Takumi Saito

In Japanese izakaya, a small dish may arrive shortly after you sit down—even if you didn’t order it. DThis is usually normal. In many places, this is a normal part of how izakaya service begins. It’s called otoshi. What otoshi is (in plain terms) Otoshi is a small, quick dish served near the start of the meal. At many izakaya, the flow is “drinks first, then food,” and otoshi often arrives with the first drink as a small snack while you choose dishes. What to do right now (keep it calm) If you’re unsure, start with confirmation—not an argument. Short ...

When you sit down at an izakaya in Japan, a small dish may arrive before you even choose any food. That small starter is often called otoshi. If it’s your first time, it can feel uncomfortable—like something you never ordered, or an extra charge you didn’t expect. But in Japan, otoshi is often treated as part of how an izakaya meal begins, especially in places where drinking is assumed. This guide explains when otoshi usually appears (and why lunch feels different), how it connects to the first drink flow, and how many locals think about it. Once you understand the ...

In Hokkaido, transportation can become unstable in different ways. Sometimes snow builds up over several days and conditions gradually worsen. Other times, heavy snowfall during the night can suddenly disrupt trains and flights the next morning. In both situations, there is a moment when you are no longer sure whether you can move as planned. You may think, “I’ll wait and see.” Or, “I’ll try to move anyway.” That reaction is natural. However, once travel becomes uncertain, extending your stay becomes a realistic option to consider. Staying longer is not a failure of planning. It is simply an adjustment based ...

When JR trains stop, many travelers immediately think: “Maybe buses are still running?” “Can I just take a taxi?” “What if I rent a car instead?” Technically, those options exist. There are timetables. There are booking pages. But in Hokkaido, when train services are suspended, “available” does not always mean “usable.” It is not only about heavy snow. Strong winds, poor visibility, accidents, infrastructure checks, and even wildlife collisions can also lead to suspensions. And depending on the reason, the operating conditions for other transportation options change. Each transportation mode has its own suspension criteria, its own operating structure, and ...

In Hokkaido’s winter, transportation rarely collapses all at once. More often, it begins to unravel gradually. First, a delayed train. Then partial cancellations. Then a notice saying, “Service suspended. Recovery time unknown.” At that stage, most travelers try to protect their original schedule. Hotels are already booked. The next city is planned. The return flight has a fixed date. “Maybe it will run tomorrow.” That is a very natural reaction. Especially if this is your first time in Hokkaido. Especially if you feel, “I came all this way.” However, in Hokkaido’s winter, the longer you delay a decision, the fewer ...

When JR trains stop running in Hokkaido, there is often less information than you expect. Many people only realize the suspension after arriving at the station. The departure board may simply say “Service Suspended.” Official websites may show “Under Adjustment” or “No Estimated Time.” In Hokkaido — especially around the Sapporo area — JR is the backbone of long-distance travel. Subways and streetcars are useful within Sapporo city, but travel to Asahikawa, Hakodate, Obihiro, Kushiro, or New Chitose Airport typically depends on JR. So when JR stops, it is not just one train line being delayed. It can mean that ...

The Sapporo Snow Festival is one of the city’s most well-known winter events. Many people visit every year, but it’s not popular simply because it’s famous. What brings people all the way to Sapporo in winter is an experience that can’t be replaced by cities like Tokyo or Kyoto. Walking through a snow-covered city at night is something unique to this place. After dark, the snow sculptures are lit up, and in some areas, projection mapping and music are added to the display. When snow, light, and music come together, the atmosphere changes completely, leaving a stronger impression than photos ...

When JR trains stop in Hokkaido, the situation often feels different from a typical train delay on Honshu. When you see news about heavy snow, you might think it simply means minor delays, or that trains will start running again once the snowfall eases. In reality, a suspension does not automatically mean trains will be stopped all day. In winter, there are many cases where services are suspended for several hours, and then manage to restart later in the evening. However, when conditions are particularly bad, in rare cases the decision may be made not to resume service for the ...

When planning a trip to Hokkaido, checking the weather forecast feels like a routine step. Most travelers look at it to confirm whether their plans seem safe and workable. In winter, however, weather forecasts in Hokkaido serve a slightly different purpose. They are not meant to reassure you that your itinerary will go as planned, but to help you question whether that plan truly holds. Even if transportation operated normally the day before, conditions can change overnight. By the morning of travel, rail services may already be affected. This is because in Hokkaido, the impact of snow depends less on ...

Winter travel in Hokkaido is often explained simply as “there is a lot of snow.” That description is not wrong, but it does not fully capture the reality. Once every few years, the main issue is not the amount of snow itself, but the way heavy snowfall can temporarily slow down or stop city functions. Transportation pauses. Logistics are delayed. Movement across the city does not follow schedules as planned. This can happen even in major urban areas. This does not occur every winter. At the same time, it is not treated as a rare or abnormal event by people ...