Japan Hit by Record Snowfall as Extreme Cold and Deep Snowdrifts Claim Dozens of Lives

A winter that refuses to ease

Winter tightened its grip on Japan and did not let go. For more than two weeks, heavy snow kept falling across the country, piling up layer by layer. Roads narrowed. Roofs disappeared under white mounds. Everyday movement became dangerous.

By the end of January, authorities confirmed at least 30 deaths linked to the extreme snowfall. Many more were injured. The storm did not strike once and pass. It lingered.

Aomori, Japan buried under record snow

The harshest scenes came from Aomori, Japan, where snowfall reached extraordinary levels. In isolated parts of Aomori Prefecture, snowdrifts climbed to 4.5 meters. In Aomori city, measurements reached between 175 and 183 centimeters on the ground, more than double the normal amount for this time of year.

That total broke a 40-year record. Streets turned into narrow trenches. Snow walls rose higher than people. Local crews could not keep up.

Aomori Governor Soichiro Miyashita acknowledged the scale of the crisis. “The danger of life-threatening incidents, such as fatal accidents due to falling snow from roofs or collapsing buildings, is imminent," he said during a news conference.

Lives lost during ordinary moments

Among the victims was Kina Jin, 91. Her body was found buried beneath nearly three meters of snow outside her home. Police believe snow collapsed from the roof and trapped her. A shovel lay nearby. She suffocated before help could arrive.

Many deaths followed a similar pattern. People climbed onto roofs to clear snow and never came down. Others slipped, fell, or were struck by heavy slabs of ice. Some collapsed suddenly while working in the cold.

In Niigata, Japan, two men clearing snow on Sunday were swept into a water channel used for snow disposal. Elsewhere, workers died during breaks or shortly after exertion in freezing conditions.

Officials reported at least 290 injuries nationwide from snow-related incidents.

The toll spreads across northern Japan

The disaster stretched far beyond one prefecture. Authorities documented fatalities across multiple regions facing the Sea of Japan:

• Niigata Prefecture, Japan: at least 12 deaths
• Akita Prefecture, Japan: 6 deaths
• Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan: 3 deaths
• Aomori Prefecture, Japan: 2 deaths
• Additional deaths in four other prefectures

Several cities reported snow depths above 135 centimeters. Power outages followed in the hardest-hit areas, adding another layer of risk for elderly residents and those living alone.

Troops deployed as danger grows

With conditions worsening, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called an emergency cabinet meeting and ordered the deployment of military forces. Troops were sent to help clear snow and assist vulnerable residents, particularly the elderly.

Authorities urged people to watch for avalanches and for snow sliding from rooftops. The threat did not fade when snowfall slowed. The weight overhead remained.

One official warned simply that the danger continues even after the snow stops falling.

Why the snow has been relentless

Japan’s meteorological agency said a cold Arctic air mass has lingered over the archipelago, fueling snowfall volumes more than twice the seasonal average in some regions. Along the Sea of Japan coast, the pattern persisted week after week.

Japan is already one of the snowiest countries in the world, and Aomori typically receives nearly 7.9 meters of snow each year. This winter, even long-time residents were caught off guard.

Snow continues to shape daily life, emergency responses, and national planning, with officials closely watching how the extreme conditions may affect travel, infrastructure, and upcoming public events.