall amounts of anywhere in the world, meaning that in much of the country snow is a familiar sight, one with deep ties to daily life and culture. Although snow can be a hazard, sometimes crushing houses or even taking lives during blizzards, the Japanese people have found ways to live alongside and find beauty in it.

Even for those who live in countries where snow does not usually fall, reading this article should help you understand what appeal snow holds beyond winter sports. By learning about snow’s diverse charms, you are sure to pick up hints that deepen your enjoyment of snow-themed crafts, as well.

Japan is one of the world’s snowiest countries, and the Sea of Japan coast in particular is internationally known for its exceptionally heavy snowfall. In 1927, for example, Mount Ibuki in Shiga Prefecture recorded a snowfall depth of 11.82 m (36.7 ft). This remains the greatest snowfall ever observed in Japan’s meteorological records and has yet to be surpassed. Even by global standards, such an amount of snowfall is extraordinarily rare and ranks among the highest ever recorded worldwide. It is not uncommon for Japanese cities to dominate rankings of the world’s snowiest cities, often occupying all of the top three positions.

Why does so much snow fall in Japan? The answer lies in the cold, dry seasonal winds that blow from Siberia and China in the winter. As these winds cross the Sea of Japan, they pass over a warm ocean current known as the Tsushima Current. The temperature difference between the icy cold air and warm seawater causes snow clouds to rapidly develop above the ocean. When these clouds collide with the Japanese archipelago’s mountain ranges, they drop large amounts of snow on cities such as Sapporo, Akita, Niigata, and Toyama on the Sea of Japan coast of Honshu (the main island) and Hokkaido.

Yet after sparking snowfall along the Sea of Japan side of the country, the seasonal winds lose their water vapor. By the time they pass on to the Pacific Ocean side, the winds have become dry. As a result, Pacific-facing cities such as Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka trend toward clear days in winter, instead.

Winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding are popular in the heavy snowfall regions facing the Sea of Japan. The world-famous snow resort areas of Niseko, Rusutsu, Hakuba, and Shiga Kogen attract many tourists. Interestingly, even within Japan, snow quality differs greatly by region. Although Hokkaido and Nagano get light, dry snow containing a great deal of air, the snow in Aomori and Niigata tends to become moist and heavy. The snow in Niseko and Hakuba in particular is top-class powder snow known as “JAPOW” (a portmanteau of “Japan” and “powder snow”) that lures skiers and snowboarders from around the world.

Japan’s snowy regions have cultivated ways of coexisting with snow and putting it to good use. Here, we can see three traditional pieces of wisdom.

The first is the clever technique of building the roofs of houses steep enough that snow falls off on its own. This prevents houses from collapsing under snow’s weight and also reduces the labor of and risk involved in snow removal. These roofs are commonly seen on old houses in Niigata, Aomori, and the Hokuriku region. Representative examples are the thatched-roof gassho-zukuri houses of Gokayama and Shirakawa-go, which are registered as World Heritage sites.

The second piece of wisdom is the technique of exposing vegetables to snow to draw out their sweetness. When deliberately placed in a cold environment, vegetables work to protect themselves from the cold by converting starch into sugar. As a result, their sweetness increases and bitterness decreases. Some regions have even branded the sweet carrots and spinach they produce in this way.

The third is a food storage method that uses a natural refrigerator called a yukimuro, or “snow room.” This is a hut in which a large amount of snow is stored so that the cold air can be used to keep food cool. An eco-friendly method that does not require electricity, yukimuro are used to store rice, sake, vegetables, aged meat, and more. Amidst the snow, the temperature remains stable, humidity is high, and there is little vibration, so maturation progresses slowly. Mellow and deep flavors are said to develop as a result. Centered around Niigata, yukimuro-aged sake and coffee beans are starting to be recognized as distinct brands.

These three innovations emerging from life in harsh snow country not only protect people from snow, but even turn it into a strength.

In addition to making use of snow in daily life, people in Japan have also long cherished it as something to be appreciated for its charm. This is well-reflected in the culture of yukimi, or snow viewing.

Yukimi-buro, or “snow-viewing baths,” are a luxurious way of enjoying oneself by soaking in a hot spring while gazing at falling snow or all-white snowy landscapes. The contrasting sensations of sinking into hot water while looking at cold snow bring deep relaxation to both body and mind. In hot spring areas in heavy snowfall regions, it is possible to enjoy snowy scenery from open-air baths, snow glittering white beyond the rising steam, a winter spectacle unique to Japan.

Yukimi-chakai, “snow-viewing tea gatherings,” is an elegant custom cherished in the tea ceremony world in which one enjoys tea in quiet stillness while gazing at a snow-covered garden. At these gatherings, the favored tea utensils are ones that evoke winter, decorated with motifs such as snow crystals, snow-laden bamboo leaves, and rabbit-shaped snow sculptures. This mixes with the sound of charcoal being placed in the hearth, the sound of water boiling, and the quiet of falling snow to create a space embodying the aesthetic sense of wabi sabi.

Finally, yukimi-zake, “snow-viewing sake,” is a refined way to enjoy sake while gazing at snowy scenery. In addition to tokkuri sake carafes and sakazuki flat cups decorated with patterns like snowflakes and winter flowers, one might also use vessels that express the transparency of snow, such as those made of white porcelain or glass. Sake drunk in the cold, clear air coupled with the purity of snow has a special taste all its own.

These customs express the sensibility of the Japanese people, who find beauty even within the harshness of winter.

This snowflake-shaped sauce plate is made by Takayama, a kiln famous for Hasami ware. The delicate ripples decorating the outer edge of the plate, the soft cutouts, and the translucent white porcelain evoke snow crystals fluttering down from the sky. It is a size well suited for small dishes or petite desserts.

This Shigaraki ware flower vase elegantly suggests snow on the ground. The way pure white, freshly fallen snow gradually turns ash-colored over time is represented through a color gradation from the mouth of the vase to the base, as well as with flowing patterns drawn across the surface. The vase’s solid presence, retaining the texture of the clay, gracefully brings together a space.