Heavy snowfall across much of Japan has killed 17 people in the past 10 days, according to a government agency's provisional toll on Monday, and thousands of homes across the country have suffered power cuts.

Snow has fallen heavily in recent days on the main island of Honshu, along the Sea of ​​Japan, as well as on the northern large island of Hokkaido.

Seventeen people have died and dozens more injured because of the bad weather since December 17, according to Japan's fire and disaster management agency.

The public television channel NHK notably reported several cases of fatal accidents involving elderly people who had gone out to clear snow around their homes or on the roof of their house.

In Hokkaido, tens of thousands of homes have suffered power cuts in recent days, but the network was now almost fully restored.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has advised residents of the affected areas not to take to the road as vehicles have become stranded.

The snowy episode in Japan should decrease in intensity from this Monday, according to the JMA.