I’ve just received a message from the the Air Terminal Hotel at Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport, the main airport for Hokkaido, Japan:
“Because of (the) big earthquake on September 6, the hotel has been heavily damaged and we cannot accept any customers … at this moment.”
I had been expecting the message, as there was a similar announcement at the hotel’s Web site. As instructed, I went ahead and cancelled my reservation at the Air Terminal Hotel for next week.
The hotel manager apologized for the inconvenience this would cause me. I can only think of the 5.5 million Hokkaido residents “inconvenienced” by the recent earthquake.
Early last Thursday morning, Japan’s northernmost main island, Hokkaido, experienced a massive earthquake. It measured 6.7 out of a possible maximum of 7 on Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) seismic intensity scale.
The epicenter was about 30 miles from New Chitose Airport.
Aircraft at the gates were shaking, ceiling panels fell in the terminal building, the Air Terminal Hotel was “heavily damaged.” The power went out, there would be no flights for two days.
The earthquake affected the whole of Hokkaido. People died near the epicenter when hillsides slid into their homes. In Sapporo, streets buckled, and buildings collapsed. All 3 million homes on the island lost electricity; homes were dark for two days or more. All trains were cancelled.
Right now, it’s Monday in Japan, and the work week will be starting soon. Because of power shortages, and disruptions to transportation, many factories will remain shuttered. Many long-distance train lines and roads are closed. Rolling blackouts are promised for the rest of the week.
Aftershock warnings pop up on phones, normal life is disrupted. My heart goes out to the people of Hokkaido.
Unless the situation changes markedly in the next week, I will abandon my flight from Tokyo to Hokkaido, and go somewhere else.
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