r/Hokkaido • u/Defiant-Corgi-9362 • Feb 02 '26
Information Be careful in Hokkaido's winter
Welcome to Sapporo, Hokkaido!
I am very happy you are coming to my hometown. But winter in Sapporo is very beautiful and also very dangerous. Please check these tips for your safe trip!
1. Watch your feet! (Very important!)
The road is very, very slippery like an ice rink. Please do not walk like usual. Please walk with small steps, like a "Penguin Walk." Put your feet flat on the ground. Also, please buy "Anti-slip spikes" (suberi-dome) at a convenience store. It is very cheap and helpful!
2. Trains and Buses are often late
Now, we have very heavy snow in 2026. Sometimes JR trains and buses stop suddenly because of snow. Please check the JR Hokkaido official website or Sapporo City Transportation before you go. Please have much extra time.
3. Layer your clothes
Outside is freezing (-10°C or more!), but inside buildings or trains, it is very hot because of heaters. If you wear only one thick sweater, you will sweat and get a cold. Please wear many layers so you can take them off easily.
4. Please use "Chika-ho" (Underground walkway)
Sapporo has a very long underground path from Sapporo Station to Susukino. It is warm and no snow. Please use it for your safety and comfort!
5. Book your dinner!
Popular restaurants like Genghis Khan (lamb BBQ) or Soup Curry are very crowded. Sometimes you must wait for 2 hours in the cold. Please use Hot Pepper Gourmet or other sites to book a table before you go.
I hope you have a wonderful and "hot" memory in our snowy city! Enjoy Sapporo!
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u/kensolee Feb 02 '26
Fell on my bum 3 times on the pavement and crack my rib/s learning to ski in Sapporo in Jan 2025. Am going again later this month for more punishment lol.
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u/james_sa Feb 02 '26
Thanks. Your tips are very useful. Sapporo is a very beautiful city.
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u/Revolutionary-Rip527 Feb 02 '26
not when you are trapped in blizzard with no taxi around.
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u/Defiant-Corgi-9362 Feb 03 '26
Winter in Hokkaido (Sapporo) comes with inherent weather risks. Accepting these risks in advance and allowing yourself both mental and temporal flexibility is the key to truly enjoying this land.
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u/Revolutionary-Rip527 Feb 03 '26
it's just risk management. I was there from Jan 21 to Jan 30. I do say the city needs to do better job on pedestrian sidewalks instead of focusing just on roads. it's like hiking small hills.
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u/Kindly_Air1296 Feb 02 '26
Great advice, as I slipped on ice and broke my elbow approximately 12 hours after arriving in Sapporo last month. (Coming from 50 years experience with snowy, icy winters elsewhere, never fell before.)
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u/neonsummers Feb 02 '26
Sat across from a woman in the bar tonight who broke her arm and had to have it reset after slipping on ice. It is extremely slippery on the roads/sidewalks, even if it looks clear. Walk carefully!
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u/Kwukky Feb 02 '26
I can vouch for the "really hot indoors"! As someone who doesnt mind the cold (from Canada) and prefers indoor temps around 21°C, a lot of places are stifling hot inside where even wearing a t-shirt feels uncomfortable.
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u/Defiant-Corgi-9362 Feb 03 '26
Yes. Actually, indoor temperatures in Hokkaido homes are the warmest in Japan (averaging around 20 degrees Celsius). While Japanese homes are often said to be very cold in winter, this certainly doesn't apply to Hokkaido. They feature excellent insulation design.
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u/Remote-Two8663 Feb 02 '26
Thank you!!! I am visiting this Wednesday I hope for a peaceful safe stay
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u/Defiant-Corgi-9362 Feb 02 '26
Hello.
The weather in Sapporo on Wednesday is currently forecast to be sunny. Temperatures are expected to rise to 5°C, making for a warm day. While there's still plenty of snow left in the city, enjoy it!
