I recently saw a pretty heartbreaking news story: a snowstorm in Hokkaido trapped over 7,000 travelers at the airport, with some spending dozens of hours on the cold floor. This is definitely worth a good discussion.

First, let's talk about how serious the situation was. On the 25th, New Chitose Airport canceled 56 flights directly, and on the 26th, over 90 more were canceled, leaving nearly 7,000 passengers stranded. Ground transportation in Hokkaido also ground to a halt, with JR Hokkaido suspending over 500 trains, disrupting travel plans for 130k people. Taxis had long queues, with some paying 3,000 yen for a carpool—ten times the usual price. Convenience stores were emptied of food, even toilet paper ran out, and the airport couldn't supply blankets or hot water.

Just how fierce was this snowstorm in Hokkaido? In 48 hours, Sapporo’s Chuo Ward received 65 centimeters of snow, the largest since 1999, with some areas accumulating over a meter. Even though Chitose Airport’s snow removal equipment operated 24/7, it couldn’t keep up with the snowfall rate. Runways weren’t cleared properly, so flights naturally couldn’t resume.

Interestingly, isn’t Japan a country that often gets snow? Why was it unable to handle this storm? The problem is actually quite complex. In recent years, Hokkaido has experienced serious population outflow. Most snow removal crews are elderly, and their strength and efficiency are declining. Local tax revenues have decreased, leading to less money for infrastructure maintenance. Roads and power grids became especially vulnerable during the storm, creating a vicious cycle.

But honestly, this Hokkaido snowstorm also exposed a bigger issue—insufficient emergency supplies and lack of multilingual services. With 7,000 people trapped, most airport broadcasts and signs were only in Japanese and English. Many Chinese tourists couldn’t understand flight updates, which only increased their panic.

Looking back, why does the country keep warning people not to go to Japan? It’s not just talk. Besides this snowstorm in Hokkaido, Japan has faced quite a few recent safety risks. Security has worsened, with increasing theft and scams targeting Chinese citizens. Earthquakes have struck from western Honshu to Hokkaido, and some disaster zones face landslides and road collapses.

Many travelers only focus on sightseeing tips and shopping lists, ignoring weather alerts and insurance considerations—these are “life-saving information.” As a result, when their phones run out of battery, cash runs low, and language barriers arise, they suddenly find themselves isolated and helpless abroad. Even if they have travel insurance, being stranded at the airport for dozens of hours or starving and freezing in the cold isn’t a good experience. Insurance can cover financial losses, but it can’t compensate for physical and psychological suffering.

Ultimately, safe travel is the premise. Even a country known as a “disaster prevention powerhouse” like Japan can struggle to cope with a snowstorm in Hokkaido. Ordinary tourists are even more powerless in the face of natural disasters. Only by traveling safely and returning healthy can we truly enjoy the trip.