SAPPORO – Sapporo, the capital of Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, observed the season’s first snowfall on Oct 20, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.

       Sapporo’s first snowfall came 22 days earlier than in 2023 and eight days earlier than in an average year, according to the JMA.

       An observatory at the top of Mt Moiwa, which provides a panoramic view of Sapporo, was seen covered in snow on the morning of Oct 20.

       “When I came here last week, much of the mountain was still green,” said a local woman in her 30s. “However, I enjoyed the day today, watching the red and yellow leaves among the snow.” THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK