Over the past several days, Hokkaido in northern Japan has been hit by intense and persistent snowfall driven by Arctic air masses. In Sapporo, snow depth has exceeded 1 meter, with more than 60 centimeters falling in just 48 hours. In eastern Hokkaido, Obihiro recorded over 1 meter of snow in 12 hours, an exceptional level even by local standards. Across the region, more than 1,400 train services were canceled or delayed, disrupting transportation for hundreds of thousands of passengers. At New Chitose Airport, over 90 flights were canceled in a single day due to heavy snowfall and low visibility. Road services deployed more than 1,000 snow-clearing vehicles to keep 3,800 kilometers of roads passable. Meteorologists warn that snowfall may continue for several more days, keeping authorities across Hokkaido on high alert.