Industry News
Japan got buried alive in powder this season. I meanโit always does, but this year it was truly โextra deep.โ
In the central and northern prefectures of Nagano, Niigata, Gunma, and Aomori, snow depths have reached an astonishing 6 to 7 metersโnearly 20 to 23 feetโwith more on the way. At Tengendai Kogen, a resort sitting around 1,600 meters (5,250 feet) above sea level, the official report lists a snowpack of 7.2 meters or 23.5 feet. At a 282-inch base, thatโs not just remarkableโitโs historic. These are some of the deepest resort totals Japan has seen in years, and whatโs most unusual is just how much snow has stacked up at mid-mountain elevations.
The snowfall hasnโt just looked good on paper, either. Riders on the ground have been posting surreal scenes: chairlift rides so buried that snowboards can touch the surface while suspended overhead, entire base buildings hidden behind white walls, and trails that now feel more like powder tunnels than open slopes.
And the season still isnโt over yet. Forecast models show another powerful storm system lining up for Honshu early next week according to social media meteorologist @imlukesnow, which could dump another round of heavy snow on an already overloaded snowpack. With Japanโs ski season often stretching into May in higher areas, more deep days are still on the table.
For locals and powder-chasers lucky enough to be in Japan this year, itโs a reminder of what the countryโs legendary snow can really deliver when the conditions align. For everyone else, itโs a not-so-subtle nudge to keep an eye on Japan for future seasonsโbecause when itโs on, few places on Earth compare.
