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ski japan

Heli is Offering a Deep Niseko, Japan, Privately Guided Ski Experience

Japan is quickly becoming one of the most popular skiing destinations worldwide. Known for JAPOW, the incredibly light, dry powder snow that covers the mountain regions each year, it’s no wonder skiers and snowboarders flock there every year to check it off their bucket list.  If you ever dreamed about skiing in Japan, you can start planning that trip now. […]

Avatar photo Gregg Frantz | August 19, 2024
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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, […]

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Brett Ploss | December 30, 2023
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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 […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | December 13, 2023
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Hakuba Valley, Japan, Opens for the 2023/24 Ski Season

Tsugaike 24 hour snowfall November 30 2024

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 […]

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Mike Humphrey | December 3, 2023
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Fujiyama Snow Resort Yeti First to Open in Japan For 25th Consecutive Year

Fujiyama Snow Resort Yeti Opening Day 2023

On October 20, 2023, Japan kicked off its winter season. Continuing its 25-year-long streak, Fujiyama Snow Resort Yeti was the first ski resort to open in Japan.   The resort’s early start is no accident. The management team prides itself on its snowmaking ability. Each year, to retain its crown, the resort blows just enough snow to make a single […]

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Mike Humphrey | October 30, 2023
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Polar Vortex Strikes Japan Leaving at Least 17 Dead

Snow Japan

The polar vortex that has been wreaking havoc over large parts of the US and Canada has also been causing disruptions, chaos, and deaths in large parts of Japan. In the last ten days, Japan has seen at least 17 deaths and 90 injuries related to the sudden cold snap. Many of those who died fell off roofs while removing […]

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Julia Schneemann | December 28, 2022
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Japan Set To Fully Reopen Its Borders In October

Skier powder

Great news for Japow lovers as local news channels in Japan are reporting that Japan will fully reopen its borders to international tourists from ‘blue list’ countries in October. Two years ago the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs created strict border restrictions for international travelers and as part of that created blue, yellow, and red lists to categorize countries by their […]

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Julia Schneemann | September 16, 2022
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The Top 6 Reasons To Go To Japan This Winter

Brought to you by HAKUBAVALLEY Japan is as hot as any skiing/snowboarding destination can be.  You want to go to Japan and you want to go now.  It’s only going to get busier every year. “The time is now.” Storms don’t matter in Japan. A cold wind blows out of Siberia, crosses the Sea of Japan, picks up moisture, and […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | December 12, 2019
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What Does La Nina Mean For Japan? | Last La Nina Japan Saw 914″ of Snow…

In short, La Nina means GO TO JAPAN. A lot of this weather stuff gets a little confusing. La Nina, El Nino, ocean temperatures, blobs, atmospheric rivers. The bottom line for skiers is this: is it going to puke this winter or not? According to various sources, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA), this […]

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D’Arcy McLeish | November 2, 2016
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VIDEO: 600-Inches of Snow in 10 Weeks in Japan

Deep snow japan

Last winter, I was lucky enough to escape the historic California drought and spend 10 weeks in Japan.  This was my 4th consecutive season in Japan and it was a record winter.  At times (like the beginning of this video), it was impossibly deep.  The consistency of the nightly refresh almost became comic. We got over 600-inches of snow in […]

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Miles Clark | October 13, 2015
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Japan’s Best Season in 10-Years: 354-Inches of Snow & Counting…

What some chairs look like in Japan in January. photo: snowbrains

This January, Japan’s isle of Honshu received more snow than it has in the past 10 years. The snowpack in the valley’s is also much higher than it has been in the past 10 years. Needless to say, it’s been a great January in Japan. As of today, records are indicating 354″ of snowfall has fallen so far this winter in Northern Honshu. 354″ of snowfall and it’s only January… Many ski resorts in the area are reporting around 124″ snow depths and deeper. If you haven’t been to Japan yet – if you haven’t seen it snow in Japan yet – it’s time to go. evo is taking skiers and riders to Japan this winter. […]

Avatar photo SnowBrains | January 28, 2015
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Japan Is Having Its Best Season in Years: December 2014 Photo Tour

Japan is having its best ski season in years right now. It’s not normal for Japan to have this much snow this early in the season. The bushes are covered, the big lines are in and it’s game on most everywhere on Honshu isle. Ski resorts in the Hakuba area have already gotten 332 cms (132 inches or 11 Feet) of snow at their bases in the month of December alone. If you haven’t been to Japan yet – if you haven’t seen it snow in Japan yet – it’s time to go. evo is taking skiers and riders to Japan this winter. Evo’s got all the details worked out for you so all you have to do is show up, ski deep pow, eat great food, and get […]

Avatar photo SnowBrains | December 30, 2014
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