Taiwanese tourist in Japan gets trapped under snowy tree
The “snow monsters” in Japan’s Tohoku region attract many tourists every year. It’s a natural phenomenon in the northeast of Japan’s main island, where coniferous trees get a thick dusting of snow from late December to early March. Though it’s a marvelous sight, it can also be dangerous. Many tourists who get a little too close to the trees eventually find themselves trapped deep in snow. FTV got in touch with one such victim to find out more.
Entire trees covered in snow to form these magnificent “snow monsters” in Japan’s Tohoku Region. But do exercise caution if you’re there in person.
Voice of Mr. Chen (voice altered)
Fell into tree well
After I fell down the snow trap, the soft, fluffy snow kept collapsing. I realized what I had under my feet wasn’t solid ground but soft, fluffy snow. It’s like quicksand. The more you struggle, or the more weight you exert from above, the deeper the trap.
This past Saturday, Mr. Chen, a Taiwanese tourist, went to see the snow monsters in the Hakkōda Mountains in Aomori, Japan. The area wasn’t cordoned off, so Chen went up to a snow monster for a picture. Then, he fell into a tree well 1.5m deep. He started to struggle when he fell, but the snow was like quicksand and eventually buried him under.
Voice of Mr. Chen (voice altered)
Fell into tree well
I kept yelling in Japanese, “Help! Help! Help! Can someone please help?” I kept yelling non-stop for so long, kept yelling despite both my legs becoming numb, but no one heard me. I thought, would it be possible that no matter how I kept yelling, no one would hear me? Thinking of that really sent me into despair.
Fortunately, other tourists, also Taiwanese, heard his cries for help and called upon the staff onsite. Mr. Chen was finally lifted out after being trapped for almost an hour.
Avis
Winter tour guide
I advise carrying a whistle. The snow absorbs sound waves, making human voices inaudible. The snow monsters are formed when the tree leaves get covered in snow. There’s a hollow space around the tree trunk, called a tree well. It can be more than 10m deep.
Hsu Che-lang
Travel agency spokesperson
I would recommend recreation parks more likely to have safety warning signage, such as Mount Zao. Try to keep a distance of around 3m to 5m. I think it’s also very important to have someone travel with you and don’t leave the group.
Experts advise tourists to remember the following four steps if they do become trapped in a tree well: hang onto the trunk to avoid falling deeper, find space to breathe, wiggle your body as you move up to escape, and stay away from snow-covered trees in general.
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2025-02-11
