Heavy snow grips northern Japan after days of continuous snowfall, leaving at least one person dead, four in serious condition, and five with minor injuries. Transport networks have faced significant disruptions as a cold front is expected to intensify over the weekend, according to the government. The authorities are monitoring conditions closely as fleets of roads and rail are affected.
Government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed these figures at a briefing, noting that seven homes were severely damaged and 790 households were still without power as of 9:00 local time. On transportation, 38 stretches of eight major highways have been suspended and 24 railway routes operated by nine companies were stopped, while 134 flights were canceled on Wednesday nationwide.
Echoing the appeals from local authorities and the Japan Meteorological Agency, Hayashi told residents to avoid nonessential outings while the snow persists and to stay informed via weather bulletins.
The northern part of Japan has been hit by record snowfall as a cold front advances, prompting the closure of nearly 400 schools and triggering a weather alert that covers 13 of the 47 prefectures.
In Yamaguchi Prefecture, a woman in her 60s who was operating a work vehicle to remove a tree that had contacted a power line was killed when another tree fell on the vehicle, marking the first fatality linked to the snow.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says that the season’s strongest cold front is moving across the archipelago, and the winter pressure pattern is strengthening, leading to heavier snowfall, particularly along the Sea of Japan coast.
As of 6 a.m. today, snowfall readings included 25 cm in Yuzawa, Niigata; 22 cm in Neo, Gifu; and 20 cm in Takikawa, Hokkaido. In Shirakawa-go, Gifu, snow accumulations reached 2.51 meters, while Ono in Fukui reported 1.9 meters; Aomori City recorded 99 cm and Obihiro 89 cm.
The cold spell is expected to endure for more than a week, and authorities urge people to limit nonessential travel and for drivers to keep their fuel tanks full, fit winter tires, and carry a blanket, food, and a portable phone charger.
Residents in affected areas should monitor official advisories as conditions can change quickly, and emergency services remain on standby to respond to weather-related incidents.