[English/Japanese] Snow is predicted to fall in Tokyo this week. In Japan, many tourist destinations like Hokkaido are popular for winter sports, but snowfall in Tokyo is relatively rare and the city is not prepared for it. As a result, even a 5 cm accumulation of snow can cause various problems. In this article, I will explain how to cope with snow in Tokyo. 1 Transportation When it snows, train schedules are often disrupted. Trains may be cancelled or services reduced, so you may be late for work. On snowy days, try to leave home earlier than usual. Roads can also become congested, and few people buy snow tires for such infrequent snowfall. Consequently, many people drive with regular tires on snowy days, which can lead to slipping accidents. Try to avoid walking close to cars on snowy days. 2 The day after it snows Unlike in Hokkaido, snow that falls in Tokyo has a high moisture content. For that reason, roads are often icy the day after snowfall. With so many buildings in Tokyo, sunlight may not reach some streets and the snow may not melt even after a week. Some people slip on the frozen roads and suffer serious injuries. On the day after snowfall, try to walk along sunlit routes. 3 What to wear What you wear the next day matters more than what you wear while it is snowing. Roads become very slippery, so wear long boots or other slip-resistant shoes. Also wear gloves because ice can cut your hands if you slip and catch yourself with them. A hat is necessary to protect your head. A backpack or other hands-free bag is also a good idea. If you don’t have boots, a life hack to reduce slipping is to stick adhesive bandages to the soles of your sneakers. Give it a try. Many students at our school come from warm countries. Some, seeing snow for the first time, have overdone it playing in the snow and caught colds. Enjoy snow play in moderation. This time, we plan to spread a snow-melting agent in front of the dormitory. If neighbors are struggling with shoveling, let’s help them out — it’s also a chance to make friends with Japanese people. Also, it’s best not to go outside too much on snowy days, so finish your shopping as early as possible! Snow is predicted to fall in Tokyo this week. In Japan, many tourist destinations such as Hokkaido are popular for winter sports, but snowfall in Tokyo is not that common, so the city is not set up to handle snow. Because of that, even just 5 cm of snow can cause various problems. This time, I will tell you how to deal with snow in Tokyo. 1 Transportation When it snows, train timetables often get disrupted. Trains may be suspended or their frequency reduced, so you might be late for work. On snow days, try to leave home early. Roads can also get congested. Very few people buy snow tires for snowfall that may or may not occur in a year. For that reason, many people drive on ordinary tires on snowy days, and some cause slip accidents. On snowy days, avoid walking close to cars whenever possible. 2 The day after it snows Snow that falls in Tokyo differs from that in Hokkaido in having a higher water content. Therefore, the day after snowfall, roads are often frozen. Tokyo’s many buildings block sunlight, and snow may not melt even after a week. People sometimes slip on frozen roads and sustain serious injuries. On the day after snow, choose streets with sunlight when you walk. 3 Clothing What you wear the next day is more important than what you wear while it is snowing. Roads are very slippery, so wear wellingtons or other slip-resistant footwear. Also wear gloves because ice can cut your hands if you fall and use them to brace yourself. A hat is necessary to protect your head. For bags, a backpack or similar hands-free option is best. If you don’t have wellingtons, there’s a life hack: sticking adhesive bandages to the soles of your sneakers makes them less slippery. Try it out. At our school, many students come from warm countries. For some, seeing snow for the first time led them to play too much and catch colds. Keep snow play moderate. We plan to spread de-icing agent in front of the dormitory this time. If neighbors are having a hard time shoveling snow, let’s help — it’s also an opportunity to become friends with Japanese people. Also, because it’s better not to go out much on snow days, complete your shopping early!