Japan: Heavy Snowfall in Hokkaido, Flights Disrupted 2

On January 8, heavy snow across Hokkaido caused major travel chaos. At New Chitose Airport, 27 flights were canceled and many delayed due to de-icing operations. JR Hokkaido suspended 29 services, including 25 "Rapid Airport" trains, while multiple expressways were closed. These disruptions led to massive queues at the airport, with travelers lining up across two floors for the train station.

Makeup event for Sapporo Snow Festival

Makeup event for Sapporo Snow Festival

A snow sculpture of virtual singer Hatsune Miku is pictured at Sapporo Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill in Sapporo, northern Japan, on Feb. 3, 2021. It was created for an online event that began on Feb. 4 to make up for the cancellation of the annual Sapporo Snow Festival due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Makeup event for Sapporo Snow Festival

Makeup event for Sapporo Snow Festival

A snow sculpture of William Smith Clark, known as Dr. Clark, who played a key role in the development of Hokkaido in the 19th century, is pictured at Sapporo Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill in Sapporo, northern Japan, on Feb. 3, 2021. It was created for an online event that began on Feb. 4 to make up for the cancellation of the annual Sapporo Snow Festival due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Rugby World Cup in Japan

Rugby World Cup in Japan

Photo taken on Sept. 20, 2019, shows a statue of 19 century American agricultural scientist William Smith Clark wearing the Japan national rugby team's shirt at Sapporo Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill in northern Japan. Clark was hired by the Japanese government in 1876 to help establish the Sapporo Agricultural College, now Hokkaido University. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo