Driving Hokkaido’s Snowy Roads for the First Time | Q&A on Skidding, Getting Stuck, and Whether You Need 4WD [2026-27]

For anyone new to Hokkaido’s snowy roads, the biggest worries are probably “what if I skid?” and “what if I get stuck?” This article answers those worries one question at a time, only within what is written in materials from the Hokkaido Government, Hokkaido Prefectural Police, Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, and JAF (Japan Automobile Federation). Three conclusions first. An icy road is about 10 times more slippery than a dry summer road. The distance needed to stop changes greatly with the surface: in JAF’s measurements at 40 km/h, 11.0 m on a wet road and 84.1 m on an icy road. And if you get stuck, do not keep forcing the vehicle; work through the steps in order, and call roadside assistance if they fail. Sources for the numbers are attached to each paragraph in the text.

What should I do if my car skids on a snowy road? First, stop all sudden operations

On slippery roads, do not brake, steer, or accelerate suddenly. This is the answer common to the public materials.

The Hokkaido Prefectural Police urge drivers to refrain from sudden braking, sudden steering, and sudden acceleration because they cause skidding accidents (Hokkaido Prefectural Police, Traffic Safety Information No. 46, October 30, 2025 (Reiwa 7), verified 2026-10-14). JAF also advises avoiding “sudden” driving such as abrupt lane changes, sudden braking, and sudden acceleration (JAF, “Points to watch when driving on snowy roads and icy roads”, verified 2026-10-14).

The Hokkaido Government’s material gives specific instructions on how to brake. Press the brake gently and stop without locking the tires. However, in an emergency, if you brake hard and the ABS (anti-lock braking system) activates, keep pressing even if the pedal vibrates, and steer (Hokkaido Government, “Winter driving: Drive Hokkaido”, verified 2026-10-14).

The answer in the public materials is to slow down before you slide.

• Brake gently. Even if the ABS activates and the pedal vibrates, keep pressing and control the car’s movement with the steering wheel
• Do not brake suddenly, steer suddenly, or accelerate suddenly
• Slow down first, before places where you might slide (the next question lists them)

What should I do if I get stuck on a snowy road? Turn on the hazard lights and try the steps in order

First turn on the hazard lights to alert others, then try these in order: remove the snow, traction mats, ask a nearby vehicle to tow you, and roadside assistance.

JAF advises that if you get stuck, first turn on the hazard lights and, if you can get out of the vehicle safely, place a warning triangle behind the vehicle. Then deal with it in the following order (JAF, “What can I do to get a stuck vehicle moving on my own on a snowy road?”, verified 2026-10-14).

• Clear the snow around the tires with a shovel. If the vehicle can move, do not press the accelerator hard; repeat short forward and reverse movements to pack the snow down
• Slide traction mats (snow helper, also called a stack ladder) under the spinning drive wheel and pull away slowly. The mat may shoot out when you start, so check that no one is in front of or behind the vehicle
• If it still will not move, ask a nearby vehicle to tow you. Check both vehicles’ owner’s manuals and use a dedicated tow rope
• If it is difficult to manage on your own, or the work is dangerous, call roadside assistance early

There is also a caution for while you wait. If the engine is left running, snow can block the area around the muffler, and exhaust gas can enter the cabin and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. JAF advises turning the engine off while you wait and keeping warm with blankets and warm clothing. If you have no choice but to use the heater, first clear the snow around the muffler, and while snow is falling, check often that it is not buried (same source, verified 2026-10-14). For how a campervan’s heating works, see our article on how the FF heater works and how to use it.

JAF’s fee for rescuing a vehicle stuck in snow is given as ¥21,700 for non-members (daytime, pulling out on a general road or simple work) (same source, verified 2026-10-14). It is also written that JAF roadside assistance is a service for “people,” not “cars,” and can be used with a rental car as well. For the rescue contact and costs when you have rented a car, please ask the company at pickup.

What should I watch for at intersections, slopes, bridges, and tunnels? A list of slippery places

Bridges, overpasses, and the entrances and exits of tunnels are the most dangerous, followed by intersections and areas near stop lines, and then slopes.

JAF calls windswept bridges, overpasses, and the areas near tunnel entrances and exits “the most dangerous.” Because the temperature is lower there than elsewhere and the surface freezes easily, slow down sufficiently before them (JAF, “Where are the danger points on snowy and icy roads that I should know about?”, verified 2026-10-14). The Hokkaido Government says the road surface is slippery before intersections, crosswalks, and railroad crossings, on congested roads, on bridges on cold days, and in the shade of trees and buildings (Hokkaido Government, verified 2026-10-14).

