The society was established in 1939 as "Japanese Association of Snow and Ice" and reformed to "the Japanese Society of Snow and Ice" in 1955. It has obtained non-profit corporation status from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (now the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) in 1993.

Publications:

• Seppyo (Snow and Ice) (Bi-monthly, Japanese)
• Bulletin of Glaciological Research (Annual, English)

Special Interest Groups:

• Data Center for Glacier Research
• Polar Glaciology
• Ground Freezing
• Avalanche
• Snow and Ice Physics
• Satellite Glaciology
• Snow and Ice Engineering
• Snow and Ice Chemistry
• Glaciological Meteorology and Hydrology
• Blowing Snow