A Fukuokan's Notes from Sapporo

Apart from snow shoes, living in Sapporo comes with unexpected extra expenses.

For example, anti-static sprays are an absolute must—everything you touch generates static electricity and shocks you. Very annoying and scary (Ace Frehley would have been pleased, though). Probably because I don’t use fabric softener in my laundry, I need a can of spray costing around 500 yen every week. Although cheaper sprays are widely available at supermarkets and even 100-yen shops, I don't think generic types are not as effective as the branded ones.

As I mentioned in my previous post, waterproof sprays are also necessary. Not just shoes—bags and outerwear need protection from water too. We end up going through a lot of sprays in daily life. No wonder the empty spray cans are collected every week (for free!) in Sapporo.

On the bright side, the cost of heating has turned out to be surprisingly low—maybe even lower than what we paid back in southern Fukuoka. So far, for the two weeks from January 16 to February 10, the gas bill for cooking, heating, and hot water was (drumroll please) only around 5,000 yen. We had braced ourselves for over 30,000 yen a month, as many people warned us. This was a very pleasant surprise.

Our current flat is equipped with an old and mysterious small thermostat, which seems to control the room temperature. Thanks to this little gadget and double-glazed windows in all rooms, the temperature stays at a comfortable 19.5°C, and the gas burner rarely turns on—making the winter indoors surprisingly cozy.

While I have heard that the regular indoor temperature in Sapporo in winter is usually over 20°C—warm enough to enjoy ice cream in a T-shirt—I personally feel that using the heater modestly is more tasteful. I know this might sound like sour grapes, but for me, being in a slightly chilly room is one of the small beauties of winter.