Heavy snow hit central Hokkaido on Saturday, disrupting flight and train services throughout the region.
At New Chitose Airport, southeast of the capital Sapporo, 241 flights were canceled, according to the airport operator. A total of 135 train runs, including those connecting Sapporo Station with New Chitose Airport, were also suspended, affecting around 18,000 people, Hokkaido Railway Co. said.
In Sapporo, 65 centimeters of snow had accumulated by 3 p.m., the most in early December since 1987, according to the Sapporo district meteorological observatory.
The snow also forced all-girl pop group Morning Musume'16 to cancel a show in Sapporo scheduled for Saturday, the group's office said.
