The Meteorological Agency is warning of heavy snow and traffic disruptions in areas facing the Sea of Japan through Monday, with the winter weather already having stranded more than 1,000 motorists in Toyama and Fukui prefectures over the weekend.
The two prefectures, as well as Niigata, on Sunday requested dispatches of the Self-Defense Forces to help with snow removal.
About 200 vehicles were stuck near an interchange on the Hokuriku Expressway in Fukui Prefecture on Sunday, while another 830 remained stranded in other sections of the expressway, Central Nippon Expressway Co. said.