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I see a lot of people asking if it snows in Tokyo and if so; when does it snow in Tokyo? There’s a lot of different information out there and to be honest, a lot of it is wrong. I’ve even read some forums claiming Tokyo never gets snow. Well, I’ve experienced snow in Tokyo on two different trips there. Once in 2008 and once in 2014. So I can personally attest to Tokyo getting snow. And instead of just guessing or relying on my own personal experiences, I’ve actually done the research for you so here you’ll get some useful facts.
Does it snow in Tokyo? Yes, Tokyo usually has 9-10 snow days each year on average. When does it snow in Tokyo? The snow usually falls from December to March but the two months with the most snow days are January and February.
Does It Snow In Tokyo?
Let’s dive into it. Yes, Tokyo gets snow. On average over the last 10 years (2008-2017) there’s yearly been recorded 9.5 days of snow. And when I study the data collected by Japan Meteorological Agency the average yearly snow days since 1946 (the earliest recorded year) is in fact 9,7. Consistently for the last 70+ years, Tokyo has been getting 9-10 snow days on average each year.
How Much Does It Snow In Tokyo?
Good question! The data is a bit hard to find, but I’ve managed to dig it out (pun intended!) Since 1946 the most significant snow depth recorded annually on average is 3 inches (7.6 cm). This is of course just an average, so there are a lot of years with substantially deeper snow depths. The current record is 13 inches (33 cm) and was set in 1951. And in more recent years Tokyo had 10.6 inches (27 cm) in 2014 and 8.2 inches (21 cm) in January 2018.
How do 8 inches of snow look? This picture is from January 2018 and as you can see it sort of a big deal! For a city not used to regular snowfall, a heavy one like this can be a bit challenging. However, often the snow melts away before it really can stick. Therefore you have quite a few years with many days of snowfall but still, no depth recorded. That is because the snow melted away as soon as it hit the ground.
Source: Big Ben (cropped), Tokyo January 2018.
Does The Snow Cause Problems for Tokyo?
As you can see from the chart, there’s only been recorded over 10 inches of snow four times since 1946. And there’s been recorded over 6 inches of snow only 11 times since Japan Meteorological Agency started collecting their data. So what happens in these “Snowmageddons”? Here are some examples from January 2018.
Air Transport Gets Delayed and Canceled
During the heavy snowfall of January 2018 over 250 international flights were canceled (at Haneda and Narita combined) and the weather caused significant delays which spread throughout the country and region.
Metro, Subway and Railway Service affected
All of the major train and subway lines experienced some rare delays and cancellations. This lead to further strain on the rest of the system which in turn lead to more delays.
Slip and Fall Injuries
The Tokyo Fire Department announced over 70 serious injuries from slipping on the ice and the snow. The victims ranged in age from 19 to 90. So if you are in Tokyo during a big snowfall be careful. I would suggest you slow down and find the nearest izakaya. But be cautious with the sake intake. It probably won’t help you to stay on your feet!
The Tokyo Traffic Suffers
Where I’m from, we are used to snow, and during the winter everybody put on snow tires. In Tokyo? Not so much! Of course, for a city that gets so little snow, it is perfectly understandable that winter tires are not that common. But what happens when there is a big snowfall, and the snow really sticks? Roads and bridges get closed down or restricted only to vehicles with either chains or snow tires. In January 2018 about 50 cars got stuck and unable to move on the “Rainbow Bridge” on Tokyo’s waterfront. There were also reports of many car accidents throughout the city.
When Does It Snow In Tokyo?
When do you have the best chance to experience snow in Tokyo or “avoid the possible chaos and cancellations,” if you are of a more pessimistic mindset? For a city who on average get 9-10 snow days a year, generally from December to March, it’s hard to say exactly. I’ve looked at the numbers for every year since 1946 and noted the month with the deepest recorded snow. Here is what I found:
December | 4 |
January | 19 |
February | 22 |
March | 10 |
April | 1 |
The Japan Meteorological Agency has been recording snow depths for 72 years. Out of those 72 years, there have only been 56 years with enough snow to record any depth. As you can see February and January sticks out as the two months with the most snow depth records. So if you are planning a trip and want to experience snow in the Japanese capital, can you just stay there a couple of weeks during February and bank on there being a snow day? According to my very rough calculations, if you stayed in Tokyo from 2/1 to 2/14 every year from 1946 to 2018, you would’ve experienced nine snow days.
