Hokkaido resident Neil Hartmann makes some fantastic videos about living in one of the snowiest places on earth, and if you haven’t seen any we highly recommend checking them our here. However, this video doesn’t feature the usual powder-laden slopes and bottomless turns that we’re used to seeing – instead, he gives us a glimpse into the stark reality of living in a place known for cold temperatures and unrelenting snowfalls.

“This is the reality of living in the Powder Kingdom!”, he says. “Behind every powder, turn is a day of shoveling snow, freezing water pipes, and icy roads! If you can handle it then move here and help out asap.”

“There is no need to watch this video for more than a few seconds, it is simply me on my office roof shoveling snow in order to stop a water leak from the ceiling. This was already day two of this mission. I certainly do not recommend climbing ladders at night on snowy and icy roofs, but that was the only time I had!”