The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has issued an emergency announcement in response to heavy snowfall predicted for January 23-25 in the Hokuriku and Kinki regions.
The strongest cold air of the winter is expected to move in, strengthening the winter pressure pattern, and heavy snowfall and high waves of warning level are forecast, especially from late in the evening of the 23rd to the 24th.
The Hokuriku-Kinki Regional Development Bureau has announced “precautionary traffic control zones” on expressways and directly controlled national highways, where traffic may be closed (intensive snow removal) depending on weather conditions. The restricted areas are in Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Shiga, Kyoto, Hyogo, Nara, and Wakayama prefectures.
In the event of heavy snowfall, the government urges people to refrain from going outside unnecessarily, and if they have no other choice but to drive, to install winter tires and carry chains, shovels, sand, etc.
For the latest information, please check the Japan Road Traffic Information Center, the Expressway Impact Information website, or the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s official winter road information website.
© Source travel watch