"I Was Planning to Go During My Remaining Vacation" Power Outages and Mass Flight Cancellations... Emergency in Hokkaido Due to Heavy Snowfall

Heavy Snowfall Hits Hokkaido
Flight and Train Cancellations Surge
Widespread Power Outages, Temporary School Closures, and Road Bans Spread Damage

Record-breaking heavy snowfall and strong winds have continued in Hokkaido, one of Japan's most popular winter travel destinations, leading to widespread disruptions such as the suspension of flights and train services, as well as large-scale power outages. The damage is spreading. With the aftermath of a recent major earthquake still lingering, the addition of heavy snow has rapidly heightened anxiety among tourists preparing to travel. Hokkaido is especially popular, with over 2.2 million Korean visitors last year alone, so there has been a surge in online posts from people considering canceling their trips.

Heavy snowfall in Hokkaido. Photo by ANN News Japan

According to NHK and other sources on December 15, heavy snow has been falling across various parts of Hokkaido since the previous day. As of 6 a.m. that day, six-hour snowfall totals included 59 cm at Obihiro Airport, 45 cm in Sapporo, and 26 cm at Nakashibetsu Airport. In Engaru, 25 cm of snow had accumulated, with 24 cm in Takinoue and 23 cm in Kamikawa. Blizzards were also severe, and the maximum instantaneous wind speed observed in Iwashiri, Hokkaido, over a three-hour period until 9 a.m. was 30.2 meters per second.

Air and Rail 'Transport Paralysis'... School Closures and Road Restrictions

As a result of the heavy snowfall, transportation networks, including air and rail, have been effectively paralyzed. On this day, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines canceled a total of 29 flights, mainly on routes to and from Hokkaido. The previous day, 160 flights were also canceled. JR Hokkaido suspended 77 train services and announced that further suspensions may occur depending on weather conditions.

Heavy snowfall in Hokkaido. Photo by TBS News Japan

Power outages have also occurred. Due to the heavy snowfall, more than 14,300 households in the Hokkaido region lost electricity and experienced inconvenience. In some areas, especially elementary and middle schools, temporary closures were implemented, and major roads such as National Route 274 were placed under travel restrictions. The Hokkaido Development Bureau is conducting snow removal operations, but stated that it is difficult to predict when full restoration will be possible.

The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that up to 40 cm of additional snow could fall in some areas over the 24 hours until the morning of December 16, urging people to be especially cautious about traffic disruptions caused by heavy snow, blizzards, and strong winds. So far, no casualties have been reported.

Heavy Snow Amid Earthquake Aftermath... Growing Anxiety Among Travelers

This heavy snowfall has coincided with the recent major earthquake, amplifying concerns. On December 8, after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off the coast of Aomori Prefecture in northeastern Honshu, the Japanese government issued, for the first time ever, a "Hokkaido-Sanriku Offshore Aftershock Warning Information."

House damaged by fire caused by a strong earthquake in Aomori Prefecture. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

When a tsunami warning was issued following the earthquake, NHK repeatedly broadcast emergency alerts saying "Tsunami, evacuate," and evacuation orders were issued for Aomori Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture, and the Pacific coastal areas of Hokkaido. At least 13 people were injured in the earthquake, and there were also reports of house fires and building damage.

The Japan Meteorological Agency estimates that the probability of an earthquake of magnitude 8.0 or higher occurring within a week of a magnitude 7.0 or higher earthquake is about 1%. Hokkaido is adjacent to Aomori Prefecture, where the recent earthquake occurred, so while the likelihood of a major earthquake is low, aftershocks and additional risks cannot be completely ruled out.

As these reports spread, online communities and social networking services have been flooded with posts such as "I'm considering canceling my year-end trip to Japan," "I'm worried I might get stranded at the airport due to both the earthquake and the heavy snow," and "It might be better to avoid Japan for the time being." Travel communities are seeing a growing number of posts from people debating whether to cancel their trips, reflecting the rising sense of anxiety.