Ski Japan - Hokkaido

When you ski Japan you’re on the slopes of one of the world’s leading ski nations and the main ski country in Asia. There are more than 500 Japanese ski resorts spread across the country – a number only matched by Austria, Germany and the United States.

The ski centres stretch across the country and have a reputation of excellent snowfalls, particularly on the northern island of Hokkaido where annual snow accumulations are normally among the deepest in the world, officially only beaten by Mt Baker in Washington State just across the Pacific in the USA.

Skiing in Japan also has the longest history of downhill winter sports in the continent, with the sport introduced by famous Austrian pioneer Hannes Schneider from the Arlberg who popularised skiing in early films and books all over the world and is now commemorated in a dedicated ski museum in Nozawa Onsen, one of the country’s best known resorts where Schneider taught skiing in the early 1920s.

Most of the resorts are comparatively small in extent but in some cases up to a dozen small areas are inter-linked or at least very close together, such as the many sectors of 1998 Winter Olympic venue Nagano – one of two Olympics staged in Japan, the only country outside Europe, the US and Russia to stage a winter games.

The evolution of wintersports in Japan is a unique one and reflects both economic and consumer trends.

While in most first world countries with a long history of skiing the sport gradually grew and matured and has remained relatively stable for two or three decades now, interest in skiing among the Japanese population peaked in the 1980s and then dramatically dropped at the start of the 1990s after a collapse of the Japanese economy coincided with growth in interest in other activities, particularly computer gaming.

Skier numbers declined from 20 million a year to around a third of that number, although they have now recovered to about 10 million.

During the boom years Japan was known for having very crowded slopes – there are almost no drag lifts in the country and multiple chairlifts deposited Japanese skiers en masse at the top of slopes. As Japan is a very polite and respectful society, this rarely caused the kind of bad temper, pushing and shoving it might in Europe or North America and instead everyone made space. Many ski areas were efficiently accessed by rail from the country’s cities too and skiers would arrive in the early hours of the morning to ski through the small hours as ski areas operated nearly 24 hours a day to cope with demand.

Another consequence of the 1980s popularity of skiing was that in its early years, snowboarding was largely banned on the country’s slopes, with resort managers seeing no reason why they should complicate matters by allowing boarders on their ski runs. There was also little of the Western model of diversification in activities and resort facilities. There were basic hotels, ski runs only, childcare facilities were rare and while most skiing nations have a mix of nationalities on their slopes, non-Japanese skiers very rare too. This was partly due to the lack of any languages being spoken or signage other than Japanese and partly as the Yen was riding high making skiing very expensive.

The ski boom also led to Japan being a pioneer of indoor skiing with one of the world’s earliest centres opened in the 1950s and in the modern era a dozen indoor centres opening in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including what is still the biggest ever built – the SSAWS dome in Tokyo harbour with a 500m long, 100m wide slope built on earthquake absorbing piles to save the centre from the potential danger of an indoor avalanche. This centre was eventually demolished to make way for Japan’s first IKEA store, having never repaid its construction costs.

Indeed the 1990s saw many Japanese ski areas mothballed. Japanese business ownership rules meant it was generally better to close a ski centre down and leave it potentially operational rather than dismantle it.

Seeking to re-invent itself, the country’s major ski areas have, particularly in the last decade, followed Western business models far more, diversifying their resort activity range, dining and accommodation options.

None has been more successful in doing so than Niseko which has risen to worldwide fame as a cult free riding resort attracting powder hounds from around the world and particularly Australia, as Aussies have realised they have a shorter trip and no jet lag travelling to Japan than their traditional choices of Canada and to a lesser extent the US and the Alps. This has allowed Niseko to have far more English language information than other resorts, making the resort instantly more attractive to the global market.

A main attraction is the remarkable snow conditions, but visitors have also found that modern Japan also offers great food in its restaurants and relatively affordable prices. Service standards are also very high and the local population friendly and respectful in their welcome. Japan also has several unique attractions including the hot spring onsen baths found at many resorts and eternally popular karaoke bars for après ski.

