Japan Hit By Heavy Snows

Above, my commuter train stopped at a Chiba station due to heavy snow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's a story that brings back memories.

Japan is currently being hit by a rare heavy snowstorm. The storm has caused flight cancellations and Shinkansen stoppages.

According to Travel + Leisure:

Parts of Japan, including southwestern Fukui Prefecture, eastern Tottori Prefecture, Kyoto, Tokyo, and other regions along the Sea of Japan coast, are grappling with heavy snowfall. Extreme weather in Japan has made roads dangerously icy, triggering widespread travel disruptions such as cancelled flights and bullet train suspensions. The operational crisis triggered over 100 cancelled All Nippon Airways and ANA Wings flights, and delays were reported by Japan Airlines and Ibex. So far, over 371 flight cancellations and 1,710 delays have been reported in total. 

Above, yours truly at the Chiba station.

This all brings back memories of my 2014 trip to Japan. Upon arrival at Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture, a heavy snowstorm also arrived. I managed to get on a commuter train to Tokyo, but the storm forced the train to halt at a train station midway. I was stuck in the train car for almost 24 hours. 

Luckily for me, a Japanese gentleman called my hotel for me to let them know of my predicament. 

Above, the snow-covered Godzilla slide in Yokosuka. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was an interesting trip nonetheless. I was able to go to the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka as well as Yokohama. I also went to Kappabashi "Kitchen Town" in Tokyo and picked up some chef's knives.

Just before leaving Japan, a second storm hit. 

Above, my hotel after the second snow storm hit. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read the full story, go here.

Heavy Snow Hits Tokyo Area

Above, snow in Chiba Prefecture in 2014. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The following story reminds me of my February 2014 trip to Japan when a heavy snowstorm arrived ther at the same time I did. Another heavy snowstorm arrived a few days later.

I was stuck in Chiba Prefecture on a commuter train for several hours while trying to head into Tokyo from Narita Airport.

For the first time in two years, the Tokyo area has been hit be a heavy snowstorm.

The AP News (Associated Press) reported: 

TOKYO (AP) — Heavy snow hit the Tokyo area on Monday, disrupting trains and grounding more than 100 flights, with transport officials cautioning drivers to avoid nonessential travel.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the snowfall was expected to peak Monday night, with up to 55 centimeters (21 inches) predicted in mountainous areas north of Tokyo.

The snowfall was much less in central Tokyo, where more than 1 centimeter (0.4 inch) was reported for the first time in two years, Kyodo News said.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Hit By Heavy Snowstorm

Above, Tokyo after a snowstorm in February 2014. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A "once in a decade" snowstorm has hit Japan this week. This reminds me of a similar weather event back in February 2014 when I arrived in Japan at the same time as a big snowstorm. It was another "once in a decade" snowstorm. I ended up being stranded between Narita Airport and Tokyo in a Keisei Line train in Chiba Prefecture for about 22 hours.

It didn't stop there, later in the week another strong snowstorm hit Japan. 

From Kyodo News:

A wide area of Japan is bracing for more heavy snow and strong winds Wednesday as the coldest air of this winter stays over the archipelago, with authorities warning of traffic disruptions due to frozen roads and high waves.

The weather agency forecast subzero temperatures in many locations from the northernmost island of Hokkaido to the Kyushu region in the southwest on Wednesday morning, with the mercury expected to drop to minus 3 C in Tokyo and minus 2 C in Osaka.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways plan to cancel more than 200 flights Wednesday and JR East will suspend bullet train service between Fukushima and Shinjo on the Yamagata Shinkansen Line in the northeastern Tohoku region throughout the day.

As for Tokyo this week, Kyodo News wrote:

On Tuesday, snowfall was observed in central Tokyo for the first time this season, while Fukuoka and Kagoshima, both in the Kyushu region, also saw snowfall as temperatures dipped below zero.

To read the full story, go here. 

Japan Also Hit By Heavy Snows

Above, the street in front of my Tokyo hotel in 2014. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The United States wasn't the only country to be hit by powerful winter snowstorms this past weekend.

Many parts of Japan has also been hard hit by snowstorms that killed 17 people and injured over 90. 

The U.S. storm(s) have left holiday travelers stranded and flights were either cancelled or delayed. Many flights in Japan were also cancelled or delayed.

When I hear about heavy snows in Japan, they remind me of my February 2014 trip to Japan that had me stranded for nearly 24 hours on a commuter train between Narita Airport and Tokyo in Chiba Prefecture. Two big storms hit Japan during my trip, the first one arriving at the same time my flight did,

According to The Japan Times:

Heavy snow blanketed many parts of Japan on Friday, with some western cities renewing records and the weather agency warning of traffic disruptions, blizzard conditions and high waves.

The Meteorological Agency said it expected the rough weather to continue through Monday, moving from the country’s north and east to the west.

Record snowfall was observed in Shikoku, with Kochi registering 14 centimeters and Tokushima 8 cm in the six hours to 10 a.m. 

To read more, go here. 

ANA To Introduce Travel Insurance For Passengers

Above, ANA jets at Narita Airport in Chiba Prefecture. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my travels to Japan (8 of them), I have only purchased travel insurance once. That was for the 2004 G-TOUR sponsored by G-FAN magazine through Sita World Travel. It came in handy for one of out group who got seriously sick and had to be hospitalized.

The pandemic has sparked more interest in travel insurance. However, right now, Japan's borders are closed to tourists. They have yet to reopen the country to foreign visitors.

When that happens, eventually it will, All Nippon Airways (ANA) will be providing access to travel insurance to make things easier for tourists.

According to Japan Today:

TOKYO - All Nippon Airways (ANA) will provide access to a travel insurance referral website in cooperation with Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co Ltd for customers visiting Japan from abroad.

The website provides access to travel insurance provided by members of the Tokio Marine Group and its affiliated companies (1) to customers residing overseas who have already booked and purchased ANA international flight tickets on both ANA operated flights and codeshare flights to Japan. The introduction of this service is designed to simplify the travel preparation process, improve the customer experience, and offer added reassurance during the trip. ANA and Tokio Marine & Nichido will continue to work together as international travel resumes to ensure that travel is as comfortable and convenient as possible.

To read more, go here. 

6.1 Quake Jolts Tokyo

A strong earthquake hit Tokyo, Japan at 10:41 in the evening local Japan time.

Reuters reported:

TOKYO, Oct 7 (Reuters) - A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 jolted Tokyo and surrounding areas late on Thursday, stopping train lines, but there were no immediate reports of major damage, Japan's public broadcaster NHK said.

The tremor, at 10:41 p.m. (1341 GMT), registered "strong-5" on Japan's intensity scale, a level that could cause some damage to buildings and cause power cuts, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The quake had an epicentre in northwestern Chiba prefecture, east of the capital, Tokyo. There is no danger of a tsunami from the quake, NHK said.

The government has set up an emergency response task force, it added.

To read more, go here.

Yoshinoya: None In New Mexico

Above, people waiting for buses near a Yoshinoya in Chiba Prefecture, Japan in 2014 . Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I moved out of California, I've missed two hamburger restaurants (well, since my heart attack of two years ago, I've curtailed consuming red meats): In-N-Out Burger and Tommy's.

There's a third fast food restaurant I do miss, but I would have to curtail visits there as well over the same issue. That would be beef bowls at Yoshinoya. I was thinking about them the other day.

Unfortunately, Yoshinoya restaurants are only in California. There was one in Las Vegas, Nevada, but that has since closed down.