Winter travel in Hokkaido

A moment of solitude brought on by winter’s cold white haze. The railway platform mostly abandoned of life becomes a quiet respite clearing the mind of noise. Only the consistent sound of the snow falling with a slight howl of the wind breaks the stillness. The sound is that of some massive godlike creature exhaling its chilling breath upon the area.

A train passes a through a winter landscape in Hokkaido

A single train carriage passes through a winter landscape in Hokkaido. As the island is mostly countryside apart from a few major cities, fewer trains operate on a delayed schedule. One may wait 1-4 hours for the next train to arrive. Huddling up close to a small gas stove in a tiny station can be the outcome for those stuck in this harsh environment.