AOMORI -- Record snowfall has hit the Tsugaru region of northern Japan's Aomori Prefecture, with snow reaching over 4.3 meters deep in one area.

The snow was brought by a cold air mass with temperatures below minus 39 degrees Celsius at an altitude of about 5,000 meters over Japan's northeastern Tohoku region.

As of 9 a.m. on Jan. 17, the city of Aomori had recorded 128 cm of snow, while the city of Hirosaki in the prefecture had 125 cm, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Sukayu, located in the Hakkoda Mountains in the city of Aomori, recorded 434 cm of accumulated snow, the highest level this season.

Located at an elevation of about 890 meters and known for its hot springs, Sukayu saw its snow depth surpass 4 meters Jan. 2 and reach 413 cm the following day. Although the level temporarily decreased after this, heavy snowfall since the night of Jan. 15 caused a rapid rise.

On the morning of Jan. 16, guests at the Sukayu Onsen hot spring area dug out cars completely buried in the parking lot, assisted by employees. A 56-year-old visitor from Chiba near Tokyo spent over 30 minutes shoveling snow off his vehicle.

"I was concerned because there was a blizzard last night, but I never expected this much," he said. "I love Sukayu and I've visited many times, but this is the first time I've seen such snow."

(Japanese original by Junko Adachi, Aomori Bureau)