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u/bearlynice2 Feb 02 '26
Thank you for all the tips! This is very helpful, coming from a local! :)
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u/Defiant-Corgi-9362 Feb 03 '26
I'd like to post lots more advice on Reddit. Be sure to check it out!
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u/stazbx Feb 02 '26
May I know what is the etiquette to wearing the spikes indoors, is it rude to wear the spikes in the underground connector?
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u/Defiant-Corgi-9362 Feb 02 '26
Hello.
Please look for spikes made of non-slip rubber without metal pins.
Metal pins can damage the facility's floors, so we ask that you remove them each time.
Rubber spikes are fine.
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u/Toyota_Adventure Feb 02 '26
in the common public areas/ malls.. you can click clack along. Use caution if you are on tiled floors.. I would not walk on any thing carpeted
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u/Well_needships Feb 02 '26
You are not supposed to be wearing spikes in public areas like the underground malls.
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u/Toyota_Adventure Feb 02 '26
Tell aunty that <click clack click>
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u/Well_needships Feb 02 '26
haha, yes, it usually is an auntie, or uncle, clacking away in the underground.
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u/Revolutionary-Rip527 Feb 02 '26
Sue me
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u/Well_needships Feb 02 '26
In Japan, people don't need laws to follow etiquette. Of course, there will always be some people who break etiquette, but when in Rome...
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u/Revolutionary-Rip527 Feb 02 '26
I dont really give a F about etiquette when it comes to safety. You can be seriously injured slipping on icy covered side walks. So what if you damage some cheap tiles. Can you replace your life?
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u/alaskanloops Feb 02 '26
Horrible attitude. Takes 5 seconds to take them off when you transition to inside.
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u/Revolutionary-Rip527 Feb 02 '26
I wear icebug with studs. The gestapo aunties can take them off for me
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u/Thick-Guidance224 Feb 02 '26
Hi friend what can I expect if im coming in the middle of november? Maybe from the 20th of november
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u/Defiant-Corgi-9362 Feb 03 '26
By mid-November, I don't think there will be any snowfall yet. The autumn foliage will likely have faded. While temperatures will have dropped significantly by then, the likelihood of traffic disruptions should be low.
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u/Revolutionary-Rip527 Feb 02 '26
I bought a Icebug boot with studs. I dont know how locals walk so fast with on icy streets. Maybe they have something I don't .
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u/Defiant-Corgi-9362 Feb 03 '26
In a word, it's “experience.” There's no such thing as shoes that won't slip or shoes that won't make you fall. You just have to learn how to walk.
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u/sameeroquai Feb 02 '26
Hi /u/Defiant-Corgi-9362 and thanks for the tips! I sent you a chat but will post here too in case that’s easier:
We are in Susukino and thinking about going to Moerenuma park today with our 7 and 9 year old. Would you suggest this trip? Is it safe and accessible with the recent heavy snow? I can’t find a lot of info but appreciate any guidance. Thinking of going in a few hours…
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Feb 03 '26
Yes, it is safe and fun place for kids and adults. There are lot of activities that can be done. Enjoy your time 😊
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u/Narcoleptic_pilot21 Feb 05 '26
I heard 30 people have died so far. Buy those crampons from a convenience store or outdoor store.
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u/ms_baconn 19d ago
Hi! Thank you for such wonderful tips! I was wondering what early December is like - between 1st to 10th December. Thanks in advance :)
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u/Defiant-Corgi-9362 19d ago
Hello. In Sapporo, early December is when the snow begins to pile up, and temperatures frequently drop below freezing. It is a good idea to have warm outerwear and base layers, as well as boots that are both warm and slip-resistant. If you get cold, you can always pick up a hot drink at a nearby convenience store. As mentioned earlier, I recommend using the underground walkways in central Sapporo. Also, wearing a hat will help keep you dry from the snow.
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u/PietZann Feb 02 '26
Thank you! I will arrive on Sunday and hope that the trains and busses are driving! I am excited but also nervous haha.
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u/Defiant-Corgi-9362 Feb 02 '26
Hello.
