- ■ “It Feels Like a Sauna.” But This Is Hokkaido?
- ■ Final Thoughts: “A Moving Sauna” Isn’t Just a Joke
■ “It Feels Like a Sauna.” But This Is Hokkaido?
Hokkaido has long been known as Japan’s cooler, snowier region—a summer escape for those fleeing Tokyo’s humidity. But for passengers riding the Sapporo Municipal Subway, that image is starting to melt.
In the summer of 2025, Sapporo’s subway became a hot topic—literally.
Passengers flooded social media with phrases like:
“It’s a moving sauna.”
“This heat is unbearable.”
“Why is there no air conditioning?”
According to city officials, over 140 complaints were filed in just two months, with reports of people feeling faint, drenched in sweat, or avoiding the subway altogether.
■ No A/C? Here’s Why: The Rubber-Tire Subway System
What makes Sapporo’s subway unique is also what makes it hot. Unlike most subways in the world, Sapporo uses a rubber-tire train system, a design choice made back in the 1970s.
Benefits of rubber-tire trains:
- Smooth, quiet rides
- Better traction on icy tracks
- Easier navigation through steep grades and tight curves
But there’s a catch:
- Weight limits are strict.
Each car must stay under ~48 tons. - Air conditioning units are too heavy to be added without exceeding those limits.
- The train’s design also limits airflow and traps heat, especially in tunnels.
In short, Sapporo’s trains weren’t designed for this level of heat.
■ Climate Change Has Changed the Game
Back in the 1970s, when the subway was designed, air conditioning wasn’t seen as essential—especially not in Hokkaido. Summers were short, and temperatures rarely exceeded 30°C.
Fast-forward to today:
- Sapporo now experiences twice as many “tropical” days (30°C+) compared to two decades ago.
- Underground tunnels retain heat, pushing in-train temperatures above 35°C during peak hours.
- Ventilation is limited, and windows can’t be opened in most sections of the subway.
The result: unbearable conditions that feel closer to Southeast Asia than snowy Hokkaido.
■ Cultural Insight: Why Do People Endure It?
Despite these issues, passengers have largely remained quiet for years. Why?
1. Endurance is a virtue.
Japanese society values “gaman” (我慢)—patience and silent endurance. Complaining is often seen as selfish or disruptive.
2. Respect for public systems.
There is deep trust and respect for trains in Japan. People don’t want to burden or blame operators. Until recently, this meant suffering in silence.
3. Cold-region mindset.
In Hokkaido, there has long been a cultural belief that A/C is unnecessary or even indulgent. The idea of spending millions to retrofit cooling systems has been a hard sell—until now.
These psychological and cultural norms have created a feedback loop of inaction, even as temperatures rise and health risks increase.
■ What Are the Authorities Doing?
Sapporo’s transportation bureau is aware of the problem, and small steps are being taken:
- Installing ceiling-mounted fans (though limited in effectiveness)
- Testing partial window ventilation, where possible
- Planning future train models (expected ~2040) with possible cooling solutions
But until those new models arrive, Sapporo’s subway will likely remain hot and humid each summer.
■ The Deeper Issue: When Old Design Meets New Reality
It would be unfair to call this a “design failure.” When the system was built, it made perfect sense.
The problem isn’t bad engineering—it’s that the world changed, but the train didn’t.
What we’re witnessing now is a cultural reckoning:
- How do we adapt a system that was once ideal, but now causes discomfort or even danger?
- Can traditional values of patience coexist with modern demands for comfort and safety?
■ Final Thoughts: “A Moving Sauna” Isn’t Just a Joke
As Hokkaido heats up, the subway’s sweltering conditions are no longer a funny anecdote—they’re a daily hardship, especially for the elderly, children, and working commuters.
This issue reveals something deeper about Japan:
Technology adapts faster than culture.
Solving this will require more than just technical fixes. It will take a shift in mindset—from “just deal with it” to “we can and should make this better.”
And that shift may already be underway, one sweaty commute at a time.
