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 [...]

There’s truly something for everyone in Hakuba. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Japanese Alps, Hakuba Ski Resort is one of Japan’s standout alpine destinations. With deep, consistent powder, expansive terrain, and [...]

Mountainwatch |The Grasshopper Welcome back new and regular guests to our Japanese Seasonal Outlooks. With the weather in the southern hemisphere getting warmer and the northern hemisphere getting cooler it’s time to look ahead [...]

After a huge edition in 2025, Snow Machine is officially heading back to Japan in 2026 – and the frosty festival favourite is shaping up to be even bigger this time around. Held in the breathtaking Hakuba Valley, Snow Machin [...]

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 se [...]

Yet another snowfall record to add to this season! A few inches of snow can bring cities to a standstill, imagine what happens when more than 4 feet of snow falls in just 12 hours! That’s exactly what hit Obihiro, a city on the [...]

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… …for shredders across Japan, as ski resorts nationwide are off to an absolute flyer! While Niseko continues to make headlines with their heaviest snowfall in decades, Honshuâ [...]

Calico restaurant, the heartbeat of Bali’s surf scene, is set to blaze a trail of good times with the grand openings of two new locations in Japan’s snowboarder paradise – and just in time for winter. Following t [...]

The snow gods are fickle creatures. When they bring the goods they bring the goods, but when they don’t, things become dire. We pray and we postulate and it comes; it always does. But it’s different every year and despite [...]

Hakuba is a winter destination known worldwide for its top-tier ski slopes. And, while the skiing facilities in Hakuba are extraordinary, the region’s appeal extends well beyond its snow-pounded mountains. Hakuba’s bre [...]

Japan offers some of the best snow in the world, but it offers a whole lot more as well. Here’s why you need to travel to Japan.  When most people think of skiing in Japan they think of Niseko or Hakuba, however, there are [...]

It’s been a slower December than usual across Japan in terms of snowfall, but there have been plenty of moments worth capturing. While we haven’t seen consistent snowfall to have all lifts running in Hakuba, the upper [...]