Thousands stranded as rare heavy snow hits Tokyo and people are advised to 'walk like penguins'

Thousands of people were left stranded in Tokyo after the worst snowstorm in four years shut air and rail transport.

The rare heavy snowfall hit Tokyo on Monday, forcing the cancellation of train services and hundreds of flights, while some major roads were closed and icy conditions caused accidents on others.

Japanese workers were officially warned to head home early on Monday evening but train stations still filled in the rush hour with frustrated commuters trying to get home.

Some train services were still being cancelled on Tuesday morning and highways remained closed, while airports struggled to clear a backlog of flights.

Snow began falling on Monday morning, dumping as much as nine inches on the city before it stopped early on Tuesday.

About 250 flights from Tokyo's Haneda airport were cancelled on Monday, while 6,000 people were left stranded at Narita airport overnight..

Meanwhile 50 cars got stuck and unable to move on the "Rainbow Bridge" on Tokyo's waterfront.

More than 740 traffic accidents due to the snow were reported, and 67 people were injured from falls as of last night, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

About 200 passengers were evacuated from the carriages of the waterfront Yurikamome train service after it was unable to go up a slope due to the snow, NHK added.

The Japanese capital usually sees snow at least once a year, but it normally melts quickly rather than accumulating.

The government issued heavy snow warnings for the area, just two weeks after hundreds of people were trapped overnight in a train in northern Japan by heavy snow.

NHK offered detailed recommendations for coping with the weather, including wearing boots with heavy treads, heading home early and not walking with hands in coat pockets in case of slips and falls.

It also showed people how to walk like penguins.

Trains to the suburbs were packed full by the unusually early hour of 4pm and long lines formed at supermarkets.

NHK said universities had postponed entrance exams due to have been held on Tuesday morning.

A disaster management centre in the prime minister's office was collating information on the situation.

"We will respond to this based on various scenarios," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference.

"We call on all citizens to keep informed about the latest conditions and beware of transport delays.