Daffodils in full bloom in central Japan

ECHIZEN, Japan - This photo taken Jan. 22, 2010, shows daffodils in full bloom along the Echizen Coast in the town of Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, in central Japan. The town is known as one of Japan's three largest areas for wild daffodils.

Giant jellyfish drift through Japanese waters

ECHIZEN, Japan - A diver swims near a school of giant jellyfish each nearly 1 meter in diameter in the Sea of Japan off the town of Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, on Oct. 31, 2009. Local fishermen said the jellyfish are smaller than usual this year but are present in huge numbers. The jellyfish create problems for the fisheries industry, and reports of equipment being damaged have come not only from Fukui but also Hokkaido and the Pacific coast.

Giant jellyfish drift through Japanese waters

ECHIZEN, Japan - A diver swims near a school of giant jellyfish each nearly 1 meter in diameter in the Sea of Japan off the town of Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, on Oct. 31, 2009. Local fishermen said the jellyfish are smaller than usual this year but are present in huge numbers. The jellyfish create problems for the fisheries industry, and reports of equipment being damaged have come not only from Fukui but also Hokkaido and the Pacific coast.

Giant jellyfish in Japan TOKYO, Japan - A fisherman looks at giant jellyfish called ''Echizen kurage'' (Nomura's jellyfish) caught in a fixed net off the coast of Echizen, Fukui Prefecture. The photo was taken on Nov. 10, 2005. (Kyodo)

Plague of giant jellyfish in Japan TOKYO, Japan - Giant jellyfish called ''Echizen kurage'' (Nomura's jellyfish) caught in a fixed net off the coast of Minamiechizen, Fukui Prefecture. The photo was taken on Dec. 13, 2005. (Kyodo)

Daffodils in full bloom in central Japan

ECHIZEN, Japan - This photo taken Jan. 22, 2010, shows daffodils in full bloom along the Echizen Coast in the town of Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, in central Japan. The town is known as one of Japan's three largest areas for wild daffodils. (Kyodo)

Giant jellyfish drift through Japanese waters

ECHIZEN, Japan - A diver swims near a school of giant jellyfish each nearly 1 meter in diameter in the Sea of Japan off the town of Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, on Oct. 31, 2009. Local fishermen said the jellyfish are smaller than usual this year but are present in huge numbers. The jellyfish create problems for the fisheries industry, and reports of equipment being damaged have come not only from Fukui but also Hokkaido and the Pacific coast. (Kyodo)

Giant jellyfish drift through Japanese waters

ECHIZEN, Japan - A diver swims near a school of giant jellyfish each nearly 1 meter in diameter in the Sea of Japan off the town of Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, on Oct. 31, 2009. Local fishermen said the jellyfish are smaller than usual this year but are present in huge numbers. The jellyfish create problems for the fisheries industry, and reports of equipment being damaged have come not only from Fukui but also Hokkaido and the Pacific coast. (Kyodo)

Heavy snow hits Sea of Japan coast

Photo taken Feb. 7, 2018 from a Kyodo News airplane shows houses and buildings in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, covered by heavy snow that hit a wide area of the Sea of Japan coast. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Heavy snow hits Sea of Japan coast

Photo taken Feb. 7, 2018 from a Kyodo News airplane shows houses and buildings in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, covered by heavy snow that hit a wide area of the Sea of Japan coast. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo