Eleven dead and 1,200 injured as heavy snow hits Japan

Watch: Tokyo blanketed in heavy snow

The heaviest snow in decades in Tokyo and other areas of Japan has left at least 11 dead and more than 1,200 injured across the country, reports said on Sunday.

As much as 27 centimetres of snow was recorded in Tokyo by late on Saturday, the heaviest fall in the capital for 45 years, according to meteorologists.

The storm hit Tokyo on the eve of its gubernatorial election.

Observers say the weather may affect voter turnout in the city of 13 million people. As of 6pm, turnout was down more than 10 percentage points from a previous poll during the last mayoral election.