Recently, I came across a shocking news story: a severe Japanese snowstorm hit Hokkaido, Japan, directly crippling the entire transportation system. I looked into the details carefully and realized that the underlying problems reflected by this incident are far more serious than they appear on the surface.

First, let's talk about how intense this snowstorm was. In Sapporo’s central district, snowfall reached 65 centimeters within 48 hours, the largest since 1999, with some areas accumulating over 1 meter of snow. New Chitose Airport was directly overwhelmed; on the 25th, 56 flights were canceled in a single day, over 7,000 travelers were stranded overnight at the airport, and on the 26th, more than 90 flights were canceled. By early morning on the 27th, over 2,000 people remained stranded. Ground transportation was even worse—Hokkaido Railway Company suspended over 500 trains at once, directly affecting travel for 130k people. Taxis queued in hundreds; some people spent 3,000 yen on carpooling just to get from the airport to the city, which is ten times the usual price.

What’s most helpless is that supplies at convenience stores were sold out—there was even no toilet paper left. The airport couldn’t supply basic blankets or hot water. Many stranded tourists had to bundle up in coats and sleep on cold floors overnight. Language barriers also became a big problem—many Chinese tourists were trapped, but the airport’s announcements and signs were mostly only in Japanese and English. Many couldn’t even figure out flight statuses, which made them even more anxious.

Interestingly, although the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a snowstorm warning in advance, no one expected the snow to fall so heavily and so rapidly. Even if the snow removal equipment had operated 24/7, it couldn’t keep up with the snowfall rate. The runways couldn’t be cleared properly, so flights naturally couldn’t resume. Looking deeper, Hokkaido has experienced serious population outflow over the years, with fewer young workers. Most snow removal crews are older, and their physical strength and efficiency can’t keep up with high-intensity work. Reduced local tax revenue means less investment in infrastructure maintenance, making roads and power grids especially vulnerable during storms.

In fact, the country has been warning everyone not to go to Japan—this isn’t just casual talk. Besides this snowstorm, Japan’s recent safety risks have indeed increased. While the snowstorm was happening, security situations in many parts of Japan also worsened, with an increase in theft and scams targeting Chinese citizens. Additionally, earthquakes have occurred consecutively from western Honshu to Hokkaido, with secondary disasters like landslides and road collapses in some disaster zones. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japanese embassies issued safety alerts in advance to help people avoid these risks.

But you’ll find that some people just ignore these warnings. Frankly, it’s a matter of luck mentality. Many think, “It won’t happen to me,” and are solely focused on sightseeing, hot springs, shopping, ignoring the potential dangers. Before heading out, they only check tourist guides and shopping lists, neglecting weather alerts, emergency supplies, and insurance—these are “life-saving information.” When their phones run out of battery, cash runs low, and language barriers hit, all these issues suddenly surface, leaving them isolated and helpless.

Some might say, “I bought travel insurance, so if something happens, the insurance company will cover it.” But even with insurance, being stranded at the airport for dozens of hours, starving and freezing in the cold, doesn’t feel good. Insurance can compensate for financial losses but can’t cover physical and psychological suffering. In the face of natural disasters, individual strength is just too small. Even Japan, known as a “disaster-prepared country,” can struggle to cope, let alone ordinary tourists.

Ultimately, safety is the premise of travel. The repeated warnings from the country not to go to Japan are responsible measures. We shouldn’t impulsively put ourselves in danger. Only by traveling safely can we return happily.