Snowfall in Japan | Image credit: @ohigashi_lib (L) and @Tonkhaikichi (R)/X
Highlights
Due to severe snowfall in Japan, several airlines, including All Nippon Airways, ANA Wings, Japan Airlines, and Ibex, have announced delays and cancellations.
The extreme snowfall has arrived at the cusp of the tourist season.
Parts of Japan, including southwestern Fukui Prefecture, eastern Tottori Prefecture, Kyoto, Tokyo, and other regions along the Sea of Japan coast, are grappling with heavy snowfall. Extreme weather in Japan has made roads dangerously icy, triggering widespread travel disruptions such as cancelled flights and bullet train suspensions. The operational crisis triggered over 100 cancelled All Nippon Airways and ANA Wings flights, and delays were reported by Japan Airlines and Ibex. So far, over 371 flight cancellations and 1,710 delays have been reported in total.
Snowfall leads to flight cancellations in Japan
Snow-Capped Matsumoto Castle❄Japan’s National Treasure in Winter Wonderland.
Japan’s islands woke up to a massive snowfall today! #Japan #JapaneseCulture pic.twitter.com/eSFkK7iOFT
— JapanVibesHub🇯🇵｜Japan Culture & Trends (@JapanVibesHub) February 8, 2026
While the Tokyo Haneda Airport sits at the epicentre of the travel mayhem, with over 157 cancellations and 847 delays, other impacted facilities include New Chitose Airport, Itami Airport, Fukuoka Airport, Kagoshima Airport, Sendai Airport, and Hiroshima Airport.
Today, I walked around the center of Tokyo in the snow. pic.twitter.com/ixNOJArlPt
— StrollSnapshots (@MiruKikuAsobu) February 8, 2026
All airlines, including domestic and international, have been affected by the heavy snowfall. Nippon Airways clocked over 111 cancellations and 326 delays, ANA Wings reported over 68 cancellations and 145 delays, and Japan Airlines reported over 77 cancellations and 542 delays. Carriers like Ibex, Japan Air Commuter, Solaseed, Jetstar Japan, Air Do, Skymark, Oriental Air Bridge, United Airlines, Japan Transocean Air Co., Korean Air, and Air Japan also reported delays and cancellations.
TOKYO SNOW
E235系トウ39編成
山手線環状運転100周年記念ラッピング pic.twitter.com/pJUTCwPfMa
— ぱん🍞 (@Adachikukumin) February 8, 2026
Japan’s shinkansen network has reported delays between the Tokyo and Shin-Aomori Station, the Morioka and Akita Station, Tokyo and Nagano Station, and between Tokyo and Niigata Station. For timely updates about Japan’s bullet trains, check out JR-East’s official website.
Did you know
Kyoto’s Nantan recorded 35 cm of snow over six hours on the morning of February 8. Tottori and Hiroshima’s Shobara recorded 37 cm of snowfall during the snow during the same period. According to a report by The Mainichi, on February 9, the Hokuriku region could see upto 60 cm of snow, the Kanto-Koshin region up to 50 cm, and Hokkaido and Tohoku may receive up to 40 cm of snow.
Rare snow blanketed Tokyo on Sunday morning, Feb. 8, as Japanese voters head to the polls in an election expected to hand Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi a resounding win.
Snow started falling on the capital on Saturday evening, Feb. 7, while up to 70 cm of snow is forecasted in… pic.twitter.com/RacF2cEAip
— GMA Integrated News (@gmanews) February 8, 2026
According to a report by The Japan Times, meteorologists have also warned locals against lightning strikes, violent gusts, and possible tornadoes. With blizzards likely in western Japan, gusts up to 30 metres per second have been forecast for Tohoku and northern Kyushu regions.
What should travellers do amid Japan’s snowfall?
Snow blankets Tokyo as powerful storm system tightens grip on Japan – #TheJapanTimes#News #snow #Japan https://t.co/ImT3Gwp4PI pic.twitter.com/n2ebXUBxm5
— HM: Trip✈ (@HitoshiMisaka2) February 8, 2026
We recommend travellers keep a close tab on their flight status and proactively communicate with airline representatives regarding refunds and rebooking requests. It is also advised to your travel insurance policy.
Residents should also be wary of avalanches, snow buildup on powerlines, and descending snow from rooftops or tall trees.
(Feature image credit: @StripesPacific/X)
Related | The Ultimate Guide To Japan’s Izu Peninsula, Also Known As The Birthplace of Wasabi
Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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Written By
Yashita Vashishth
Assistant Editor – Growth
Writer by day, reader by night, Yashita has a flair for all things travel, wellness and food. She has ..Read Morepreviously worked at Condé Nast India and Times Internet. When not working, you can catch her binge-reading the latest thriller on the block, re-watching Friends, trying a new recipe or hosting her friends. Read Less
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