Rising Temperatures Melt 'Snow Monsters' in Japan's Iconic Winter Landscape

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Winter landscapes in Hokkaido and Tohoku are changing due to rising temperatures. Unseasonably warm weather on February 14-15 caused the melting of the iconic ice formations known as "snow monsters" (juhyo).

Events were also affected. Blue tarps were draped over traditional Japanese snow domes (kamakura) for protection from the rain. There were reports of using balled-up sheets of newspaper instead of snow in annual snowball tournaments.

Least Snow in 20 Years

The Sendai Meteorological Observatory predicts that although Hokkaido and the Tohoku region are typically affected by cold air from late February, early March temperatures will be average or higher. They caution the public to be careful of fluctuating temperatures and potential avalanches.

rising temperatures — *(left) Exposed trees after the snow monsters melted, February 16, 2024. (Photo from Zao Ropeway's Facebook)*
*(right)* *Snow monsters on January 21, 2015, during a typical cold winter. (©Sankei by Shiro Onishi)*

*(left) Exposed trees after the snow monsters melted, February 16, 2024. (Photo from Zao Ropeway's Facebook)*
*(right)* *Snow monsters on January 21, 2015, during a typical cold winter. (©Sankei by Shiro Onishi)*

Officials from the Zao Onsen Tourism Association in Yamagata, have reported melting of the 'snow monsters'. Called juhyo in Japanese, the snow and ice formations typically cover the trees in the Zao mountain range that spans Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures.

The snow monsters typically reach their peak around mid-February. But this year's snowfall has been described as "the least amount in twenty years."

*Kamakura covered with blue tarps for rain protection, February 15, Yokote City, Akita Prefecture. (Kyodo)*

In Yokote City of Akita Prefecture, the temperature exceeded 13 degrees Celsius on February 14, followed by rain on the 15th.

The snow domes (kamakura) at the Yokote Kamakura Festival, pelted by rain and wind, ended up with uneven surfaces. Efforts were made to protect them with blue tarps.

Continue reading the full story on Japan 2 Earth to learn more about the cancellation of a dog sled race due to melted snow.

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