Hokkaido, Japan, was hit by its first major snowstorm of the winter on Saturday, November 7, as a rapidly developing low-pressure system brought heavy snowfall, powerful winds and transport disruption across the island. Sapporo received its first substantial snow cover of the season, while authorities warned drivers to prepare for blizzard conditions and icy roads.
The storm arrived on Rittō, the traditional Japanese calendar date marking the beginning of winter. The Japan Meteorological Agency’s Sapporo Regional Headquarters recorded 10 centimeters (4 inches) of snowfall in Sapporo’s Chuo Ward and 18 centimeters (7 inches) in Fukagawa in the 24 hours through 8 a.m. Saturday. In Fukagawa, snow depth reportedly increased from 5 to 23 centimeters (2 to 9 inches) in just two hours, illustrating how quickly conditions deteriorated as the system moved across the island.
The storm also brought powerful winds to Hokkaido’s coastline. Cape Erimo recorded a maximum gust of 43.4 meters per second (97 mph), while waves reached 7 meters (23 feet). Ferry services were cancelled at Otaru, Tomakomai and Hakodate as conditions deteriorated.
The Japan Meteorological Agency forecast that snowfall would continue into Sunday, with up to 50 centimeters (20 inches) possible along the northern Sea of Japan coast in the 24 hours through Sunday morning. Blizzards, reduced visibility and icy roads were expected to make travel difficult.
The storm has also brought the first significant accumulation of snow to many Hokkaido communities and caught some motorists off guard with locals reporting cars skidding on the snowy roads. The sudden arrival of winter follows an unusually warm spell elsewhere in Japan. Tokyo reached 25.1°C (77.2°F) on Friday, November 6, highlighting the sharp contrast between the unseasonable warmth in the capital and the wintry conditions developing in the north.
Hokkaido is internationally renowned for its cold, dry powder snow. Cold air moving from Siberia across the Sea of Japan picks up moisture before reaching the island, producing the heavy snowfall that makes destinations such as Niseko, Rusutsu and Furano popular with international skiers.
Trending on SnowBrains
-
1
North America’s Best Ski Resorts According to 153,854 Snomad Reviews
-
2
Old Farmer’s Almanac Christmas Weather Forecast 2026 for North America, Region by Region
-
3
Construction Begins on Private Ruby Mountain Ski Area in Nevada
-
4
Inside Oasis’s Activist Playbook Ahead of Vail Resorts’ Contested Board Election
-
5
KFC Is Bringing American Fast Food to 2 Italian Mountain Restaurants and Locals Are Not Impressed
.sb-trending-widget {
background: #f8f8f8;
border-left: 4px solid #ea2e49;
margin: 24px 0;
padding: 10px 12px 4px;
width: 100%;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.sb-trending-header {
display: flex;
align-items: center;
gap: 6px;
padding-bottom: 6px;
}
.sb-trending-icon {
font-size: 14px;
line-height: 1;
}
.sb-trending-label {
font-size: 12px;
font-weight: 700;
color: #ea2e49;
line-height: 1.3;
text-transform: uppercase;
letter-spacing: 0.05em;
}
.sb-trending-list {
list-style: none;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
.sb-trending-widget .sb-trending-item {
border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e8e8;
margin: 0;
padding: 6px 0;
}
.sb-trending-widget .sb-trending-item:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
}
.sb-trending-widget .sb-trending-link {
display: flex;
align-items: center;
gap: 10px;
min-height: 48px;
text-decoration: none;
text-align: left !important;
color: inherit;
}
.sb-trending-thumb {
position: relative;
flex-shrink: 0;
width: 64px;
height: 48px;
}
.sb-trending-thumb img {
display: block;
width: 64px;
height: 48px;
object-fit: cover;
border-radius: 3px;
margin: 0;
}
.sb-trending-num {
position: absolute;
top: 0;
left: 0;
background: #ea2e49;
color: #fff;
font-size: 11px;
font-weight: 700;
line-height: 1;
padding: 3px 5px;
border-radius: 3px 0 3px 0;
}
.sb-trending-num–plain {
position: static;
flex-shrink: 0;
border-radius: 3px;
}
.sb-trending-widget .sb-trending-title {
flex: 1;
min-width: 0;
font-size: 14px;
font-weight: 600;
line-height: 1.35;
color: #1a1a1a;
text-align: left !important;
display: -webkit-box;
-webkit-line-clamp: 2;
line-clamp: 2;
-webkit-box-orient: vertical;
overflow: hidden;
transition: color 0.15s;
}
.sb-trending-link:hover .sb-trending-title,
.sb-trending-link:active .sb-trending-title {
color: #ea2e49;
}
/* Desktop and tablet: the sidebar already shows Top 10 Trending, so show only 3 here */
@media (min-width: 768px) {
.sb-trending-widget .sb-trending-item:nth-child(n+4) {
display: none;
}
.sb-trending-widget .sb-trending-item:nth-child(3) {
border-bottom: none;
}
}
(function () {
if (window.sbTrendingInit) return; // only attach the listener once per page
window.sbTrendingInit = true;
// One listener on the whole page catches clicks on any widget link,
// even if a caching or “delay JavaScript” plugin runs this script late.
document.addEventListener(‘click’, function (e) {
var link = e.target.closest ? e.target.closest(‘.sb-trending-link’) : null;
if (!link) return;
var params = {
trending_position: link.getAttribute(‘data-trending-position’),
trending_item: link.getAttribute(‘data-trending-title’),
link_url: link.href
};
if (typeof gtag === ‘function’) {
// GA4 sends events with sendBeacon, so they survive the page changing
gtag(‘event’, ‘trending_widget_click’, params);
} else {
// GA4 runs through Google Tag Manager: GTM needs a tag listening for this event
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
window.dataLayer.push(Object.assign({ event: ‘trending_widget_click’ }, params));
}
// No preventDefault or delay: the link opens straight away
});
})();
The snowfall is welcome news for Hokkaido’s ski industry, although it does not mean the main season has begun. Resorts are still preparing for their scheduled winter openings later in November and December. Sustained cold temperatures and further snowfall will be needed to build a reliable base.
For residents and visitors, the immediate concern is travel. Authorities have warned people to check transport updates before setting out, particularly in areas exposed to heavy snow and strong coastal winds.
PHOTOS
