Until quite recently, skiing in Japan, and the amazing conditions and facilities available for skiing in Japan, was a secret to all but a few outside Japan. Now, the secret is out, and avid skiiers from all over the world are recognising all that skiing in Japan has to offer.

Snow Conditions

The first snowfall of the season usually arrives in the north in November and the majority of resorts are able to open in the month of December, meaning that a White Christmas is almost guaranteed in the mountains of Japan.

Another impressive feature of the Japanese snow season is the huge quantities of snow that fall - some resorts during the peak season report a snow depth of 6 or 7 meters.
So reliable are the snowfalls that if you are in Japan during the period January to mid-March, you are almost guaranteed excellent snow conditions.

Snowboarding in Japan

Snowboarding arrived in Japan in the early 90's and at first only a few ski resorts allowed snowboarders on their slopes. That quickly changed as snowboarding became as fashionable as skiing - generally the number of skiers and snowboarders on the slopes is even.

Skiing and snowboarding in Japan is actually relatively inexpensive when compared to other countries. For example, a one-day lift ticket will typically cost around 4000-4500 yen, sometimes cheaper, and many resorts now also offer a large range of tickets including half-day, multi-day and season passes. Ski and snowboard equipment, as well as ski and snowboard wear, is also available at all areas in the Hakuba Valley.