People across much of Japan are bundling up, hunching their shoulders, doing whatever they can to stay warm. Heavy snow has caused widespread disruption, with trains and vehicles stranded.

In western Japan, more than a dozen trains stopped for hours. About 7,000 passengers were trapped on board overnight from Tuesday.

Sixteen people reported feeling unwell and were taken to hospitals.

Railway officials later said they had underestimated the amount of expected snowfall, leading to a snow-melting system on tracks not being activated.

On an expressway that links the western prefectures of Mie and Shiga, many trucks were stuck for nearly 24 hours. The jam at one point stretched for about 10 kilometers.

A driver said, "I knew a cold spell was coming, but I never imagined there'd be such heavy snow".

The expressway operator says the section was cleared early Thursday. It plans to fully reopen the road to traffic by the evening.

The harsh weather still continues. Weather officials warn heavy snow and blizzards may lead to more disruptions of public transport. They say subzero temperatures could freeze water pipes and damage crops.