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Japan: Sea of Okhotsk Covered in Drift Ice as Season Reaches Peak

Drift ice formed along the Siberian coast travels for approximately one and a half months to reach Hokkaido. The ice blankets the Sea of Okhotsk, and reaches its peak in early March.

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Snowboarding: World Cup in Sapporo

Snowboarding: World Cup in Sapporo

Japanese snowboarder Yuto Totsuka (C) poses after winning the men's halfpipe at a snowboarding World Cup event in Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 8, 2026, alongside Australian Valentino Guseli (L) and Japan's Ryusei Yamada, who finished second and third, respectively.

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Snowboarding: World Cup in Sapporo

Snowboarding: World Cup in Sapporo

Japanese snowboarder Yuto Totsuka poses after winning the men's halfpipe at a snowboarding World Cup event in Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 8, 2026.

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Snowboarding: World Cup in Sapporo

Snowboarding: World Cup in Sapporo

Japanese snowboarder Yuto Totsuka (C) poses after winning the men's halfpipe at a snowboarding World Cup event in Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 8, 2026, alongside Australian Valentino Guseli (L) and Japan's Ryusei Yamada, who finished second and third, respectively.

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Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko (2nd from L) and her son Prince Hisahito (3rd from L) take part in a ski orienteering taster session in the village of Rusutsu in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 7, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko (R) and her son Prince Hisahito watch a ski orienteering competition in the village of Rusutsu in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 7, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko (C, L) and her son Prince Hisahito (C, R) take part in a ski orienteering taster session in the village of Rusutsu in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 7, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko (2nd from R) and her son Prince Hisahito play the "karuta" Japanese card game with children at a nursery in the village of Rusutsu in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 6, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko (C) and her son Prince Hisahito (R) attend an award ceremony for the World Ski Orienteering Championships in the village of Rusutsu in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 6, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko (C) and her son Prince Hisahito (R) attend an award ceremony for the World Ski Orienteering Championships in the village of Rusutsu in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 6, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko and her son Prince Hisahito play the "karuta" Japanese card game with children at a nursery in the village of Rusutsu in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 6, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko and her son Prince Hisahito play the "karuta" Japanese card game with children at a nursery in the village of Rusutsu in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 6, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko (far L) and her son Prince Hisahito (2nd from L) watch the World Ski Orienteering Championships in the village of Rusutsu in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 6, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko and her son Prince Hisahito play the "karuta" Japanese card game with children at a nursery in the village of Rusutsu in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 6, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko (R) and her son Prince Hisahito (C) watch the World Ski Orienteering Championships in the village of Rusutsu in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 6, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko and her son Prince Hisahito play the "karuta" Japanese card game with children at a nursery in the village of Rusutsu in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 6, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japan crown princess in Hokkaido

Japanese Crown Princess Kiko (C) and her son Prince Hisahito (L) watch the World Ski Orienteering Championships in the village of Rusutsu in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on March 6, 2026. (Pool photo)

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General election in Japan

General election in Japan

A poster of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, stands in the snow in Otaru in Hokkaido on Feb. 8, 2026, as a general election is held in Japan.

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General election in Japan

General election in Japan

A board with posters of candidates for the House of Representatives election stands in the snow in Otaru in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Feb. 8, 2026.

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General election in Japan

General election in Japan

A board with posters of candidates for the House of Representatives election stands in the snow in Otaru in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Feb. 8, 2026.

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General election in Japan

General election in Japan

A board with posters of candidates for the House of Representatives election stands in the snow in Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Feb. 6, 2026.

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General election in Japan

General election in Japan

A board with posters of candidates for the House of Representatives election stands in the snow in Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Feb. 6, 2026.

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General election in Japan

General election in Japan

People head to a polling station for the House of Representatives election in Otaru in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Feb. 8, 2026.

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General election in Japan

General election in Japan

People head to a polling station for the House of Representatives election in Otaru in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Feb. 8, 2026.

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General election in Japan

General election in Japan

People head to a polling station for the House of Representatives election in Otaru in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Feb. 8, 2026.

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General election in Japan

General election in Japan

People head to a polling station for the House of Representatives election in Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Feb. 8, 2026.

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General election in Japan

General election in Japan

People head to a polling station for the House of Representatives election in Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Feb. 8, 2026.

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General election in Japan

General election in Japan

People head to a polling station for the House of Representatives election in Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Feb. 8, 2026.

