News On Japan

Avalanche Strikes Tsuchiyu Onsen in Fukushima

FUKUSHIMA, Feb 10, 2025 (News On Japan) - An avalanche occurred around noon on Monday along a prefectural road in Fukushima City, leaving two hot spring inns isolated once again due to record snowfall.

Reporter: "It’s an avalanche. Please turn back, it’s dangerous!"

According to Fukushima Prefecture, the avalanche struck a mountainous area in Tsuchiyu Onsen Town around 11:40 a.m., prompting authorities to close a 5.6-kilometer section of the road.

Earlier in the morning, at around 4 a.m., another avalanche had already occurred near the same location, temporarily isolating approximately 160 people, including guests at two inns.

Although the road closure was briefly lifted after snow removal efforts, the area is now cut off again.

Source: TBS

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Large hailstones falling at speeds exceeding 100 kilometers per hour highlighted the dangers of severe weather after unstable conditions brought heavy rain and hail to parts of eastern and northern Japan on June 12th, with experts warning that hailstorms can now occur at any time of year and are becoming increasingly difficult to predict.

Japan's national soccer team arrived in Dallas, Texas, on June 12th after completing final preparations near Nashville, Tennessee, ahead of its opening Group F match against the Netherlands at the FIFA World Cup in North America.

The Japanese government on June 12th released new guidelines calling for women’s toilets to have at least as many fixtures as men’s toilets in public facilities, seeking to address the persistent problem of long queues at women’s restrooms in places such as train stations and event venues.

Japan captain Wataru Endo has withdrawn from the national team's World Cup squad due to injury and announced his retirement from international soccer, dealing a major blow ahead of Japan's Group F opener against the Netherlands on June 14th (June 15th Japan time), as the team continued preparations near Nashville, Tennessee, on June 11th.

As bear sightings continue at an unusually high pace across Akita Prefecture, a veteran wildlife photographer who has spent nearly 30 years observing and photographing Asian black bears says the animals are appearing more frequently, moving closer to human settlements, and increasingly adapting their behavior to survive.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Travel NEWS

Air travelers departing Japan for overseas destinations this summer will face record-high fuel surcharges after All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) announced significant increases for international tickets purchased in July and August, driven by soaring fuel prices linked to tensions in the Middle East.

A rare white orca has been filmed off the coast of Rausu in Hokkaido's Shiretoko region, marking its first reported sighting in about two years.

A Tokyo-based company planning to open a new zoo using animals from North Safari Sapporo, which closed in 2025, has established a new company to take over the facility's animals and employees.

A male Asiatic black bear that appeared at Amanohashidate, one of Japan's Three Scenic Views, in Kyoto Prefecture was captured after prompting the temporary closure of the popular tourist destination and surrounding area, authorities said.

The economic impact generated by Junglia Okinawa during its first six months of operation reached 32.2 billion yen, according to a report released by Ryugin Research Institute.

As Japan enters the rainy season, a period traditionally considered a slow time for tourism, travelers are finding new opportunities to enjoy discounted trips, with destinations such as Atami gaining popularity and local governments offering travel subsidies and weather-linked promotions.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) announced that an El Niño phenomenon is believed to have developed this spring, warning that Japan is likely to experience above-average temperatures nationwide this summer despite the climate pattern's traditional association with cooler summers.

Narita International Airport Corporation is expected to announce next month that it will apply to the national government for project certification as part of the process to enable compulsory land acquisition for the construction of a new runway at Narita Airport, according to sources familiar with the matter.