the climate of Japan is influenced especially by the huge, flat landmass of Mongolia and eastern Russia to the north and east. In the winter, the air over these areas cools down and creates a strong zone of high pressure. This causes intense winds to blow southwards and eastwards over the Pacific. As this winter monsoon, as it is known, approaches Japan, it crosses the relatively warm Sea of Japan and gathers moisture. It is then forced up over the mountains of Japan, cools once again, and releases its moisture as snow. The west coast of Japan, then, has heavy snows and generally more severe winters than the more sheltered eastern side[5].