The Japan Ski Season Has Started in the Best Style in Ten Years.
The ski season in Japan has kicked off with the best conditions we’ve seen in a long time! It’s very early in the winter and there is already a base of over two meters at the top of the Niseko Grand Hirafu resort. So far in this season over three meters of snow has fallen accumulatively.
In Hakuba the lifts have also started turning on a substantial base. Close to a meter of snow has fallen there this season, in comparison to this time last year when the slopes were practically dry. Moderate to heavy snowfall is on the forecast this week for Japanese resorts so the season is only going to get better and better. And quickly!
Both Niseko and Hakuba are famous for their incredibly snowy winters. Niseko, which is located in the south-west of Japan’s northern island, Hokkaido, receives 14 meters snowfall on average per season. Hakuba, which is located in the Nagano prefecture, receives around 10 meters per season. Despite the fact that they’re used to heavy snowfall, locals in Niseko are excited about the early season surprise. According to Sachiko Claydon who works at Rhythm Snowsports, a ski and snowboard store with locations in both Niseko and Hakuba…“It is exciting to see this much snow at this time of year! It is a great chance for staff to go skiing and snowboarding before it gets busy. And it means great vibes for the town.”
The season in Japan normally runs from November until the snow starts to disappear in early May. Typically, the biggest months for snow are January and February. Niseko’s proximity to the frozen plains of Siberia means it’s a direct recipient of a freezing north-west airstream that brings with it the kind of super dry powder skiers and snowboarders dream about. The Hakuba Valley is home to ten resorts, nestled amid the Japan Alps. The sharp, soaring peaks of these Alps are reminiscent of the Dolomites in Italy or the Canadian Rockies. Both resorts are well known for offering some of the best skiing and snowboarding conditions in the world, and it looks like ski season 2017 / 2018 will be up there with the very best.
