People walk the snow in front of JR Shinjuku Station in Tokyo on Jan. 6, 2022. (Mainichi/Naoaki Hasegawa)

       TOKYO -- Traffic disruption was seen across Japan's capital on Jan. 6 due to the uncommon occurrence of snowfall, with some drivers even forced to spend the night in their vehicles.

       On the morning of Jan. 7, some vehicles were still stranded on Tokyo's Metropolitan Expressway.

       The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)'s Expressway Traffic Police Unit said the section of the expressway's Central Circular Route between Itabashi Junction in Itabashi Ward and Kohoku Junction in Adachi Ward closed from 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 6 due to frozen roads. Many cars were unable to leave the section, and some drivers apparently spent the night in their vehicles. Immobilized vehicles were moved one by one by tow truck, and the gridlock was reportedly cleared at around 7:45 a.m. on Jan. 7.

       Cars were also stalled on Tokyo Gate Bridge over Tokyo Bay in Koto Ward between Jan. 6 and the morning of Jan. 7 due to icy road conditions.

       The MPD's Tokyo Wangan Police Station reported that two vehicles became stuck on the bridge at around 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 6, and up to more than 100 cars are believed to have been affected. Officers from the police station reportedly distributed pocket warmers, bottled water and dry biscuits to drivers at around 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 7. Vehicles slowly traveled across the bridge at a later time.

       While traffic congestion was almost relieved by 8 a.m., the bridge was reportedly still closed due to a stranded truck.

       (Japanese original by Kazuki Mogami, Tokyo City News Department)

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