Temperatures plunged across many parts of Japan on Tuesday as a cold air mass moved in over the Kanto area, Hokuriku and northern Japan.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, temperatures in Hokkaido fell to the average for January, while the Kanto region experienced temperatures average for early December. In Tokyo, the mercury was 7.9 degrees at 7 a.m.

In Hokkaido, the mercury fell to 12.8 degrees below zero in Kamikawa, the norm for January.

Aomori had its first snowfall of the season, with 18 cms falling as of 12 noon, while Hakodate in Hokkaido recorded 23 cms of snow.

In the Kanto area, the lowest temperature was 0.5 degrees in Utsunomiya,Tochigi Prefecture. Parts of Ibaraki and Gunma prefectures had their first frost of the season on Tuesday morning.

The Meteorological Agency said the chilly weather is likely to last until Nov 14.

© Japan Today