Japan Weekly Snow Roundup #310

• Gassan opens with world’s deepest 850cm (340") base
• Fresh snowfall refreshes Japan’s upper slopes 
• Hokkaido holds best late-season conditions
• Honshu shifts firmly into spring skiing mode

Japan Snow Report

Japan’s ski season continues to wind down, although recent snowfall has briefly returned wintry conditions to higher slopes. Resorts including Furano reported 10–15cm (4–6") of fresh snow over the weekend. Meanwhile, Gassan has opened its summer ski season with an exceptional 450–850cm (180–340") base, the deepest reported globally this season, with all 10km (6 miles) of terrain open.

In Hokkaido, spring conditions are setting in, but it remains the most reliable region for late-season skiing. Around half a dozen resorts plan to stay open into May. Upper mountain temperatures range from –7°C to +2°C, with valley highs exceeding +10°C. Niseko continues to operate with more than 80% of terrain open, while Daisetsuzan Sounkyo Kurodake holds one of Japan’s deepest snowpacks at over 400cm. Snowfall has generally been light, but shaded higher slopes remain firm and wintry.

On Honshu, ski areas are firmly in spring mode, with operations focused on upper slopes. Temperatures range from -5°C overnight at altitude to +10°C or higher in the afternoons. Conditions are variable, with sunshine, fog, rain, and occasional sleet or wet snow, particularly across Nagano and Niigata. Resorts such as Hakuba, Shiga Kogen and Nozawa Onsen continue limited operations, although recent snowfall totals have been minimal.

Japan Snow Forecast
A steadier spring pattern is expected. Hokkaido will remain cooler, with freezing nights and the possibility of light snow or sleet on higher terrain. Honshu will see more variable weather, including showers and fog, with snowfall increasingly limited to the highest elevations. Overall, expect softening snow and a gradual warming trend through the weekend.