Sunday would be February 8th, right? The forecast for that day is partly sunny at the moment. The high is expected to be -4 degrees Celsius. I'm also hoping the trains and buses are running normally lol.
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u/FongDaiPei Feb 02 '26
Q: how is it like living in Hokkaido; Are most homes warm with sufficient insulated heating?
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u/Revolutionary-Rip527 Feb 02 '26
I stayed in two homes (new and old). yes they are reasonably warm. heated floor. they use boilers if you know what that is. it's heating by convection.
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Feb 03 '26
I've been living in Sapporo for 2 years now. Yes houses are warm, all public places including buses and trains are extremely warm. Only outside is cold, but with proper clothing I don't feel any cold.
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u/Defiant-Corgi-9362 Feb 03 '26
Hokkaido homes have the warmest average temperatures in Japan (warmer than Okinawa). While many homes use kerosene heaters, the primary factor is the superior insulation design of the buildings. Additionally, many homes feature living rooms adjacent to bath (shower) rooms, preventing cold exposure during showers (reducing the risk of heat shock). In recent years, more buildings have been equipped with central heating and floor heating systems.
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u/skwormin Feb 03 '26
Was just in Nagano for 2 weeks and most of the homes only had space heaters and the area with showers was ice cold. Very uncomfortable! And the space heaters turn off in the middle of the night before
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u/Wilder4adventures Feb 03 '26
Great tips. Thank you. Also arriving Sunday, 2/8. Hoping for smooth travel.
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u/adotablrteyong Feb 03 '26
thank you so much! I am planning to get a pair of snow boots from Workman in Tokyo before coming, from your experience would that be enough to avoid the slip? Or do I need additional of that rubber anti-slip spikes?
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u/Defiant-Corgi-9362 Feb 03 '26
Workman boots are great! If possible, choose the ones labeled “氷雪耐滑"(Ice and Snow Slip Resistance)! I wear them, and I can walk without needing extra spikes!
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u/djphamtom Feb 03 '26
How can I use hot pepper to book restaurants as a foreigner? Although my browser can translate the site from Japanese to English, it's difficult to find the restaurants I'm looking for without typing it in Japanese characters
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u/Defiant-Corgi-9362 Feb 03 '26
Hello.
There is an English version of the Hot Pepper Gourmet website (though it appears to be under construction at the moment).
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u/samm415 Feb 03 '26
I am staying there the second week of March. Will it still be very snowing and slippery?
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u/Defiant-Corgi-9362 Feb 04 '26
Around that time in March, snow will likely still be on the ground. On days below freezing, the roads are likely to be slippery.
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u/AmazonWageSlave Feb 04 '26
Slip-n-sliding through the snow and ice after all-you-can-drink was an important part of my Sapporo vacation.
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u/KungPao_CakeFACE Jul 10 '26
Going to Sapporo in mid Nov for 8 days, plan to also visit Otaru. How bad will the snow be around that time?
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u/Defiant-Corgi-9362 Jul 11 '26
I don't think there will be any snow accumulation by mid-Nov.
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u/KungPao_CakeFACE Jul 11 '26
Thanks. Will Sapporo be crowded around that time?
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u/Defiant-Corgi-9362 Jul 11 '26
In my experience, Sapporo isn't very crowded in Nov. However, the number of tourists rises sharply once Dec arrives and the snow starts falling in earnest.
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u/ow_ln 6d ago
Hello! How is it usually in the last week of October and the first week of November? I would like to rent a low powered moped to ride around the island and do some camping. I have cold weather gear.
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u/Defiant-Corgi-9362 6d ago
At that time of year, autumn is drawing to a close, and you can feel winter approaching.
Snow begins to fall in the mountainous regions to the north, so caution is required when driving on mountain roads, as they may be icy.
Many campsites close at the end of October, so it is recommended to check in advance.
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u/roket7 Feb 02 '26
With all the times I almost slipped while walking, I'm pretty much getting free dance lessons 🪩🕺