Place	What happens (as worded in the materials)	Source
On bridges and overpasses	Cooled from above and below, they can freeze into black ice only there even when other road surfaces are dry	Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, Otaru Development and Construction Department (MLIT); JAF
Near tunnel entrances and exits	Often in shade, and the road is often frozen into black ice. Near the entrance, snow that has melted and run off may be frozen	Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, Otaru Development and Construction Department (MLIT); JAF
Intersections and near stop lines	The heat of cars melts snow and ice and water floats on top, making it extremely slippery. Compacted snow can be polished until it is slick. Stop a little before the stop line, and take a breath before moving off even when the light turns green	Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, Otaru Development and Construction Department (MLIT); JAF
Slopes	Going up, do not stop partway; climb in one go if possible. Going down, use careful steering and braking	JAF
Ruts and small bumps	Ruts can grab the tires and cause sideslips. Even small bumps can suddenly cause a sideslip or spin	Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, Otaru Development and Construction Department (MLIT)
Bridges on cold days, shade of trees and buildings, before railroad crossings, congested roads	The road surface is slippery	Hokkaido Government

JAF cautions that inside a tunnel, where there is no snow, drivers relax and speed tends to build, and that coming out onto the snowy road at the exit with wet tires can upset the vehicle because of the sudden change in surface. Even inside the tunnel, picture the road outside and keep your speed down.

How much should I slow down? How much following distance?

The Hokkaido Government writes “sufficient deceleration through early braking and use of engine braking” for speed and “at least three times the summer distance” for following distance.

The Hokkaido Government says that on winter roads it is more important than on dry roads to keep your following distance, and that driving with at least three times the summer distance is safe. It also states that an icy road is about 10 times more slippery than a dry summer road (Hokkaido Government, verified 2026-10-14). On speed, it calls for “sufficient deceleration through early braking and use of engine braking.”

The figures we can use as a guide are the braking distances JAF measured in Shibetsu, Hokkaido. With hard braking that activates the ABS, the distances to a stop from 40 km/h were as follows (JAF user test “Black ice”, January 2013, average of 3 runs on each surface, verified 2026-10-14).

Surface (40 km/h)	Braking distance	Difference from the wet road (calculated from the table’s figures)
Wet road	11.0m	－
Compacted snow road	20.2m	+9.2m
Ice-sheet road (icy road, aisuban)	84.1m	+73.1m
Black ice	69.5m	+58.5m

Even at the same 40 km/h, an icy surface needs more than 7 times the distance of a wet one. This backs up the reason for keeping at least three times the summer following distance.

• Press the accelerator gradually when moving off (JAF)
• Do not change lanes or brake suddenly (JAF)
• Leave a generous gap to the vehicle ahead: at least three times the summer distance (Hokkaido Government)

What is black ice? Are nights and mornings dangerous?

It is a road that looks black like wet asphalt but is frozen on the surface. Take particular care at night and around dawn, when temperatures drop.

JAF says that after snow that piled up during the day has melted, or after rain, at night and around dawn when the cold deepens, the road can turn into “black ice,” which looks at first glance like wet asphalt but is frozen on the surface. Careful driving that assumes you will slide is needed, and “sudden” actions when starting, stopping, and cornering are strictly forbidden (JAF, “Points to watch when driving on snowy roads and icy roads”, verified 2026-10-14).

It also says that driving in the morning and evening has “dangers lurking that cannot be compared with daytime.” A surface that is merely wet in the daytime may become an icy road at night (JAF faq148, verified 2026-10-14). The Hokkaido Prefectural Police likewise indicate that, because of the temperature difference between morning and evening, a road that was wet during the day can freeze at night (Traffic Safety Information No. 46, verified 2026-10-14). The Hokkaido Government says that in early winter, a road that looks blackish may be frozen.

Drive on the assumption that a road that looks black and wet may be ice. In the braking-distance table above, black ice was 69.5m. Not relying on how the surface looks is the answer common to the materials. For winter temperatures at your destination, see our article on Hokkaido winter temperatures.

What if a blizzard cuts off my view?

Slow down to a speed at which you can stop within the range you can see, and if driving becomes difficult, stop in the safest place you can and turn on the hazard lights.

