The Travel Industry Council estimated that around 6,000 Hong Kong holidaymakers in about 200 tour groups were in Japan, though no more than 10 tour groups were known by yesterday to have been hit directly by the wild weather. Council executive director Fanny Yeung Shuk-fan said some tour members suffered disruptions such as arriving at hotels late or having to change their plans entirely. People heading to Japan from Hong Kong yesterday were however sticking to their schedules. An unusually cold weather front and extreme low pressure systems had set snow falling and caused strong winds across Japan from Tuesday, Reuters reported. Domestic airlines including ANA and Japan Airlines had by last night cancelled more than 300 flights, and bullet train services were suspended or delayed in northern Japan.

Source: The Standard January 26, 2023 23:15 UTC