We're already some time into the season of spring - but Tokyo and other prefectures in Japan's central Kanto region were surprised by an unexpected snowfall over the last weekend! ? A low-pressure front transformed the weekend's rain into snow, resulting in more than 1cm of snow. It's rare to get so much snow in the middle of Tokyo - in fact, this is the first time it's happened in over 30 years!
At the same time, beautiful cherry blossoms have bloomed all over Tokyo, creating a truly magical and breathtaking sight as the falling snow landed on the pink flowers. Popular cherry blossom sites were transformed into winter wonderland scenes that will leave you starstruck - here's hoping we'll get to see even more of these stunning sights in the future!
Chidorigafuchi Park
Hikarigaoka Park
Inokashira Park
Kanda River
Credit: B Lucava on Flickr
Meguro River
Nerima
Shinjuku Gyoen National Gardens
Sugawara Shrine
Credit: Yoshimitsu Kurooka on Flickr
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Ueno Park
The snowfall also extended outside of Tokyo, to the nearby prefectures of Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Ibaraki, Gunma, and Tochigi too.
Chiba prefecture
Kanagawa prefecture
Saitama prefecture
Many in Tokyo have been cooped up indoors to help deal with the Covid-19 outbreak and seeing such an unexpected sight feels like a blossoming sign of hope. ? Even in times of anxiety and fear, the unparalleled beauty of nature can definitely bring a new warmth and lightness to our hearts!