Essential winter footwear for Hokkaido residents: “Winter shoes” with cleats and anti-slip thick soles

By the Urban Life Research Project, excerpted from *Don’t Be Silly, This Is Hokkaido*, published by Farland Culture
Translator: Yu-Wen Hsu

Unwritten Rule 9 【They’re very particular about “shoe soles” when buying shoes】

Native Hokkaido residents might experience culture shock upon entering a shoe store in Tokyo. That’s right—“There are no winter shoes!”

“Winter shoes,” as the name suggests, are shoes designed for winter. In the common knowledge of Hokkaido people, just as you equip your car with winter tires, you also need to switch to winter-specific footwear. The key points when changing shoes are “non-slip” and “not easily soaked.” The ability of locals to walk freely on snowy ground owes much to their choice of shoes.

There are many types of winter shoes. Some have hard soles that can retract cleats, but the mainstream features slip-resistant soles made of soft raw rubber. Therefore, when buying winter shoes, regardless of design aesthetics, Hokkaido residents will always flip the shoe over or feel the sole—they pay close attention to the material. Those familiar with sole differences can discern good from bad, but newcomers to Hokkaido should ask shop staff for advice.

Another option is to attach anti-slip pads to the soles of your usual shoes. If you can’t get winter shoes right away, using anti-slip pads is also a good emergency solution. Surprisingly, some snow veterans in Hokkaido manage to walk briskly on snowy roads without winter shoes. Even more impressively, high school girls casually stroll around in freezing conditions while showing their bare legs. Either way, beginners shouldn’t try these stunts lightly.

Here’s a tip to avoid slipping on snowy paths: basically, keep your soles fully in contact with the ground and walk slowly with short steps, almost “dragging” your feet. Additionally, watch out for slippery zones like crosswalks, sloped transitions between sidewalks and roads, and boundaries between heated and non-heated road surfaces. And of course, never rush to cross the street when the pedestrian light is flashing. Even if locals stride past you in the snow, don’t feel rushed. If you’re walking on snowy roads with locals, consider asking them to slow down in advance.

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