It comes as a surprise to many freeriders that much of Japan’s extensive off piste terrain often buried metres deep is off limits as well as off piste and if skied or boarded can result in prosecution and certainly loss of lift ticket. Some resorts, including Niseko do have off piste zones available however.

Another point to be kept in mind is that Japanese snowfall can be unremitting. Photos of snow banks towering above tour buses can only result from periods where snowfall has lasted for weeks when a cycle of dry air sweeping in from across the vast Siberian plains sucks up moisture as it passes out over the Sea of Japan, depositing it all once it hits the mountains.

Japan’s ski areas are also frequently subject to earthquakes and resort facilities and buildings are designed to cope with this. Fukushima, where the nuclear power plant was damaged by the 2011 Tsunami, is a popular ski region where radiation level reports are now posted along side snow conditions.
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Japan - Hokkaido: latest snow conditions round-up


JAPAN REPORT The seasons are changing in Japan as well, and we're seeing temperatures fluctuating 5-10 degrees on either side of the freezing point and a mixture of sunshine and snow showers. Niseko (110/315cm / 44/126") has seen very little change in its base depth for weeks now, really, getting 5-10cm fresh snowfall deposits but then losing a bit of depth due to thawing.

It's also had its usual issue with strong winds closing higher lifts at times. Charmant Hiuchi ski area (100/400cm / 40/160") near Itoigawa City in Niigata has Japan's deepest base. Gassan Ski Area says it will open for its 2024 summer ski season in a month on April 12th.

Summary of forecast snowfall and ski conditions for resorts in Japan - Hokkaido. Fresh snow is forecast at 56 resorts. Powder is reported at 2 resorts and 2 are reporting good piste conditions.

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Recent Eyeball Snow Reports for Japan - Hokkaido

A–M

N–Z Best powder (2)Best piste conditions (2)

Ski resorts in Japan - Hokkaido from A to M

Resort
snow depth
top and bottom

on-piste

off-piste

Last Snow

Next 9 Days
0–3 | 3–6 | 6–9
snow (cm)
Next 5 days weather forecast.
Freezing level (m)
Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

(25m — 205m)

snow report yesterday

5 cm
yesterday
4.0
1.0
part cloud light snow light snow clear clear
Mid station 115 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(96m — 369m)

snow report yesterday

6 cm
2 days ago
1.0
1.0
snow showers cloud cloud part cloud clear
Mid station 232 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(97m — 221m)

snow report yesterday

6 cm
2 days ago
2.0
2.0
snow showers part cloud cloud part cloud clear
Mid station 159 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(1100m — 1600m)

snow report today

Asahidake webcam
2.0 cm
yesterday
10.0
11.0
light snow snow showers light snow cloud part cloud
Mid station 1350 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(120m — 450m)

snow report today

12 cm
yesterday
3.0
2.0
light snow light snow light snow part cloud part cloud
Mid station 285 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(120m — 270m)

snow report yesterday

6 cm
2 days ago
1.0
1.0
light snow cloud cloud part cloud clear
Mid station 195 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(130m — 315m)

snow report yesterday

5 cm
2 days ago
1.0
1.0
snow showers cloud cloud part cloud clear
Mid station 222 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(240m — 300m)

snow report yesterday

5 cm
2 days ago
2.0
2.0
light snow light snow cloud part cloud clear
Mid station 270 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(150m — 530m)

snow report today

8 cm
yesterday
3.0
1.0
1.0
snow showers snow showers light snow clear part cloud
Mid station 340 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(210m — 456m)

snow report yesterday

7 cm
2 days ago
2.0
2.0
snow showers part cloud cloud part cloud clear
Mid station 333 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(50m — 150m)

snow report today

4 cm
yesterday
snow showers cloud cloud clear part cloud
Mid station 100 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(144m — 409m)

snow report today

15 cm
yesterday
9.0
1.0
4.0
light snow light snow light snow part cloud part cloud
Mid station 276 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(56m — 179m)

snow report today

6 cm
yesterday
3.0
1.0
snow showers light snow light snow part cloud clear
Mid station 118 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(280m — 540m)

snow report today

14 cm
yesterday
2.0
2.0
snow showers cloud light snow part cloud part cloud
Mid station 410 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(280m — 740m)

