Japan New Year's Eve Snow Roundup #295

Japan is enjoying a classic mid-winter pattern, with both Honshu and Hokkaido benefiting from colder air and a renewed run of storms. On Honshu, Nozawa Onsen reported around a metre (40") of new snow last weekend, including 35 cm (14") overnight, as measured on Sunday morning.

The snow settled at around –4 °C, keeping the powder light, dry and fast underfoot. The upper mountain now carries a healthy 150 cm (60”) base. With lower-mountain terrain opening and a broad mix of pistes, from Yamabiko’s high-alpine cruisers to Uenotaira’s wide, playful slopes, the resort is well placed to start January.

Across the rest of Nagano and Niigata, coverage continues to improve, with higher-elevation areas now offering more consistent conditions and steadily expanding terrain. Further north, Hokkaido is leaning into its trademark rhythm of frequent top-ups and cold, stable temperatures.

Resorts including Niseko, Furano and Kiroro are reporting regular injections of light powder, helping build dependable bases and delivering the smooth, dry snow the island is famous for. Daisetsuzan Sounkyo Kurodake continues to post the country’s deepest base at 3.3 metres (11 feet).

Japan Forecast

Japan should remain deep in mid-winter conditions through the week, with the main ski regions staying cold and snowy. Hokkaido’s major resorts are expected to report very low summit temperatures, often between –15°C and –22°C, with regular light to moderate snowfall and occasional stronger winds on exposed ridges. Honshu’s big Nagano and Niigata resorts will see slightly milder but still wintry conditions, with mountain temperatures typically between –6°C and –14°C and periodic snow showers. Overall, it’s a classic Japanese winter pattern: cold, snowy and consistently refreshed.