The Hokkaido Prefectural Police say that when visibility is poor in a blizzard or similar, you should “slow down to a speed at which you can stop within the range you can see,” and if driving becomes difficult, “stop the vehicle in the safest place possible and turn on the hazard lights.” It is also written that you should not leave the stopped vehicle and, as a rule, should stop the engine (Hokkaido Prefectural Police and Hokkaido Traffic Safety Association, “The reality of traffic accidents in poor visibility such as blizzards”, verified 2026-10-14). JAF also advises turning on the hazard lights and stopping in whiteout conditions such as ground blizzards (JAF, verified 2026-10-14).

The Otaru Development and Construction Department writes that if your view is suddenly closed off, braking hard yourself can cause the vehicle behind to hit you, so take care (Winter Drive Mini Guide, verified 2026-10-14). We plan to cover blizzard accident statistics and how to check road closures in more detail in separate articles.

Is it dangerous on Hokkaido’s snowy roads without 4WD?

The public materials used in this article contain no statement that “4WD is safe.” We leave the conclusion to our article on 4WD.

Recall the numbers so far. JAF’s braking distances were measured for each type of surface. On an icy surface it takes 84.1m to stop from 40 km/h. On a slippery surface, the distance needed to stop itself gets longer. For how to think about each drive system in a campervan, see our article Do you need a 4WD campervan?

What about winter tires on rentals? Confirm when you book

JAF writes: “Rental cars are usually switched to studless (winter) tires in winter, but to be safe, confirm when you book.”

Source: (JAF, “Points to watch when driving on snowy roads and icy roads”, verified 2026-10-14). The Hokkaido Government urges changing to winter tires early. The Hokkaido Prefectural Police also advise checking how the tires are fitted after the change. For how each campervan rental company handles winter tires and when they are changed, see our article When should you switch to studless tires? Please confirm the policy of the company you rent from with that company when you book.

What should I check before setting out?

The tires, snow and ice on the roof and windshield, road information, and time to spare.

• Tires: switch to winter tires early. After the change, check how they are fitted (Hokkaido Prefectural Police)
• Visibility: clear the snow from the roof before driving. Roof snow slides onto the windshield when you brake and blocks your view. Driving with a frozen windshield is also dangerous (Hokkaido Prefectural Police, JAF)
• Switch to cold-region washer fluid. Ordinary washer fluid may freeze (JAF)
• Information: listen to road information on the radio, check road conditions on the website, gather weather and road surface information, and set out with time to spare (Otaru Development and Construction Department)

The Otaru Development and Construction Department writes that the main causes of multiple-vehicle pileups in winter are excessive speed and forced overtaking, and that most accidents occur on compacted-snow or icy roads with good visibility (Winter Drive Mini Guide, verified 2026-10-14). Where to check for road closures, and which roads close in winter, are covered in our article on winter road closures.

What should I keep in the car?

The Hokkaido Government and JAF list chains, a shovel, traction mats (snow helper), jumper cables, a tow rope, a jack, and a blanket.

The Hokkaido Government advises preparing for snowfall with tire chains, a shovel, traction mats (snow helper), jumper cables, a tow rope, and similar items (Hokkaido Government, verified 2026-10-14). JAF writes that even with studless tires fitted, tire chains and a jack are essential, jumper cables are worth having, and a blanket serves as warm gear inside the car in a sudden emergency (JAF, verified 2026-10-14).

Item to prepare	What the materials say	Source
Tire chains and jack	Essential even with studless tires fitted	JAF
Shovel and traction mats (snow helper)	Prepare for snowfall. When stuck, shovel first, then traction mats	Hokkaido Government, JAF
Jumper cables	Worth having in winter against the unexpected	Hokkaido Government, JAF
Tow rope	Prepare one. Tow with a dedicated rope	Hokkaido Government, JAF
Blanket	Warm gear inside the car in a sudden emergency	JAF
Cold-region washer fluid	Ordinary fluid may freeze	JAF

Please ask the company at pickup what is loaded in the rental car. If you want to check all your winter-trip worries in one place, our article collecting worries about winter campervan trips is a good starting point.

Pages to read next

• Do you need a 4WD campervan? Which drive system to choose for Hokkaido’s snowy roads
• When should Hokkaido campervans switch to studless tires? Rental companies’ winter tire policies
• Complete guide to winter campervan driving in Hokkaido | Tips for snowy roads, staying warm, and sleeping in the vehicle
• Hokkaido roads that become impassable in winter | Closure periods and detour routes
• Before a winter campervan trip in Hokkaido | Resolving every worry