Heavy snow expected across much of Japan

Wide areas of Japan will be hit by snowfall Saturday, with a rapidly developing low-pressure front heading northeast along the south side of the Honshu main island, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Heavy snow is expected in the Kanto plain region that includes Tokyo, with central Tokyo covered with snow as of 7 a.m.

Through Sunday morning, as much as 50 cm of snow is expected in the Kanto-Koshin area and 40 cm in extended areas from western to eastern Japan, according to the agency.

A number of domestic flights to and from Tokyo's Haneda airport have been cancelled, while the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen bullet trains operating in western Japan are expected to fall behind schedule, the operators said.