Asia

What’s New This Ikon Pass 2026-27 Season: New Gondolas, Terrain, and a Deadline

ikon pass

Ikon Pass resorts are debuting some of their biggest investments in years for the 2026-27 winter season, from Deer Valley’s record-breaking terrain expansion to new gondolas in Niseko and a $42 million restaurant overhaul at Snowmass. The pass now spans more than 70 destinations across 10 countries, with forecasters also watching the potential for a Super El Niño winter, according […]
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Avatar photo SnowBrains |
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Japanese Resorts in Hokkaido Announce Opening Dates

The countdown to Japan’s 2026-27 season has officially begun, with several resorts across the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido announcing their prospective opening dates for the season. With temperatures expected to drop in the coming weeks across Hokkaido and snow expected to follow, resorts are putting on their last-minute preparations ahead of opening their slopes. And now, skiers who spent […]
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Quinn Brophy |
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Ikon Pass Resorts Confirmed Opening Dates for the 2026-27 Season

ikon pass

Snow has already fallen in Ikon Pass high country from Crystal Mountain in Washington to Big Sky Resort in Montana to SkiBig3 in Canada, building excitement for the upcoming winter season. Spanning three continents and 10 countries in the Northern Hemisphere, Ikon Pass holders get access to the world’s premier mountain resorts in their backyards, and as far as the peaks of […]
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Top 10 Underrated Ski Resorts in Japan for an Authentic Japanese Ski Experience

Okushiga Kogen Resort, Nagano

For most people visiting Japan to ski or snowboard, the choice usually comes down to two multi-area mega-resorts: Niseko United or Hakuba Valley. Niseko is in Hokkaido, Japan’s second-largest island and northernmost prefecture, and is accessed via Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport. Honshu, the main island, is south of Hokkaido, and is where you’ll find Tokyo, the Japanese Alps, and Hakuba […]
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Jamie O'Brien |
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Tourists Spend An Average of Almost $4,000 on Trips to Niseko, Japan

Niseko, Japan, is a bucket-list destination for any skier. Four ski resorts with consistent waist-deep, feather-light powder, along with delicious food, beautiful views, lively nightlife, and vibrant Japanese culture all make for an unforgettable experience on Japan’s northernmost main island of Hokkaido. But for travelers thinking of a trip to Niseko, one important thing to consider is the cost. During […]
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Quinn Brophy |
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Sapporo Snow Festival Turns Its Focus to Sustainability as Snow Becomes Less Reliable

Japan’s Sapporo Snow Festival is changing its approach for 2027, putting sustainability and environmental protection at the center of an event built around one increasingly precious resource: snow. Organizers unveiled plans for the 77th edition of the festival on July 13, introducing a new concept which translates into English as “Blessed by the Snow.” The new theme is intended to […]
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Julia Schneemann |
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Australia’s Qantas Airlines Expanding Sydney to Sapporo, Japan, Service

Qantas airplane

Australians will have more travel options than ever for skiing in Japan.  Back in January, Qantas Airways, the flag carrier of Australia, announced an increase in direct service from Sydney to Sapporo, Japan, during the 2026-27 season, bringing flights from three to as many as five per week. Building upon a 2025-26 season that saw record-setting numbers of Australians visiting […]
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Quinn Brophy |
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Indy Pass Will Add Over 50 New Resorts, Surpassing 300 Total for the First Time

Indy Pass announced today that it will add more than 50 new resorts for the 2026-27 season, expanding its network beyond the 300 Resort Guarantee announced last spring, and creating enough capacity to reopen a limited-time fall pass sale. Fall pass sales will begin Sept. 1 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, with access offered to waitlist members on a first-come, […]
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Kyrgyzstan Launches 2nd Major Ski Resort Project with Chinese Backing

Kyrgyzstan is launching another major ski resort project. The year-round Baytik Mountain Resort, valued at $127.9 million, will be built 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Bishkek. China National Heavy Machinery Corporation (CHMC) will participate in both the construction and financing of the project. Related: Foundation Stone Laid at Central Asia’s Largest Ski Resort in Kyrgyzstan On August 27, the Tourism […]
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Julia Schneemann |
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How a Landslide Triggered a Biblical Flash Flood in Tibet and Nepal

*Updated August 29, 2026 Scientists have identified the likely cause of the horrifying flash flood in Tibet and Nepal on August 26, 2026. After surveying seismic records and satellite images, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has pinpointed a collapse of bedrock and subsequent ice avalanche as the likely cause of the destruction. Initially, it was unclear what had happened. Officials […]
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Sergei Poljak |
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“A Mountain Hut Is Not a Daycare Center” — Father Leaves 7-Year-Old Son on Mount Fuji to Keep Climbing

Mount Fuji Snowfall Latest in 130 years - Feature Image

A Japanese father left his exhausted, little son alone at 8,200 feet on Mount Fuji and continued climbing with his older son, prompting police to issue a stern warning. The 7-year-old boy was left alone for hours at roughly 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) on Mount Fuji after telling his father he was too tired to continue climbing, according to Japanese […]
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Avatar photo SnowBrains |
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Beldersoy Resort and Spa Brings Five-Star Luxury to the Mountains of Uzbekistan

Beldersoy Resort and Spa officially opened for business this summer. The Hyatt destination, located less than a two-hour drive from the capital of Tashkent, is the first premier mountain resort of its kind in Uzbekistan. Sitting at an elevation of over 1,585 meters (5,200 feet), high on the slopes of Mount Kumbel within Ugam-Chatkal National Park, Beldersoy offers visitors a […]
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Kien Warren |
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Body of Pakistani Guide Sohail Sakhi Recovered From Broad Peak Avalanche

The body of Pakistani mountain guide Sohail Sakhi has been recovered from Broad Peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram, leaving just one of the 10 climbers killed in the devastating avalanche still unrecovered. The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) confirmed Sakhi’s recovery on Thursday, August 13, after a team of local volunteers from Shigar searching the mountain on their own initiative discovered […]
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Julia Schneemann |
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Japanese Olympic Medalist Switches From Nordic Combined to Ski Jumping as Sport Is Excluded From 2030 Olympics

The announcement that Nordic Combined has been removed from the 2030 Winter Olympics was met with dismay by Nordic Combined athletes. Many saw their hopes of pursuing their Olympic dreams crushed by the decision. Japanese Olympic medalist Ryota Yamamoto took a proactive approach: he is leaving Nordic Combined behind and switching to ski jumping full-time. The Japanese athlete announced the […]
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Julia Schneemann |
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