Plane from Japan’s Ski Fields in Hokkaido Bursts into Flames Upon Landing in Tokyo A Japanese Airline (‘JAL’) flight from Chitose Airport to Tokyo Haneda burst into flames as it landed at the domestic airport of Japan’s capital on Tuesday, January 2, 2023. The plane allegedly struck a Coast Guard flight that was due to fly aid to the regions affected by the New Year’s Day earthquake in Ishikawa prefecture. All 379 passengers and […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | January 2, 2024 0 Comments
Update on Japanese Earthquake That Has Left at Least 30 Dead On New Year’s Day, a level 7.5 earthquake as measured by the United States Geological Survey (7.6 by Japan’s Meteorological Agency) struck off the west coast of Japan near the Ishikawa prefecture. Rescue operations are still underway but thus far the death of 30 people has been confirmed. Numbers are expected to rise as many people are still trapped under […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | January 2, 2024 0 Comments
Earthquake Off the West Coast of Japan Shocks Hakuba Ski Areas Reported January 1, 2024 At 4:10PM local time January 1, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit Noto in the Ishikawa Prefecture of Japan. Tsunami warnings are in effect for Niigata with the swell expected to be over 10ft. This coastal region directly includes the route between Hakuba and Lotte Arai. Two ski resorts frequented by Americans on the Epic and IKON pass […] Weather Brett Ploss | January 1, 2024 0 Comments
Magnitude 7.5 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Main Island & Hits Ski Resorts, 16’ Tsunami Expected, Evacuation Orders in Place A magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit Japan’s west coast on the main island, Honshu, on New Year’s Day at 4:10 p.m. local time near the Ishikawa prefecture. The earthquake was felt in the entire central part of Honshu, Japan’s largest island, which is home to ski resorts in the Nagano prefecture like Hakuba. Following the earthquake, between 15-20 aftershocks have been […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | January 1, 2024 0 Comments
Niseko Hanazono, Japan, Report: Light Snow Overnight, Holiday Crowds Arrive Report from December 31, 2023 I looked out my window this morning to finally see snow coming down. Typically a usual sight in Niseko, but any trace has been absent the past few days. Being New Year’s Eve, the crowds came. Lines aren’t often found in Japan, but since Niseko is rated as the #1 resort in the country, people […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | December 31, 2023 0 Comments
Niseko, Japan, Report: Softer Snow with More on the Way Report from December 30, 2023 Drove over to Niseko Grand Hirafu this morning. The snow was better than at Annupuri due to having less sun exposure. Niseko United is the umbrella that combines four ski resorts which are inter-connected by lifts and all available on the IKON pass. From left to right in the above trail map are Annupuri, Niseko […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | December 31, 2023 0 Comments
Niseko, Japan Report: More Snow than Hakuba, Still a Few Lifts yet to Open Report from December 29, 2023 I flew from Tokyo to Sapporo last night. Tokyo is located on the main island of Honshu, while Sapporo is located on a smaller island in the north called Hokkaido. I rented a car at Sapporo and drove the roughly two hours from Chitose airport to Niseko. There was noticeably much more snow on Hokkaido […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | December 30, 2023 0 Comments
Lotte Arai, Japan Report: Wet and Icy Down Low, Soft Snow Up Top Report from December 28, 2023 I drove two hours from Hakuba to Lotte Arai this morning. The drive snakes along Japan’s famous Jade Coast, named for the small pebbles of jade that can be found here. Pulling into Lotte Arai, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, which was quite the contrast from Hakuba yesterday. I took the gondola up, […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | December 30, 2023 0 Comments
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