Snowstorm in Tokyo disrupts road and air transport

A rare snowstorm hit Tokyo on Monday, prompting hordes of workaholic Japanese to heed official advice to head home early.

Train services were curtailed and some highways were closed, as icy roads were causing traffic accidents. Around 250 flights from Tokyo's Haneda airport were cancelled.

The government issued heavy snow warnings for the area around the capital, just two weeks after hundreds of people were trapped overnight in a train in northern Japan by heavy snow.

The Japanese capital often sees snow at least once a year, but this time it is expected to accumulate, rather than quickly melt as it usually does.

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings called for households and corporations to save power as electricity demand rises when the temperature falls.