Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s four main islands, is officially the coldest region in the country. Because of its high latitude and proximity to the cold air masses from Siberia, Hokkaido experiences long, icy winters and relatively cool summers compared to the rest of the archipelago. The island is the "gold standard" for winter sports, hosting the world-famous Sapporo Snow Festival every February. In the central mountain ranges of Hokkaido, temperatures can frequently drop below -20°C (-4°F), and the region receives some of the highest snowfall totals in the world due to the "lake effect" from the Sea of Japan. While northern Honshu (the Tohoku region) also experiences heavy snow and cold, it rarely reaches the consistent, extreme sub-zero depths found in Hokkaido. For travelers, this means Hokkaido is the premier destination for drift ice sightseeing and powder skiing, but it also requires heavy-duty thermal gear and an appreciation for a landscape that remains blanketed in white for nearly five months of the year.