Japan’s ski season is off to a remarkable start, with several resorts reporting exceptional early-season snowfall.
Niseko United, Japanโs largest ski resort on the island of Hokkaido, reports record snowfalls for December. Niseko is experiencing its best start to winter since 1956, with the nearby town of Kutchan recording a snow depth of 145 centimeters (57 inches) on December 30. After a slow start to the season in Japan, with Mount Fuji recording the latest snow cover in 130 years, snowfall in Niseko has reached 311 centimeters (122 inches) in December alone and 349 centimeters (137 inches) for the season. The resort currently has a peak snow depth of more than 2 meters (6.6 feet). More snow is forecasted, promising continued excellent conditions.
Nearby Rusutsu has also benefited from substantial early-season snowfall. The resort reports on its website more than 4 meters (13 feet) of snowfall for the season so far. This has resulted in excellent coverage on the mountain, with all lifts and runs at the resort open for the season. Cold temperatures and additional snowfall in the forecast suggest conditions will remain favorable.
Furano also has had a great start to the season, roughly 3 meters (10 feet) of snowfall to date, with 130 centimeters (51 inches) falling in the last few days alone. This has allowed for top-to-bottom skiing on the Furano Zone side, with the Kitanomine area open since December 21. Consistently low temperatures and forecasted snowfall indicate that conditions will continue to improve.
Resorts on the main island, Honshu, have seen good snowfall at higher altitudes, with up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) falling in Hakuba Valley resorts, including Happo, Goryu, and Hakuba 47. A significant storm is anticipated, which could further enhance the already excellent conditions.
Overall, the early-season snowfall across these Japanese resorts has been exceptional, setting the stage for a memorable ski season. With more snow in the forecast, Japow enthusiasts can look forward to continued excellent conditions in the coming weeks.