The snow spirit in Japanese folklore, often depicted as a pale woman, is Yuki-onna.
Yuki-onna means “snow woman.” She is generally described as a yōkai or ghostly winter being who appears during snowstorms or on snowy nights. Her traditional image includes a tall, beautiful figure with long dark hair, blue lips, white clothing, and skin so pale it may seem transparent. Some stories say she leaves no footprints or can dissolve into mist or falling snow.
Her behavior varies widely by region. In some tales she freezes travelers with an icy breath or leads them into blizzards; in others she appears as a mysterious woman who marries a human. A famous literary version was popularized by Lafcadio Hearn in “Kwaidan,” in which a snow woman spares a young woodcutter on the condition that he never reveals their encounter.
Yuki-onna is sometimes confused with ubume, a spirit associated with a woman who died in childbirth. Although both may appear carrying children, their folklore and themes are distinct.