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
Hakuba, Japan Report: Warm and Cloudy Report from December 27, 2023 Landed in Tokyo last night and rented a car and drove five hours north to Hakuba. Woke up to warm temperatures and melting snow, however, there was still about a foot or two on the ground around town. Skied Hakuba 47 & Goryu and Happo One. Goryu was sunny above the clouds and had nice, […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | December 29, 2023 0 Comments
5 Reasons Why Japan Has Such Low Avalanche Danger ‘JAPOW’ – who has not heard of the famous Japanese powder? If you have been lucky enough to ski in Japan, you are probably smiling just thinking about it. And if you haven’t, you are probably hoping to one day go for some unparalleled powder turns. Niseko has an average snowfall of 590 in (15m) and Kiroro a staggering 826 in […] Avalanche Julia Schneemann | December 16, 2023 0 Comments
Study Reveals the Best Weeks for Powder Skiing in Japan for the ’23/24 Season If you’re planning a ski trip to Japan this year to experience the famous powder snow known as “Japow,” the best weeks for snowfall have been revealed in a new analysis conducted by Snow Season Central. The study analyzed the daily recorded snowfall at five of Japan’s most popular resorts over the last 10 winter seasons (from 2012/13 to 2022/23) to […] Industry News SnowBrains | December 13, 2023 0 Comments
Hakuba Valley, Japan, Opens for the 2023/24 Ski Season Japan and specifically the Hakuba Valley have had significant snowfalls within the past week, with some resorts reporting over 20 inches (50cm) of snow in a 24-hour period. With the falling snow, resorts have been working hard to open. Since Thursday, November 30, four of Hakuba Valley’s 10 resorts have announced the start of operations and officially opened the Hakuba […] Industry News Mike Humphrey | December 3, 2023 0 Comments
Save 10% on Educational Adventures to Japan for Experienced Skiers Join the team at Progression Sessions for a deep dive into the heart of Japan. With unrivaled access to steep open bowls, untapped trees, and groomers, you’ll have self-expression and fun. The educational adventures of the Japan Sessions are designed to push the boundaries of your skiing while immersing you in a cultural experience that cannot be found anywhere else. […] Industry News SnowBrains | November 27, 2023 0 Comments