Blizzards pound Japan

Extreme winter weather returns to the main islands of Japan.

Blizzards pound cities with heavy snow - and it's already piled to record heights in some areas.

Japan's weather agency has forecast more snow over the next two to three days along the coast of the Sea of Japan.

On the northern island of Hokkaido, the city of Iwamizawa is at a standstill.

Forty-five mile-per-hour wind gusts slammed the city with heavy snow, and visibility is almost nil.

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) UNIDENTIFIED LOCAL SCHOOLGIRL, SAYING:

"I was trying to get to school, but I can't go now because of this blizzard."

In central Japan's Niigata City, which has already received near-record snow, more winter weather is on the way.

Meteorologists predict another 27 to 35 inches over the coming days.

This adds to the 9 to 13 feet of snow that has already buried parts of the prefecture.

Travis Brecher, Reuters