2,000 passengers stranded at airport in north Japan due to heavy snow

TOKYO, Jan. 6 -- About 2,000 travelers were stranded overnight at a key airport through Sunday in Hokkaido, northern Japan, as heavy snow caused flight cancellations, local media reported.

Flights were canceled on Saturday night as two runways at the New Chitose Airport were closed because of heavy snow.

As 105 flights were cancelled on Saturday, check-in counters at the airport got swamped with people trying to book new flights to bring them home.

Airport staff handed out sleeping bags and blankets for the travelers whose flights were canceled.

Most flights through Monday are fully booked so the stranded passengers might not be able to book new tickets until Tuesday, according to airline officials.

Hokkaido is a popular winter destination among both overseas and domestic travelers.