Winter Driving in Hokkaido
Winter driving in Hokkaido is not for the inexperienced. If you don't have solid winter driving experience, you are better off using public transportation during your visit to Furano. Just the daily car rental cost will pay for several taxis. Safer. Less stress. More fun.
Anyway, here are some fun facts about Furano winter driving:
* Awesome traffic signs! From the red/white arrows marking the road side, to the big white arrows at the intersections indicating the center of the road, to the white stripe on the side of the road near intersections showing where to stop your car. Lots of specialty stuff to help out since the actual pavement and paint is covered for several months during the winter.
* All rental cars in Hokkaido are equipped with excellent snow tires.
* The marked speed limits are especially good for winter driving. Heed them.
* Don't roll down your window at the drive thru! Why? Because you can't!! The window mechanism is often frozen solid for weeks at a time, and when you press the window button, nothing will happen except for the whining complaints from the window motor.
* Grocery shopping is a breeze! You can leave your refrigerated or even frozen items in your car for hours, and they'll stay nice and cold!! But don't forget them, or your milk will be frozen solid in the morning!!
See you in Furano.