The worst snowstorm to hit the Tokai region in four decades abated Friday morning as the nation returned to work after the New Year's holidays.
But while snowfall weakened in many localities in the region, travelers and commuters still faced delays as trains operated in go-slow mode from the first run in the morning and workers struggled to clear snow from roads.
Tokaido Shinkansen trains, delayed Thursday by heavy snow as they carried some 270,000 holidaymakers home, continued to operate at reduced speeds between Nagoya and Kyoto, train authorities said. The trains are expected to operate with delays of 20 minutes or so.
Part of the JR Takayama Line was closed due to trees that fell under the heavy snow. Other local lines, including the Hashima Line of Nagoya Railroad Co., which suffered a derailment Thursday due to heavy snow, have been operating normally.
Traffic between Komaki junction and Nakatsugawa on the Chuo Expressway was halted Friday morning.
According to Aichi Prefectural Police, 122 traffic accidents caused by snow and ice occurred between Thursday evening and Friday morning in the prefecture, bringing the total number of accidents caused by heavy snow to 550 since Wednesday evening. No injuries were reported.
The winter storm dumped 17 cm of snow in the Nagoya area over a 24-hour period to 8 a.m. Thursday. It was the heaviest snowfall for January since 1961, when 19 cm was recorded in one day.
Mail delivery in the Tokai region was also delayed.