Sooo… That gives us about a 12,5% chance of experiencing the Tokyo snow during a two-week stay in February. My advice would be to don’t bank on it if you really want to see snow in Tokyo and just take it as an added bonus if you happen to hit a snow day. And if you really want to avoid it, don’t worry the snow rarely causes such problems as it did in January 2018 and usually it doesn’t last long. In January 2018 the snow chaos lasted only one day!
If you’re really into snow or Tokyo (or both!) here’s the complete chart of snow days and depths recorded, along with the specific dates. Click her to skip skip the table.
Year | Numbers of days with snow | Deepest record (cm) | Highest snow depth (inch) | Deepest snow date |
1946 | 20 | 12 | 4,7 | 3/3 |
1947 | 17 | 17 | 6,7 | 2/15 |
1948 | 6 | 4 | 1,6 | 12/17 |
1949 | 8 | 4 | 1,6 | 3/14 |
1950 | 13 | 8 | 3,1 | 1/14 |
1951 | 7 | 33 | 13 | 2/15 |
1952 | 20 | 11 | 4,3 | 3/8 |
1953 | 8 | 18 | 7,1 | 2/22 |
1954 | 14 | 30 | 11,8 | 1/25 |
1955 | 5 | 0 | 0 | – |
1956 | 10 | 11 | 4,3 | 1/24 |
1957 | 4 | 0 | 0 | – |
1958 | 7 | 7 | 2,8 | 3/29 |
1959 | 5 | 9 | 3,5 | 1/2 |
1960 | 4 | 0 | 0 | – |
1961 | 4 | 3 | 1,2 | 3/26 |
1962 | 12 | 0 | 0 | – |
1963 | 11 | 8 | 3,1 | 3/13 |
1964 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 2/18 |
1965 | 12 | 6 | 2,4 | 1/30 |
1966 | 6 | 0 | 0 | – |
1967 | 13 | 21 | 8,3 | 2/12 |
1968 | 9 | 23 | 9,1 | 2/16 |
1969 | 19 | 30 | 11,8 | 3/12 |
1970 | 12 | 4 | 1,6 | 2/28 |
1971 | 9 | 9 | 3,5 | 1/5 |
1972 | 9 | 7 | 2,8 | 2/7 |
1973 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – |
1974 | 18 | 7 | 2,8 | 3/27 |
1975 | 9 | 15 | 5,9 | 2/21 |
1976 | 4 | 1 | 0,4 | 2/5 |
1977 | 8 | 1 | 0,4 | 2/10 |
1978 | 13 | 21 | 8,3 | 1/3 |
1979 | 4 | 1 | 0,4 | 1/13 |
1980 | 8 | 2 | 0,8 | 1/13 |
1981 | 9 | 2 | 0,8 | 2/17 |
1982 | 14 | 2 | 0,8 | 1/29 |
1983 | 7 | 2 | 0,8 | 2/17 |
1984 | 27 | 22 | 8,7 | 1/19 |
1985 | 6 | 0 | 0 | – |
1986 | 16 | 18 | 7,1 | 2/19 |
1987 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 1/6 |
1988 | 12 | 9 | 3,5 | 4/8 |
1989 | 4 | 0 | 0 | – |
1990 | 10 | 11 | 4,3 | 2/1 |
1991 | 5 | 1 | 0,4 | 12/27 |
1992 | 8 | 17 | 6,7 | 2/1 |
1993 | 10 | 0 | 0 | – |
1994 | 7 | 23 | 9,1 | 2/12 |
1995 | 6 | 2 | 0,8 | 3/1 |
1996 | 11 | 14 | 5,5 | 2/18 |
1997 | 4 | 0 | 0 | – |
1998 | 11 | 16 | 6,3 | 1/15 |
1999 | 4 | 0 | 0 | – |
2000 | 7 | 0 | 0 | – |
2001 | 14 | 8 | 3,1 | 1/27 |
2002 | 5 | 1 | 0,4 | 12/9 |
2003 | 10 | 0 | 0 | – |
2004 | 8 | 2 | 0,8 | 12/31 |
2005 | 14 | 2 | 0,8 | 3/4 |
2006 | 10 | 9 | 3,5 | 1/21 |
2007 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – |
2008 | 9 | 3 | 1,2 | 2/4 |
2009 | 8 | 0 | 0 | – |
2010 | 15 | 1 | 0,4 | 2/2 |
2011 | 12 | 2 | 0,8 | 2/14 |
2012 | 10 | 4 | 1,6 | 1/23 |
2013 | 6 | 8 | 3,1 | 1/14 |
2014 | 12 | 27 | 10,6 | 2/8 |
2015 | 9 | 3 | 1,2 | 1/30 |
2016 | 7 | 6 | 2,4 | 1/18 |
2017 | 7 | 0 | 0 | – |
2018 | – | – | – | – |
Data source: Japan Meteorological Agency. Table: www.thetokyotourist.com
What Do the Tokyoites do When There’s a Big Snowfall?
