The Japan Meteorological Agency is forecasting heavy snow in the Kanto-Koshin region, including the capital from the evening of March 4 throu･･･

The first rain fell March 5 since massive forest fires broke out Feb. 26 in the northeastern Japan city of Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture. However

The closures are set to begin at around 4 p.m. for major routes including the Tomei Expressway, Shin-Tomei Expressway and Joshinetsu Expressway.

The Japanese weather agency warned of snow in central Tokyo and neighboring areas from Tuesday evening that could disrupt traffic due to icy roads. Heavy snow is expected in mountainous areas in western Tokyo,

Japan's northern city of Ofunato faces mass evacuations as firefighters battle a massive forest fire, burning 2,100 hectares.

Japanese weather officials say heavy snow will likely fall again in mountainous areas of the Kanto-Koshin region from Tuesday evening.

Heavy snowfall expected in the Kanto Koshin region and Shizuoka Prefecture in central Japan from March 3 to 5 is already disrupting transportation systems, including trains in Tokyo.

Japan is fighting a forest fire that has damaged dozens of homes and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate in a northeastern coastal city.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan is fighting a forest fire that has destroyed or damaged dozens of homes and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate in a northeastern coastal city. The fire has burned about 2,100 hectares (5,190 acres) of forest in Ofunato since it started Wednesday, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

The fire, in a forested area of the coastal city of Ofunato, killed at least one person and prompted evacuation orders for thousands of residents.

TOKYO — Japan is fighting a forest fire that has ... have had their driest winter since 1946, when the Japan Meteorological Agency started collecting data.