As the New Year period, also known as "Sanganichi" comes around, Japan braces for potential transportation disruptions on the Sea of Japan side. Authorities caution citizens to plan their travel accordingly and stay alert for updates on their journey. This caution comes in effect due to prevalent weather conditions which have historically caused challenges in this region during this period.

The "Sanganichi" or the first three days of the New Year is a time when many Japanese people travel back to their hometowns to celebrate the beginning of the year with family. Traffic disruptions due to weather conditions are taken very seriously as it could disrupt these traditional family reunions and also serves as a potential public safety risk.

In the US or EU, extreme weather conditions also cause transportation chaos. However, as New Year’s travel is less traditionally ingrained in these places, the disruption does not have as significant a cultural impact. Nonetheless, hardships faced by travelers and potential public safety risks are universal concerns.