Snow Pummels Japan

Above, the commuter train car I was stuck in for nearly 22 hours in Chiba Prefecture in 2014. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This certainly brings back memories of my February 2014 trip to Japan.

It was that trip that I managed to arrive at Narita Airport at about the same time one of the biggest snowstorms in years also arrived. I was stuck in a commuter train car for about 22 hours before managing to get into Tokyo from the airport. Later that week, a second big snowstorm hit Tokyo.

During that week, I did manage to go to Kurihama to see the Godzilla slide at the Yokosuka Kurihama Flower Park.

Above, the Godzilla slide at the Yokosuka Kurihama Flower Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to The Japan Times:

Heavy snow hit the Sea of Japan coast from the Tohoku to Kyushu regions Sunday, disrupting transportation and prompting authorities to urge people to stay indoors.

The Meteorological Agency predicts snow and blizzard conditions will continue until Tuesday, with up to 90 centimeters of snow projected to fall in some regions.

Television footage Sunday showed heavy blizzard conditions in Aomori and Niigata prefectures, as well as parts of Ishikawa, Toyama, and Fukui prefectures on the Sea of Japan coast. Snow also fell in Tokyo for the first time this year, as well as in Nagoya and Hiroshima.

The weather, including snow squalls and heavy winds at times, played havoc with road, rail and air transportation. Train service was canceled on sections of the Uetsu Main Line, which runs up the Sea of Japan coast through Niigata, Yamagata, and Akita prefectures; the Joetsu Line in Gunma and Niigata prefectures; the Oito Line in Niigata and Nagano prefectures; as well as parts of the Sanin Main Line along the Sea of Japan coast from Kyoto to Yamaguchi prefectures.

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