Sapporo, Japan – Severe winter weather brought central Sapporo to a halt on January 25, 2026, as heavy snowfall immobilized buses and blocked major roads near the Odori Bus Center.

Video filmed by X user GM-DESIGN | Takaya shows several large buses stuck in deep snow, including a white-and-blue Abashiri Bus and an orange-colored coach. Wheels spin futilely as drivers attempt to move, but vehicles remain stranded, creating a total standstill amid ongoing snowfall.

Snow piled high on roads, vehicles, and surrounding areas, reducing visibility and making surfaces extremely slippery. There were no immediate signs of clearing or towing in the footage, highlighting the sudden paralysis of public transport during the storm.

The post, captioned “The buses right in front of me started getting stuck and now it’s completely jammed/stuck,” quickly went viral, capturing the frustration of locals and the overwhelming depth of snow affecting even professional drivers. Observers noted some buses likely carried tourists, adding to the challenge of navigating the city during the blizzard.

The heavy snowfall aligns with reports of one of the season’s strongest storms in Sapporo, dumping up to 54 cm in 24 hours in some areas and approaching a meter in spots. Public transport, including buses and JR trains, was widely disrupted, leaving residents and commuters stranded and streets paralyzed across the city.

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