The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says it confirmed 1,219 new cases of the coronavirus in the capital on Monday.
That is the highest-ever figure for a Monday. The daily tally has exceeded 1,000 for seven days in a row.
Weather officials say that snow has passed its peak in Niigata Prefecture and the Hokuriku region, but residents should stay cautious.
Japan's Meteorological Agency says a strong winter pressure pattern and a mass of extremely cold air dumped snow on the Sea of Japan coast. But it says the snow has peaked after intensifying through to Monday morning in Niigata Prefecture and the Hokuriku region, which have seen record snowfall.
Weather officials say heavy snow will continue falling through Monday in coastal areas along the Sea of Japan.
The Meteorological Agency says a strong winter pressure pattern and a mass of extremely cold air have dumped a large amount of snow, mainly in the Hokuriku region and Niigata Prefecture.
A research team based in Britain says an arthritis drug developed in Japan can significantly improve the survival rate of critically ill COVID-19 patients.
Researchers from Imperial College London and elsewhere reported their findings from a clinical trial of the rheumatoid arthritis drug Actemra, which is also known as tocilizumab.
Weather officials say heavy snow will continue falling through Monday in coastal areas along the Sea of Japan.
The Meteorological Agency says a strong winter pressure pattern and a mass of extremely cold air have dumped a large amount of snow, mainly in the Hokuriku region and Niigata Prefecture.
Japan had confirmed 6,076 new cases of the coronavirus as of 9 p.m. on Sunday.
This brings the total number of infections in the country to 289,458.
Japan's health ministry says four people who arrived at Tokyo's Haneda Airport earlier this month were infected with a coronavirus variant different from those found in Britain and South Africa.
The ministry says the four people are in their teens to their 40s and all of them had stayed in the state of Amazonas in Brazil.
Heavy snow is continuing to fall along the Sea of Japan side of central Japan. Vehicles were stranded and accidents were reported in many areas.
More than 1,000 vehicles were stranded earlier on Sunday on the Hokuriku Expressway in Fukui Prefecture. About 340 vehicles were still snowed in at 6 p.m. on Sunday.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported 856 new coronavirus cases in the Japanese capital on Tuesday.
That daily tally is the highest for a Tuesday since the pandemic began. The Tuesday figure is usually lower as many medical institutions are closed on weekends.
A support group including lawyers is providing consultations in Tokyo to people who have lost their jobs or part of their income because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Consultation sessions began from 10 a.m. on Tuesday in Okubo Park situated in Shinjuku's Kabukicho entertainment district.
A new variant of the coronavirus that was first detected in South Africa has been confirmed in Japan.
On Monday, the health ministry said it was found in a woman in her 30s who arrived at Narita Airport near Tokyo on December 19. She traveled from South Africa.
Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide says the government will work to make sure healthcare services are available to deal with coronavirus infections during the year-end and New Year holidays.
Suga was speaking on Monday at a government taskforce meeting that was called to discuss measures against the virus.
Japanese health officials had confirmed 2,390 new cases of the coronavirus as of 8:00 p.m. on Monday.
That brings the total number of infections to 224,478, including 712 on a cruise ship.
Japan and South Korea remain divided over the issue of people referred to as wartime comfort women, five years after the countries agreed to settle the issue.
In December 2015, Tokyo and Seoul confirmed that the issue was resolved finally and irreversibly.