Aomori, in northern Japan, is considered the snowiest inhabited area in the world. In winter, snowfall is heavy and persistent, with snow reaching up to 8 meters.
Snow-covered cities have a different beauty and grace. But what happens in a city where the snow reaches 8 meters? According to weather.com, the city with the heaviest snowfall worldwide is Aomori of Japan.
Aomori is the capital of the prefecture of the same name, in the northern part of the island of Honshu and is home to 300,000 people. Every year, in winter, the city, as well as the wider region, faces heavy snowfall due to its position between the Hakkoda Mountains and the edge of Mutsu Bay.
Aomori: Where the snow covers everything
This area faces over 7 meters of snow annually, mainly between November and April. The extreme snowfalls are caused by the cold winds of Siberia that sweep into Japan from the northwest every November. Winds from the mountains and the sea very quickly create many clouds and heavy precipitation that falls mostly as snow due to the low temperatures.
The name of the city means blue forest, due to the rich vegetation that surrounds it. Here the snow covers everything during winter. Delays in public transportation and abandoned cars on the road are a common sight.
However, the city and the surrounding area always find ways to celebrate… the snow! There are several festivals (such as the famous Hirosaki Castle Yuki-Doro Snow Festival) and beautiful snow-covered attractions to see throughout the season.
A winter wonderland
For snow lovers and skiers, Aomori is a unique travel destination. The city is three hours away by high-speed train fromTokyo, and it also has an international airport. A large team called White Impulse uses dozens of snowplows many times a day in order to keep the airports runway free of ice.
According to CNN Travel, visitors to Aomori can try some of the freshest seafood in Japan at Furukawa, the citys central seafood market. The local specialty is nokke don, a bowl of rice with various seafood.
For adventure lovers, the nearby Hakkoda Mountains offer exciting runs for backcountry skiing. The snow-covered trees with their strange shapes (the Japanese call them "snow monsters") are impressive. After descents on untouched snow, the hot springs located on the volcanic peaks offer the ultimate relaxation.
