"I'll Never Come to Sapporo Again"... 7,000 Stranded by Record Snowfall in Hokkaido

Record Snowfall Paralyzes Transportation Networks, Leaving Thousands Stranded
Flight and Train Suspensions Cause Widespread Inconvenience for Travelers

Record-breaking snowfall in Hokkaido, Japan, has effectively paralyzed transportation networks around New Chitose Airport and Sapporo. Train and airport bus services have been suspended one after another, leaving around 7,000 people stranded at the airport and causing ongoing inconvenience for travelers.

Heavy snowfall in Sapporo City, Hokkaido. Photo by Kyodo News

On January 26, domestic online travel communities and social networking services (SNS) were flooded with posts expressing frustration, such as "All routes are cut off and there is no way to leave the airport," "I've been waiting for a taxi for more than five hours," and "It's impossible to get a taxi or Uber." These posts spread rapidly, highlighting the widespread inconvenience.

Train passengers also reported the chaos, sharing updates like, "I boarded a JR train, but it hasn't departed for over 40 minutes," and "There are reports that services may not resume tomorrow either," conveying the ongoing transportation disruption in the area.

According to Japanese media outlets such as NHK, this chaos was triggered by heavy snow clouds lingering over Hokkaido, which brought continuous heavy snowfall starting on January 25. As a result, the JR 'Rapid Airport' trains and airport bus services connecting New Chitose Airport and Sapporo were largely suspended.

Due to the heavy snowfall, 140 JR rapid trains were halted in a single day on January 25, and local media reported that about 7,000 people spent the night at New Chitose Airport. Long lines formed at taxi stands, but with few vehicles operating, it was extremely difficult for people to get around.

There was significant confusion on the ground as well. A man in his 40s who had traveled from Osaka told Japanese media, "I was planning to go to Hakodate, but all trains were suspended. I waited for 8 to 9 hours, but there was no clear guidance, so I felt helpless."

This snowfall is record-breaking in both snow depth and accumulation. According to the Japan Weather Association, as of noon on January 25, Sapporo's snow depth reached 101 centimeters, surpassing 1 meter for the first time in four seasons since 2021-2022. Notably, as of 11 a.m., the 12-hour snowfall measured 38 centimeters, setting a new record for January since statistics began in 2000.

JR Hokkaido is carrying out snow removal operations but stated that it will be difficult to resume normal service on some lines even by the afternoon of January 26. Imai Kie, a forecaster with the Japan Weather Association, warned, "The snow is expected to ease only after midday on January 26. There is a high risk of people becoming stranded during snow removal operations and of traffic accidents due to poor visibility."