A historic winter storm is bringing travel to a standstill across Japan, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and disrupting both air and rail travel.Record-breaking snowfall, particularly in northern regions like Hokkaido, began over the weekend and continues to impact transportation networks as of Monday, January 26th. Reports indicate approximately 7,000 individuals were forced to spend the night at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido alone, as airlines and railway operators grapple with widespread cancellations and closures.
Record-breaking snowfall across Japan has left thousands of travelers stranded, with many forced to spend the night at airports. The extreme weather is disrupting transportation networks across the country, particularly in the northern regions.
According to reports, the heavy snowfall began on Sunday, January 25th, and continued through Monday, January 26th, impacting travel throughout Hokkaido and beyond.
Approximately 7,000 people were left overnight at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido due to the severe conditions. The disruptions, as reported by Yomiuri Shimbun and Japan News, have caused widespread travel chaos.
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Both Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways announced cancellations of flights to and from New Chitose Airport, though other routes remained operational, according to The Mainichi. A section of the expressway leading to Sapporo was also closed.
Social media has been flooded with pleas for help from those stranded at New Chitose, with many describing the situation as “disastrous” and the airport as severely overcrowded.
Rail services have also been significantly impacted. Hokkaido Railway Co. stated that train services in and around Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, were suspended until Monday, January 26th at 1:00 PM local time, to allow for snow removal and related operations.
The Sapporo Regional Meteorological Observatory reported 64 centimeters of snow fell in the Chuo district of Sapporo over a 48-hour period ending Monday, January 26th. This represents the heaviest snowfall in the district since record-keeping began in March 1999.
JR Hokkaido confirmed that 545 train services were canceled on Sunday, January 25th, including the “Airport” rapid train connecting New Chitose Airport with Sapporo and other stations.
As of 8:50 AM local time on Monday, January 26th, an additional 405 cancellations had been confirmed.
Many tourists arriving at New Chitose Airport, primarily intending to ski, found themselves unable to continue their journeys due to the disruption of rail and other transportation services.
Hokkaido Airports Co. reported that approximately 7,000 people remained stranded at New Chitose Airport as of Monday morning, January 26th, due to the train service cancellations.
Bus services to Sapporo were also suspended due to the blizzard conditions.
Some tourists stranded in Sapporo on Sunday, January 25th, sought shelter in Chikaho, an underground passageway connected to the Sapporo Subway Station. City authorities provided over 1,000 blankets to those affected.
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