Early snow and autumn leaves arrive ahead of schedule in Shirakawa-go; extreme weather warnings for Japan travel

Live view from Ogimachi Castle Ruins Observatory in Shirakawa-go, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. (Photo/Screen capture from Shirakawa Village Office)

Recently, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued an alert for abnormal weather conditions. From the Kanto-Koshinetsu region to southern Kyushu, starting this Saturday (the 18th), not only are temperatures expected to drop sharply, but some areas may also see heavy snowfall—more than double the usual amount for this time of year. Travelers heading to Japan are advised to stay alert for “extreme weather.” Meanwhile, Shirakawa-go in central Japan released footage of its first snowfall today (the 16th), with fluttering white snow blanketing crimson maple leaves—a breathtaking sight.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency’s abnormal weather alert, from the 18th to the 27th, temperatures are forecasted to plunge across the Kanto-Koshin, Tokai, Hokuriku, Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, and even Amami Island in southern Kyushu—well below average for this period. In particular, the Hokuriku region, the Sea of Japan side of the Kinki region, San’in, northern Nagano Prefecture, northern Gunma Prefecture, and northern Gifu Prefecture all have a high probability of heavy snowfall, with some areas potentially seeing up to twice the normal amount of snow.

The scope of Japan’s abnormal weather alert is extensive, so travelers should remain vigilant about “extreme weather.” Additionally, Shirakawa-go, a famous attraction in central Japan, shared a video on its official Facebook page today showing the village’s first snowfall captured in the morning. This year’s first snow arrived earlier than in previous years—before early December 2014 or late November 2015. The sight of falling snow on red maple leaves has wowed Japanese netizens, who are raving about the beauty and tagging friends to share the view.