1.
heavy snowfall region; snow country
An area that experiences exceptionally heavy snowfall. In Japan, this is also a legally designated category covering large parts of 東北, 北陸, and 北海道 that receive special government support.
Compound of 豪雪 (heavy snowfall) + 地帯 (zone/region). Beyond its descriptive meaning, this is an official designation under the 1962 豪雪地帯対策特別措置法, covering more than half of Japan by area.
Common collocations
- 豪雪地帯に指定される: to be designated a heavy-snowfall region
- 豪雪地帯の暮らし: life in snow country
- 特別豪雪地帯: special heavy-snowfall region (most severe designation)