@catch56 @svines @albertcardona @ketan not far off, not sure Hokkaido quite reaches 40 -- although about 2/3 of Japan definitely does now (record here in high 38s) -- but reliably swings between -30 total whiteouts in winter and 30-35 in summer (Asahikawa city). Still supports your main argument, mind.

The real jaw-dropper is that Hokkaido is hotter in Summer than Okinawa.
Imagine: Alaska hotter than Hawai'i.