When planning a ski holiday, checking the snow report can become something of an obsession. Has it snowed already? When will it snow? How much will it snow?
In most locations, this compulsion might be called for as snow conditions are becoming increasingly unreliable. The 2023/2024 ski season in North America has been described as the worst in living memory. Whistler Blackcomb, one of the most famous ski resorts in the world, has seen one of its worst winters ever. Some resorts have even been forced to close down due to lack of snow. While European resorts have fared somewhat better this winter, the 2022/2023 season was extremely poor.
Japan is a Reliable Powder Paradise
Luckily, there is an alternative to the fickle weather patterns of the Western Hemisphere. When you plan a ski holiday in Japan, there’s little reason to check the snow report other than to get excited for your upcoming trip. In Japan, the snow is plentiful and dependable. This winter has been no exception.
In early December, both Niseko and Hakuba started the season covered in snow. Since then, there have been huge dumps of powder that have left skiers feeling giddy. In early January, Niseko received 68 cm overnight, while Hakuba saw a 60 cm overnight dump in the middle of the month.
When you’re planning your ski holiday, consistency is just as important as quantity. The annual snowfall in Niseko averages around 15 metres, while Hakuba receives around 11 metres a year. While North American and European resorts have been left scrambling amid volatile ski conditions, Niseko and Hakuba have consistently recorded amazing snowfall. In fact, both resorts have seen some of their best seasons on record in recent years – who could forget Niseko’s epic powder in 2020/2021? No wonder CNN named Hokkaido one of its safest bets for snowy slopes.
During the past decade, Niseko has consistently recorded at least 10 metres of snow annually. The only exception was the 2016/2017 ski season when the resort “only” received 9.56 metres of snow – still more than double what European resorts typically see in a year.
During that same period, Europe has seen its winters getting shorter and its snow coverage diminishing. Snow conditions in revered resorts like St. Moritz and Chamonix have become inconsistent. In 2019/2020, Chamonix received over 5 metres of snow while the next season, the resort only welcomed 1.5 metres. Researchers predict that moving forward, half of Europe’s resorts will face significant snow shortage every other year.
The Finest Snow on the Planet
It’s not just the amount of snow that makes skiing in Japan so special. The quality of Japanese snow really can’t be exaggerated. Japan is ideally positioned to receive cold air coming in from Siberia, with the Sea of Japan adding moisture along the way. This guarantees a steady influx of snow and in Niseko, it snows practically every day during winter.
The country’s unique geography also results in some of the finest, driest powder on the planet that’s aptly described as champagne powder. Niseko’s snow has the perfect consistency as it contains over 90% of trapped air and has a water content of just around 5%. To really seal the deal, the area’s temperature averages around -8°c during winter. These frosty temperatures allow the snow to maintain its fluffy, powdery texture.
Riding Japanese powder at least once has become a bucket list item for skiers across the globe. Even visitors from Utah, an area that prides itself as having “the greatest snow on earth”, are routinely blown away by the fluffy piles of pure white snow we call JAPOW.
And there you have it:
Quantity? Check.
Quality? Check.
Consistency? Check.
What Are You Waiting For?
Now that we’ve convinced you that Japan really has it all, here are some resources to help you plan your next ski holiday:
