Winter season in Okuwa village

During the winter season, Okuwa Village experiences heavy snowfall sometimes, particularly in January and February.

The higher mountains surrounding the village are blanketed with snow, creating a picturesque winter landscape.

Mt. Minami Komagatake

The village itself is also covered in snow, and residents often clear paths around the entrances to their homes.

Roads become snow-covered, but snowplows work diligently to remove snow from major roads, ensuring traffic can still flow.

It is essential for every car to be equipped with snow tires, as driving on snow-covered roads with summer tires may lead to arrest due to the potential impact on traffic.

In Okuwa Village, temperatures often drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Residents take precautions to prevent water pipes from freezing, as frozen pipes have the potential to burst when the ice expands. Electric heaters cover all water pipes lead to the inside of houses, automatically activating when temperatures drop to a certain level to prevent freezing.

External water supplies, such as those in gardens, are equipped with additional valves (in orange color) that drain water from the pipes, preventing freezing.