Stormy, Snowy Winter for Hokkaido
On February 5, 2026, the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this image of snowy landscapes across Hokkaido. With more than 31 active volcanoes, the island is home to several large caldera lakes, at least five of which are visible in the image. (Calderas are large depressions formed by volcanic eruptions.) To the east, forested shelterbelts around Nakashibetsu form a checkerboard pattern, while to the north, swirls of drifting sea ice adorn the Sea of Okhotsk.
Northern Japan, including the island of Hokkaido, is home to some of the snowiest cities in the world. However, despite the region being accustomed to heavy snowfall, winter 2026 has gotten off to a disruptive start. A series of intense storms in January and February repeatedly paralyzed transportation systems, closing airports, blocking roads and suspending trains.
Learn about sea ice and snowstorms in Japan.
Text credit: Adam Voiland
Image credit: Michala Garrison, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview
