On Tuesday, March 4, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) announced preventive road closures starting in the afternoon of March 4 through March 5 due to expected heavy snowfall in the Kanto-Koshin region and Shizuoka Prefecture. These closures include sections of the Metropolitan Expressway Central Circular Route.
Given the concerns about the impact of heavy snow, authorities have prioritized human safety and decided to implement preventive road closures before conditions deteriorate to the point where safe passage is no longer possible.
Road Closures on March 4
3:30 PM (15:30)
- Metropolitan Expressway Central Circular Route (首都高速中央環状線)
- Metropolitan Expressway Bayshore Route (首都高速湾岸線) – Ooi Junction (大井連結路)
4:00 PM (16:00)
- E1 Tomei Expressway (東名高速道路)
- E1A Shin-Tomei Expressway (新東名高速道路)
- E68 Higashi-Fujigoko Road (東富士五湖道路)
- E68 Chuo Expressway Fuji-Yoshida Line (中央道富士吉田線)
- C4 Ken-O Expressway (圏央道)
- E83 Dai-san Keihin Road (第三京浜道路)
- E83 Yokohama Shindo (横浜新道)
- E16 Yokohama-Yokosuka Road (横浜横須賀道路)
- Metropolitan Expressway Route 3 (首都高速３号線)
- Metropolitan Expressway Kanagawa Routes 2, 3, 7 (高速神奈川２号・３号・７号)
- Metropolitan Expressway Bayshore Route (首都高速湾岸線)
- National Route 1 (国道1号)
- National Route 16 (国道16号)
- National Route 138 (国道138号)
- National Route 246 (国道246号)
6:00 PM (18:00)
- E4 Tohoku Expressway (東北自動車道)
- E18 Joshin-Etsu Expressway (上信越自動車道)
- National Route 4 (国道4号)
- National Route 18 (国道18号)
- National Route 20 (国道20号)
- National Route 139 (国道139号)
Check Real-Time Traffic Updates Before Traveling
Drivers are advised to check the latest road conditions and exercise caution while traveling. It is recommended to visit DoraTora for real-time traffic information.
If you’re looking for disaster alert apps used in Japan, you can find them here.
Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Kanto Regional Development Bureau.
