Transport woes continue to affect Sapporo days after record snowfall

Three days after Sapporo was hit by record snowfall, transport woes continue to plague the city. Snow removal efforts are ongoing, with the local government prioritizing major roads and bus routes, but disruptions persist. Bus services remain delayed due to heavy road congestion. Meanwhile, JR Hokkaido has announced that train operations will be suspended after 9 PM today, Jan 28, and again tomorrow, Jan 29.

It’s no surprise that many visitors are now reconsidering their travel plans to Sapporo and Hokkaido in general. Looking at the weather forecast, I can see considerable snow fall this weekend but not at the same level as few days ago. For some, Sapporo is just part of their itinerary, but after seeing the impact of the snow‑pocalypse, they are understandably having second thoughts. After all, no one wants to spend precious vacation time sleeping on the floor of an airport. With the Snow Festival just a week away, I wonder how this will affect visitor numbers.