Rare Snowstorm Hits Japan

The last time Tokyo received this much snow was in January 1998 when 12.6 inches (32 cm) of snow fell.

A strong storm moving up the eastern coastline of Japan brought a rare, heavy snowfall Saturday into early Sunday for areas that typically don't see much in the way of snow.Tokyo is a difficult place for snow due to the high peak of Mount Fuji, just to the west of the city. It blocks a lot of the storms moving in from the west, and most storms coming in from the south and east are too warm.Tokyo received 8.7 inches (22 cm) of snow from this storm, and some of the heaviest snowfall seen was in Matsumoto, where 19.2 inches (49 cm) of snow fell. The Japan Meteorological Agency has said this is the heaviest snowfall from one storm since a storm in January 1994.Three people died with this storm so far, and more than 500 people were injured.

http://m.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/rare-snowstorm-for-japan/23094551