snow report yesterday

10 cm
2 days ago
1.0
1.0
snow showers part cloud cloud part cloud part cloud
Mid station 510 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(245m — 1209m)

snow report today

160
70
Packed powder and groomed snow 1.0 cm
yesterday
3.0
3.0
light snow light snow light snow part cloud part cloud
Mid station 727 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(52m — 159m)

snow report today

7 cm
yesterday
light snow light snow light snow part cloud part cloud
Mid station 106 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(182m — 442m)

snow report today

5 cm
yesterday
clear cloud cloud part cloud clear
Mid station 312 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(260m — 943m)

snow report today

5 cm
yesterday
clear cloud cloud part cloud clear
Mid station 602 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(251m — 754m)

snow report yesterday

1.0 cm
yesterday
1.0
1.0
snow showers cloud cloud clear part cloud
Mid station 502 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(150m — 367m)

snow report yesterday

7 cm
2 days ago
2.0
2.0
light snow part cloud part cloud part cloud part cloud
Mid station 258 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(699m — 1239m)

snow report today

155
59
Powder
Powder
1.0 cm
yesterday
2.0
2.0
snow showers light snow cloud clear part cloud
Mid station 969 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(133m — 410m)

snow report today

13 cm
yesterday
clear cloud cloud part cloud part cloud
Mid station 272 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(20m — 126m)

snow report today

2.0 cm
yesterday
snow showers cloud cloud part cloud clear
Mid station 73 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(200m — 554m)

snow report yesterday

6 cm
2 days ago
1.0
1.0
snow showers cloud cloud part cloud clear
Mid station 377 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(25m — 120m)

snow report yesterday

7 cm
yesterday
4.0
1.0
light snow light snow light snow clear part cloud
Mid station 72 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(216m — 467m)

snow report yesterday

6 cm
2 days ago
1.0
1.0
snow showers cloud cloud part cloud clear
Mid station 342 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(150m — 751m)

snow report today

185
80
Packed powder and groomed snow 8 cm
2 days ago
1.0
1.0
snow showers part cloud cloud part cloud clear
Mid station 450 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(140m — 247m)

snow report yesterday

6 cm
2 days ago
2.0
2.0
light snow part cloud part cloud part cloud part cloud
Mid station 194 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(570m — 1180m)

snow report today

29 cm
yesterday
6.0
1.0
4.0
light snow light snow light snow part cloud part cloud
Mid station 875 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(70m — 350m)

snow report today

11 cm
yesterday
6.0
1.0
2.0
light snow light snow light snow clear part cloud
Mid station 210 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(280m — 430m)

snow report today

14 cm
yesterday
2.0
2.0
snow showers cloud light snow part cloud part cloud
Mid station 355 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(170m — 270m)

snow report today

8 cm
yesterday
1.0
1.0
snow showers cloud light snow part cloud part cloud
Mid station 220 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(38m — 110m)

snow report today

3.0 cm
yesterday
snow showers cloud cloud part cloud part cloud
Mid station 74 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(670m — 1550m)

snow report today

260
190
Packed powder and groomed snow 3.0 cm
yesterday
8.0
9.0
light snow light snow light snow part cloud snow showers
Mid station 1110 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(237m — 460m)

snow report today

11 cm
yesterday
1.0
1.0
snow showers cloud light snow part cloud part cloud
Mid station 348 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(115m — 322m)

snow report today

4 cm
yesterday
2.0
2.0
light snow light snow light snow part cloud part cloud
Mid station 218 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(176m — 330m)

snow report yesterday

1.0 cm
yesterday
1.0
1.0
snow showers light snow cloud part cloud part cloud
Mid station 253 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(380m — 780m)

snow report yesterday

1.0 cm
yesterday
2.0
2.0
light snow light snow cloud clear part cloud
Mid station 580 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(294m — 702m)

snow report today

2.0 cm
yesterday
1.0
1.0
snow showers cloud cloud part cloud part cloud
Mid station 498 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m

(171m — 531m)

snow report today

13 cm
yesterday
1.0
1.0
snow showers cloud light snow part cloud part cloud
Mid station 351 m
0m 0m 0m 0m 0m