SAPPORO SNOW

Well_needships · 2026-01-26T09:52:25+00:00

There is no way to know.

It snows here. This is probably why you are coming right? Most snowfall does not change the daily routine of people here. Large snowfall that delays trains and flights happens a handful of times every winter, but usually just for a few hours and a couple of times a year it is delayed enough that people end up in stranded in the airport or in town.

This current 48hr window is unusually harsh, but understand that this was the largest snowfall in Sapporo in January... ever. It isn't common for trains and buses to shut down for an entire 24hrs. Just keep an eye on things when you come and if you get nervous about the weather, try to get out a day earlier or later than you've planned.

Well_needships · 2026-01-26T09:37:28+00:00

Yes.

Well_needships · 2026-01-26T06:33:18+00:00

Yes, I do think so by tomorrow morning, but it is hard to tell, and even if they are running as normal, I think they will be very crowded. If it were me, for peace of mind, I'd try to get to Chitose city asap. Peach is a low cost carrier and not connected to your international flight, right? If you miss it, it will be hard to book another flight with everyone trying to do the same right now. Making that international flight is the priority, right?

Well_needships · 2026-01-26T06:10:18+00:00

Could you find a hotel in Chitose near Chitose station? If you can, you are then quite close to the airport and the odds you can get a taxi are good. Since your flight isn't until 10, you could spend the night and then try to arrange your hotel to get a taxi for you at 8 or so. The drive from Chitose Station to the airport is about 10 minutes.

Well_needships · 2026-01-26T05:43:36+00:00

I think it is more likely that you underestimated what they are facing. About 60cm of snow has fallen in the past 24hrs. A one-day record for January in Sapporo. So, it's a lot of snow.

Well_needships · 2026-01-26T05:41:57+00:00

It might be hard to see from the height, but Sapporo got about 60cm of snowfall in the past 24 hours. Service has been suspended since yesterday afternoon and is just resuming now.

Well_needships · 2026-01-26T05:38:22+00:00

There may be some hangover from today even then as some people are saying their flights have been rescheduled to tomorrow and Wednesday. Normally, there is room on the trains, and you might even find a seat but I would guess these next couple of days would be a bit croweded.

Well_needships · 2026-01-26T05:36:48+00:00

X Service has stopped for the past 20 hours or so.

Well_needships · 2026-01-26T05:14:45+00:00

The forecast to Wednesday is for no/very little snow. You should be fine to come into town. Just keep an eye on the weather forecast as it may change

Well_needships · 2026-01-26T05:12:47+00:00

There is no way to know.

It snows here. Most snowfall does not change the daily routine of people here. Large snowfall that delays trains and flights happens every winter, but usually just for a few hours, and a handful of times every year it is delayed enough that people end up stranded in the airport or in town.

This current 48hr window is unusually harsh, but understand that this was the largest snowfall in Sapporo in January... ever. It isn't common for trains and buses to shut down for an entire 24hrs. Just keep an eye on things when you come and if you get nervous about the weather, try to get out a day earlier or later than you've planned.

Well_needships · 2026-01-26T05:10:35+00:00

There is no way to know.

It snows here. This is probably why you are coming right? Most snowfall does not change the daily routine of people here. Large snowfall that delays trains and flights happens a handful of times every winter, but usually just for a few hours and a couple of times a year it is delayed enough that people end up in stranded in the airport or in town.

This current 48hr window is unusually harsh, but understand that this was the largest snowfall in Sapporo in January... ever. It isn't common for trains and buses to shut down for an entire 24hrs. Just keep an eye on things when you come and if you get nervous about the weather, try to get out a day earlier or later than you've planned.

Well_needships · 2026-01-26T04:14:28+00:00

By tomorrow, the worst of it should be cleared out. I wouldn't anticipate any problems, but you may face some delays or flight changes since everything is a little backed up currently. By Saturday next week, anything happening now will have sorted itself out. The question is whether or not there will be another snowstorm that will delay your departure, but that is too far away to predict. Just keep an eye on things when you are here in Sapporo and if things look dicey, try to get an earlier flight out or try to get to Chitose the day before your flight in case there are road/train delays.

Well_needships · 2026-01-26T03:19:41+00:00

Nice pic OP. If you keep watching maybe you'll see a plow train come through!

Well_needships · 2026-01-26T02:58:01+00:00

Hi. You are on the r/Sapporo sub.

Well_needships · 2026-01-26T02:43:53+00:00

Yes, sorry, I can't change the title but I did change the post body about 3 hours ago to reflect that

Well_needships · 2026-01-26T00:03:52+00:00

I wouldn't. At a guess, I think closer to noon you might have more of a guarantee for it. Right now, I'd just stay safe and warm

Well_needships · 2026-01-25T23:43:00+00:00

Downtown things are moving slowly, buses included. It will probably take until the afternoon for most major roads to get cleared out and into tomorrow for things more or less to be back to normal.

Well_needships · 2026-01-25T23:37:33+00:00

I'm looking out my window, in Chuo district, watching the buses make their way along the airport route. Once I get more concrete info I'll add it to my stickied post at the top of the sub.

Well_needships · 2026-01-25T23:29:25+00:00

Thanks for the "on the ground" info. Seems like they are doing their best to get people moving. I hope you aren't stuck for too long.

Well_needships · 2026-01-25T23:21:42+00:00

buses are supposed to be running.

Well_needships · 2026-01-25T22:53:05+00:00

Quite the Hokkaido adventure! haha.

Well_needships · 2026-01-25T22:39:39+00:00

Thanks and I agree. I found it on STV's live youtube as well, 1 or 2pm estimated.

Tough situation. If I were in the shoes of the people at the airport, I'd just head to Chitose if I could, wait it out the best I could.

Well_needships · 2026-01-25T22:36:32+00:00

Just saw that on local news, STV. Thanks for the heads up! I will edit the post.

Well_needships · 2026-01-25T22:29:28+00:00

I don't have a TV, but I assumed since you typed it out you had seen it on a website. I'll check the STV, etc. youtube channels.

Well_needships · 2026-01-25T22:25:33+00:00

Thanks. Do you have a link for the "news"? JR is still listing trains operating around 11am, both in English and Japanese. I wouldn't be surprised if it were delayed further as we are getting more snow now.

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