Hokkaido, long believed by many locals to be virtually cockroach‑free due to its cold winters and northern latitude, is experiencing a dramatic surge in cockroach sightings, with pest control requests and insecticide sales rising sharply this summer and autumn, according to Japanese media reports.
One pest control company in Sapporo saw its annual cockroach‑related assignments double from about 50 in 2021 to over 100 last year, while another local exterminator said it has received nearly 50 such requests so far this year. Data from Earth Corp., a major Japanese pharmaceutical company, shows that its insecticide product line for cockroaches has been steadily growing in Hokkaido, with annual average sales growth of about 6% between 2017 and 2025.
The persistent myth that "Hokkaido has no cockroaches" stems from the fact that the insect's absolute population in the region has historically been far smaller than on Japan's main island of Honshu, and their nocturnal habits made them rarely seen by residents, according to Kyodo News, which cited Hiroshi Nishino, assistant professor of insect physiology at Hokkaido University. In fact, the cold‑tolerant Periplaneta japonica (Japanese cockroach) has been established in parts of Hokkaido for over a century.
Experts attribute the recent population explosion to two main factors. First, modern residential buildings with high‑level insulation and airtightness, combined with efficient heating systems, allow less cold‑hardy species to survive indoors through the winter and breed prolifically, creating a more favourable habitat. Second, the boom in e‑commerce and home delivery services has become a major vector, with adult cockroaches and egg cases frequently carried into households via cardboard packages.
Currently, three cockroach species are commonly found in Hokkaido: the Japanese cockroach, the smoky‑brown cockroach (Periplaneta fuliginosa), and the German cockroach (Blattella germanica). Experts warn that urban areas, including Sapporo, have already developed environments highly conducive to pest infestation, and urge residents to step up home cleanliness and preventive measures against cockroaches.
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