The season's coldest air mass so far brought heavy snow and disrupted air and land traffic Thursday in much of central Japan.
The weather affected many travelers returning home from New Year's holidays.
Nagoya saw 17 cm of snow during the 24 hours up to 8 a.m. Thursday. Sekigahara, Gifu Prefecture, registered 42 cm and Gifu 21 cm, the Meteorological Agency said.