They make snow sculptures of course!
Check out this great article from Bored Panda. Lots of pictures! You can also check out #雪だるま on Twitter (it means #snowman).
How Cold Is It In Tokyo During Winter?
I’m from Scandinavia, so my answer would be “not cold at all!” But I understand it really depends on what you are used to. Here’s the data.
The average high temperature in Tokyo during the winter months:
- December, 52°F (11°C)
- January, 46°F (8°C)
- February, 48°F (9°C)
The average low temperature in Tokyo during the winter months:
- December, 39°F (4°C)
- January, 36°F (2°C)
- February, 36°F (2°C)
Check out how hot and humid Tokyo is in the summer!
I Really Want Snow! Where Can I go Skiing Close to Tokyo?
Here are 3 ski resorts close to Tokyo you might want to check out. Prices vary so I’ll just give you the link to their home pages.
Manza Onsen Ski Resort
Manza Onsen is a real onsen in the Agatsuma District which is a rural district located in Gunma Prefecture. Why not kill two birds with one stone and combine skiing/snowboarding with a real onsen experience? Here you can enjoy a variety of trails from the hot spring base at an altitude of 5 900 feet (1 800 meters).
- Season: Mid December to early April
- How to get there
- Fastest way: Shinkansen to Takasaki and by local train from Takasaki to Manza-Kazawaguchi Station. Shinkansen is quite expensive, and one adult ticket costs about 7 500 yen and the trip takes 50 minutes. The local train from Takasaki to Manza-Kazawaguchi Station is under 1 500 yen and takes just under 2 hours.
- A cheaper way: The Shonan-Shinjuku Line to Takasaki which takes just over 2 hours and costs 1 940 yen and then the train from Takasaki to Manza-Kazawaguchi Station for under 1 500.
- Where to stay?
It depends on your budget. If your focus is on the skiing/snowboarding and you just want a safe, clean and affordable place to stay, I would check out Manza Kogen Hotel. If you want a slightly better standard and be closer to the slopes, then Manza Prince is a good choice. You can check out prices and availability for all properties here.
Check out prices at Manza Onsen Ski Resort
Gala Yuzawa Ski Resort
This resort is one of the most easily accessed ski areas from Tokyo. It’s very popular and perfect for day trips.
- Season: Mid November to late May.
- How to get there
- Fastest way: Swoosh! The Shinkansen will get you to Yuzawa from Tokyo Station in just 1,5 hours. (Price about 6 000 yen)
- As fast, but maybe a cheaper way: The JR Tokyo Wide Pass. For 10 000 yen, it gets you three days of unlimited travel on Shinkansen. The roundtrip from Tokyo to Yuzawa is about 12 000 yen, so if you are returning within three days (Gala Yuzawa is perfect for a day trip), this is the best and cheapest choice. Be sure to plan ahead to get the most out of your JR Tokyo Wide Pass.
- Where to stay?
Again, this strictly depends on your budget! There are loads of options in Yuzawa. Everything from dead cheap and shared accommodations like dorm beds to the more exclusive hotels like Hotel Kiyotsukan. Be sure to notice how far the hotel is from the ski resort.
Check out prices at Gala Yuzawa Ski Resort
Fujiten Snow Resort
How does this sound to you? Skiing a the foot of the majestic Mount Fuji seeing one of Japan’s most famous landmarks up close?
- Season: Early December to early April
- How to get there
- Fastest way: The Chuo Line-Limited Express from Shinjuku Station to Otsuki Station and then Fujikyuko Line to Kawaguchiko Station. 2 hours and 4 700 yen. From there you have to grab a taxi (20 minutes) to Fujiten Snow Resort.
- A cheaper way: The Keio Line from Shinjuku Station to Takao Station. From there you need to take the Chuo Line (a 10-minute walk from where you arrived!) to Kawaguchiko Station. 2 hours and 50 minutes and 2 100 yen.
- Where to stay?
Because Mount Fuji is such a large mountain stretching out in all directions, the hotels are not especially close to the mountain itself. The closest ones are 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) away. Check out Forest Village if you want to have champagne for breakfast with the perfect view of Mount Fuji. If that’s a bit too pricey for you, there are a lot of cheaper options.