Japan Hits 7 Metres (23 Feet) of Snow—One of the Deepest Bases in Years!
With over 7 metres of snow, Japan sets a new milestone, claiming the world’s deepest snow base in recent years and double the global average for the year!
The 2024/2025 ski season in Japan has been nothing short of epic, with several ski areas reporting record-breaking snow depths at every stage throughout the season.
This week, Tengendai Kogen Ski Area near Yonezawa City in Yamagata Prefecture made headlines by reporting a snow depth of 7.2 meters (nearly 24 feet), marking the deepest snowfall recorded at any ski area worldwide in recent years.
Even in a country renowned for heavy snowfall, the sheer volume of snow this season has taken both locals and visitors by surprise.
As of late February, snow depths in some areas have surpassed 20 feet, doubling the global average for the year. These monumental snowfalls are challenging existing records, offering unreal conditions for skiing and snowboarding.
Incredible conditions from the very start!
Since late November, wave after wave of intense winter weather has slammed Japan, creating incredible riding conditions in its snow-heavy regions.
The season got off to a great start, with Niseko recording its best December in 68 years and Hakuba experiencing the best early-season snowfall in over a decade.
Hakuba’s Happo One ski area, now with a base of over 6 metres (640m), has seen phenomenal snowfall throughout the entire winter.
And to top it all off, January saw a new snowfall record for Hokkaido, with 129cm of snow falling in just 12 hours.
The heavy snowfall this season can largely be attributed to the La Niña climate system, which has been influencing weather patterns across the Pacific.
This has created the perfect conditions for skiers and snowboarders, drawing international attention and solidifying Japan’s reputation as a premier winter sports destination.
Why & How Does Japan Experience Such Heavy Snowfall?
Japan experiences consistent and heavy snowfall year-on-year due to a perfect mix of geography and weather patterns.
The heaviest snow falls on the western side of the country, in an area known as “Snow Country” (Yukiguni).
The secret lies in the warm ocean current that flows along the Sea of Japan, keeping the waters relatively warm even in winter. As this warmth meets the frigid Siberian air mass, it creates thick clouds heavy with moisture.
These clouds are then carried inland by strong winds and release their snowfall when they collide with Japan’s towering mountain ranges.
What’s in store for the remainder of the season?
A relatively stormy pattern will continue in Japan into early March, with a storm in the first week expected to bring close to 1 metre of snow in just a couple of days.
Several low-pressure areas will swing by, delivering new rounds of snow to favoured regions during early March.
Make sure to check out the weekly Grasshopper forecasts here, to keep up to date with the forecasts for the rest of the season.
