Travel advisory: Japan and South Korea hit by severe cold snap as dramatic cloud streets form

A freezing air mass has struck hard, sending Japan and South Korea into a deep freeze. (Photo / from "Taiwan Typhoon Forum | Weather Emergency")

Attention travelers planning to visit Japan or South Korea in the coming days: a freezing air mass is sweeping through both countries. Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued a low-temperature alert for Tokyo yesterday—the first such alert in 33 years. This morning, multiple weather stations recorded “astonishing” new lows. In addition to Tokyo’s city center registering nearly its lowest temperature in half a century, Fuchu City on Tokyo’s western side hit minus 8.4°C, breaking the station’s all-time record. The frigid conditions in Japan and South Korea also made way for spectacular cloud streets visible on satellite imagery, streaming out along the Pacific coast.

The Facebook fan page “Taiwan Typhoon Forum | Weather Emergency” posted this afternoon, noting that a strong cold front is currently affecting Japan and South Korea, extending from the Sea of Japan all the way to the Pacific Ocean, driving the region into an extreme cold spell. This morning, Tokyo’s city center registered minus 4°C, marking its lowest temperature since 1970 and the first such low in 48 years. Fuchu City, west of Tokyo, experienced an even more extreme chill, plunging to minus 8.4°C—shattering the observation station’s historical record. “This kind of record is truly, truly astonishing.”

The post also pointed out that many weather stations in regions such as Hokkaido, Japan, have either matched or set new low-temperature records. Meanwhile, heavy snowfall continues on the Sea of Japan side, with significant snow accumulation. It is expected that this wave of extreme cold across Japan and South Korea will persist until the weekend before there is a chance of gradual warming. Travelers planning to visit Japan or South Korea are advised to take extra precautions against the harsh cold and stay well bundled up.