From Hokkaido to Honshu: Japan’s 2024/25 Season in Review
If you thought Japan’s ski magic had peaked in recent years – think again. The 2024/25 winter season has been nothing short of legendary, with record-breaking snowfall painting the country white from Hokkaido to Honshu.
Whether you were chasing deep powder in the far north or cruising tree runs in the Alps, this season delivered consistent, reliable snow that left both locals and seasoned powder hounds in awe.
Henry (@late2wenty) nailed it capturing the absolute magic of Hakuba’s record-breaking season!
Deepest December in Decades!
December kicked off the season with a bang, blanketing multiple prefectures in the heaviest snowfall seen in decades. Check out our past blogs on Niseko here and Hakuba here. Some highlights included:
- Niseko (Hokkaido) recorded an impressive 311cm of snow in December, its best start in 68 years.
- Kutchan Town (Hokkaido) experienced a massive 145cm of snow in just one day, on December 17, 2024.
- Hakuba (Nagano) smashed records in December, reaching a 10-year high for early season snowfall, and delivering the deepest powder in over a decade!
Mid-Season Madness!
Classic Japow days stacked up across the country, from Hakuba Valley to Myoko Kogen, creating scenes pulled straight from a powder dream! For a moment, the sun dared to break through mid-January, offering a rare glimpse of bluebird serenity before winter slammed the door shut again in February.
Some of the highlights included multiple new snowfall records across the country:
- A powerful cold front swept through in early February, dropping over 120cm of snow in 48 hours across Joetsu (Niigata) and Shirakawa (Gifu). It was a gift for powder seekers, though the heavy snowfall also shut down roads and disrupted transport throughout the region.
- Even quieter areas like Obihiro (eastern Hokkaido) made headlines with 129cm of snow in just 12 hours, setting a brand-new snowfall record for the country!
Spring Slopes Still Served Snow
March may have flirted with spring, but Japan wasn’t ready to let go. Powder days kept sneaking in across Nagano and Hokkaido well past the equinox.
In Hakuba and Niseko, Snow Machine Festival brought the beats – and the blizzards. Massive dumps hit both resorts as festival-goers danced among the Ja-POWDER flakes, grooving to their favorite artists on the slopes!
In Niseko, the Rhythm Rail Jam brought a vibe to the snow, but it was the sheer volume of snow still lurking in the trees that stole the show in March! And get this – some resorts (Annupuri) are still spinning lifts as we speak – in LATE APRIL. That’s the kind of season we’ve had!
Our Spring highlights, which were also highlighted in this blog.
- Up north, Tengendai Kogen (Yamagata) hit a 7-metre snow base in March, the deepest in the world – nearly double the global average.
- Happo One (Hakuba) wasn’t too far behind, with a base over 6 metres (640cm) which forced the closure of a few of the top lifts.
And the totals….
This season, Japan crushed records with insane snow totals and consistent conditions all the way through. Resorts across the country saw snowfall totals between 12 and 13 metres – numbers most ski resorts would dream of, but here, they’re just considered “slightly above-average.”
Already dreaming of those first face shots of 2025/26?
Us too. With Japan well and truly reclaiming its throne as the global king of powder, resorts are already rolling out Early Bird offers, with buzz about lift upgrades, expanded terrain, and more. Missed out this year? Don’t make the same mistake twice. Japan just had one of its wildest winters ever, and we’re pumped to do it all over again.
We’d love to help plan your next adventure to the snow. We have a great range of Early Bird Deals already live, and all of our packages are fully customisable to fit your needs. . Check out our packages here, or hit the button below to connect with one of our travel specialists for a quote.