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Sapporo Snow Festival

SAPPORO, Japan, Feb. 4 Kyodo - People view a snow sculpture of a cake on Feb. 4, 2026, the opening day of the 76th Sapporo Snow Festival in the capital of Hokkaido in northern Japan. About 2 million people are expected to visit the event through Feb. 11 featuring more than 200 snow and ice sculptures. (Kyodo)

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Japan: Severe Snowstorm Triggers Whiteouts Across Hokkaido

Severe Snowstorm rushed through Hokkaido on Friday, February 6, as a rapidly intensifying low-pressure system brought a peak gust of 35.6 meters per second to Cape Soya. Heavy snow and powerful winds triggered whiteouts, causing visibility to drop significantly across the region.

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Japan: Severe Snowstorm Triggers Whiteouts Across Hokkaido 2

Severe Snowstorm rushed through Hokkaido on Friday, February 6, as a rapidly intensifying low-pressure system brought a peak gust of 35.6 meters per second to Cape Soya. Heavy snow and powerful winds triggered whiteouts, causing visibility to drop significantly across the region.

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Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival

Snow sculptures are lit up at Odori Park in Sapporo, Hokkaido, on Feb. 4, 2026, the opening day of the Sapporo Snow Festival. About 2 million people are expected to visit the event through Feb. 11 featuring more than 200 snow and ice sculptures.

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Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival

Snow sculptures are lit up at Odori Park in Sapporo, Hokkaido, on Feb. 4, 2026, the opening day of the Sapporo Snow Festival. About 2 million people are expected to visit the event through Feb. 11 featuring more than 200 snow and ice sculptures.

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Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival

People view a snow sculpture of a cake on Feb. 4, 2026, the opening day of the 76th Sapporo Snow Festival in the capital of Hokkaido in northern Japan. About 2 million people are expected to visit the event through Feb. 11 featuring more than 200 snow and ice sculptures.

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Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival

People view a snow sculpture of a cake on Feb. 4, 2026, the opening day of the 76th Sapporo Snow Festival in the capital of Hokkaido in northern Japan. About 2 million people are expected to visit the event through Feb. 11 featuring more than 200 snow and ice sculptures.

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Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival

The 76th Sapporo Snow Festival opens in the capital of Hokkaido in northern Japan on Feb. 4, 2026, with about 2 million people expected to visit the event featuring more than 200 snow and ice sculptures through Feb. 11.

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Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, makes a stump speech in Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 28, 2026, as official campaigning began the previous day for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

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Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, makes a stump speech in Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 28, 2026, as official campaigning began the previous day for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

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Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, makes a stump speech in Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 28, 2026, as official campaigning began the previous day for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

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Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, makes a stump speech in Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 28, 2026, as official campaigning began the previous day for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

  •  
Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party head Sanae Takaichi makes a speech in Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 28, 2026, as official campaigning began in Japan the previous day for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

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Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party head Sanae Takaichi makes a speech in Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 28, 2026, as official campaigning began in Japan the previous day for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

  •  
General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party head Sanae Takaichi makes a speech in Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 28, 2026, as official campaigning began in Japan the previous day for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

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Japan: Record Snowfall Leaves Cars Stuck in Downtown Sapporo

A cold front stalled over Hokkaido on Sunday, January 25, dumping a record 54 cm of snow on Sapporo — the highest January total ever recorded in 24 hours. The following day, a video captured people pushing a car stuck in the snow in the Susukino area of downtown Sapporo.

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[Breaking News]Icefall festival in Hokkaido

KAMIKAWA, Japan, Jan. 25 Kyodo - An icefall festival begins in Kamikawa in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 24, 2026. The annual event, featuring about 10 ice sculptures lit up in seven colors, will run through March 8. (Kyodo)

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Japan: Cold Front Stalls Over Hokkaido Bringing More Than One Meter Snow to Sapporo 2

A cold front stalled over Hokkaido on Sunday, January 25, leaving more than one meter of snow on the ground in Sapporo — the highest January total recorded in the city in decades. The persistent storm heavily disrupted transportation, leaving thousands stranded at New Chitose Airport.

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Japan: Cold Front Stalls Over Hokkaido Bringing More Than One Meter Snow to Sapporo

A cold front stalled over Hokkaido on Sunday, January 25, leaving more than one meter of snow on the ground in Sapporo — the highest January total recorded in the city in decades. The persistent storm heavily disrupted transportation, leaving thousands stranded at New Chitose Airport.

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Heavy snow in Hokkaido

Heavy snow in Hokkaido

People walk near the Sapporo Clock Tower in Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 26, 2026, following heavy snowfall.

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Heavy snow in Hokkaido

Heavy snow in Hokkaido

People cross a street in a downtown area of Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 26, 2026, following heavy snowfall.

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Heavy snow in Hokkaido

Heavy snow in Hokkaido

People walk on a street in a downtown area of Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Jan. 26, 2026, following heavy snowfall.

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