TOKYO Heavy snow blanketed the Japanese capital on Saturday causing minor injuries, snarling transport and cancelling over 200 domestic flights.

The meteorological agency predicted Tokyo would receive about 15-20cm (six to eight inches) of snow, with some suburban areas seeing double that amount, through the day and into the night.

At Tokyo's Haneda Airport, thousands of travellers were stranded after most flights at the domestic hub were cancelled. The Tokyo region's Narita International Airport, where snowfall was lighter, reported no cancellations and few delays.

Police said the snow caused dozens of fender benders and injuries, but there were no reports of serious injuries.

Railway operators reported delays as long as several hours, and several highways were closed temporarily to remove snow.

The meteorological agency issued heavy snow warnings on Saturday for the capital and several of its surrounding prefectures.

Tokyo typically experiences several snow falls a year but even a light dusting plays havoc because of the time and equipment necessary to remove it from one of the most densely packed cities in the world.

(Reuter)