Weathernews has released a forecast of the risk of highway closures due to snow in February and March 2026.
Northern Japan, eastern Japan, and western Japan are further divided into the Sea of Japan side and the Pacific side, and the risk of road closures is forecasted at three levels: “low,” “likely,” and “high.
The Sea of Japan side of northern and eastern Japan will remain “likely” until mid-February, while the Pacific side will also be “likely” in early February due to a south coast cyclone.
In late February, particularly strong cold air is expected to flow in, and all areas on the Sea of Japan side are forecasted to be “high. All areas on the Pacific side of the Pacific Ocean are also rated as “likely” for early March, while all areas are rated “low” for mid-March and beyond.
Before driving, drivers are urged to check the latest weather and traffic information, and to take precautions against traffic hazards, such as refraining from going out when an increase in snowfall is expected.
In addition, since there is a possibility of snow accumulation even in areas where snowfall is normally rare, such as the plains of western Japan, the government urges people to prepare winter tires and to drive more carefully than usual.
© Source travel watch