First Snow Has Fallen – Japan’s Resorts Are Waking Up!
As the mountains across the Northern Hemisphere are starting to disappear under a blanket of snow, ski enthusiasts around the world are starting to dust off their gear, in preparation for those first powder turns!
Japan is leading the charge this week, with Nozawa and Hakuba stealing the spotlight. The winter season is kicking off this week, with resorts like Nozawa Onsen and Hakuba stealing the spotlight. Some lucky locals have already scored early-season Japow.
Some higher elevation slopes have already seen up to 60cm of fresh snow. Lifts are about to start spinning next week, and there’s more snow on the forecast – so let’s take a look at what’s happening across Japan’s top resorts.
Nozawa Onsen – Early-Season Powder Hits
This little village has been flexing its snow muscles over the past few days. The early-season dumps have been nothing short of epic, with higher elevations getting up to 60cm in just 48 hours.
It’s fluffy, quality powder too! Check out this video from @nozawaski!
The village itself is looking beautifully wintery, and lifts are set to start spinning next week (29th November). If you’re planning some early-season Japan skiing, Nozawa has been one of the most in-demand resorts, so now’s the time to lock in your trip.
Hakuba – First Snow and Fresh Japow
In the heart of the Japanese Alps, Hakuba has welcomed its first snowfall of the season. What began as a light dusting quickly turned into 30-40cm of fresh powder up on the mountains, with around 10cm settling in the villages.
Take a look at the latest snowy reel from Hakuba.com here!
The Hakuba season is all set to kick off from Monday 1 December, and we are so ready for it! There’s still time to lock in a Hakuba stay, including the new Mizuho Studios, with availability throughout the season.
Niseko – Primed and Ready
Snow has been falling on and off in Niseko since early November, but the resort saw its biggest early-season dump on 18 November: 10cm in the village and up to 30cm on the upper slopes.
Check out some November snowy scenes in the latest reel by Experience Niseko here.
Myoko Kogen – One of Japan’s Snowiest Zones Kicks Off Strong
One of Japan’s snowiest regions, Myoko Kogen, has picked up 30cm of fresh snow. Check out this video documenting the first snowfall in the Village by Matt Guy.
Myoko’s season starts a little later than the others in this blog, with Akakura Onsen, Suginohara, and Ikenotara Onsen spinning from Saturday 13 December.
Grasshopper’s Latest Japan Snow Outlook
The forecast is in, and it’s looking very promising! Early signs point to an above-average snow season, and as you can see, things are already kicking off nice and early. A developing La Niña suggests Japan could see more early season snow than usual, making this an exciting start to the winter.
Dive into the full outlook below, and stay tuned to Mountainwatch for snow reports, forecasts, and all the updates throughout the season.
View Grasshopper's Latest Japan Season Outlook
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It’s not too late to get amongst!
Japan’s resorts are waking up, the lifts are about to get spinning, and the early-season powder is already piling up. While availability is getting tight, our experienced team can still help you find spots across most resorts.
Not sure which resort is right for you, or want personalised options for your group? Click the button below for an online quote and get that snorkel ready!
