Residents of Tokyo and nearby areas are busy preparing for possible snowfall.

Snow is forecast in wide areas in the Kanto-Koshin region from Thursday to Friday.

A hardware store in Tokyo's Ome City has set up a section dealing with items such as snow shovels and boots.

Many people began shopping as soon as the store opened at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

All shovels on display were sold out in about an hour. They continued to sell quickly even after staff refilled the empty shelves.

Some people purchased more kerosene than usual to brace for the cold weather.

The store says it has sold all 650 bags of snow melting agent it had prepared, and is making arrangements to receive more on Thursday.

A customer in her 50s said she was shopping for a shovel to clear the snow, as well as extra food so that she can stay indoors on Thursday.