Railway Disruptions
Odakyu Electric Railway announced the suspension of operations for four Limited Express Romancecar trains between Odawara and Hakone-Yumoto. The affected services include the “Home Way 1” departing from Shinjuku at 5 PM and the “Home Way 5” at 6 PM. In the opposite direction, the “Hakone 6” scheduled to depart from Hakone-Yumoto at 6:36 PM and the “Hakone 8” at 7:50 PM were also suspended. These trains were set to originate from Odawara at 6:52 PM and 8:07 PM, respectively. Odakyu cautioned travelers to anticipate delays, stating that other trains might reduce speed for safety, potentially causing further schedule disruptions. Normal operations are expected to resume on March 5.
East Japan Railway Company (JR East) reported additional disruptions. Operations on the Ome Line between Ome Station and Okutama Station were suspended from 4 PM on March 4 and are expected to remain closed until around noon on March 5. Similarly, services on the Nikko Line between Kanuma Station and Nikko Station, as well as all operations on the Karasuyama Line, ceased after the last train at 6 PM on March 4. The Suigun Line also suspended all services from 6 PM onwards. Furthermore, JR East canceled 37 limited express trains on the Chuo Line, including services such as “Azusa” and “Kaiji,” from 3 PM onward on March 4. Major JR lines around Tokyo, including the Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines, are currently operating as scheduled.
Air Travel Impact
Japan’s air traffic has also been affected by the inclement weather. All Nippon Airways canceled four flights connecting Haneda, New Chitose, and Fukuoka due to snow removal operations, while other flights are reportedly operating as usual. Japan Airlines confirmed no current impact from snow at Haneda Airport, maintaining normal flight operations.
Road Closures and Warnings
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced preventive closures on 25 expressways and 11 national routes, mainly in the Kanto region. These measures aim to prevent vehicles from becoming stranded due to the heavy snowfall. Travelers are advised to use winter tires and check traffic and closure information before embarking on their journeys.
Weather Forecast and Further Disruptions
The Japan Meteorological Agency forecasts heavy snow to continue in mountainous areas of the Kanto-Koshin region from Tuesday afternoon, with potential accumulation even in the southern part of the Kanto area, including Tokyo. Snowfall of up to 30 centimeters is expected in the northern Kanto mountainous area and the Koshin region, 20 centimeters in the Chichibu area of Saitama Prefecture, 15 centimeters in the northern Kanto plain, 10 centimeters in Tokyo’s Tama area and Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture, and 1 centimeter in Tokyo’s 23 wards. The agency warns of possible traffic disruptions due to snow, as a low-pressure system is expected to move east and reach the Pacific coast of the Tokai central region on Wednesday morning.
Travelers are urged to stay informed about live updates on transportation operations and plan accordingly, allowing ample time for unforeseen disruptions. Safety remains a primary concern as the region braces for the weather’s impact on March 4 and beyond, with both snow and strong winds posing tangible dangers.
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