Asia Weekly Roundup #279
Updated February 5, 2025: Japan hits record snowfall with 5m (200”) bases and waist-deep powder, and heavy snow continues across the mountains this week.
A Week For The Records: 5m Base Depth, Waist-Deep Powder And More Snow Ahead
- Japan Sees Record-Breaking Snowfall: 5m+ Base Depth in Niigata’s Arai
- Niseko Reports Waist-Deep Snow and All Runs Open
- Hakuba’s Happo One Joins the 4m+ Club Amidst Epic Snowfall
- Snowstorm Frenzy: Japan’s Ski Resorts to See Daily 10-30cm Fresh Powder
- Japan’s Mountains Keep Delivering: More Heavy Snow on the Way
JAPAN REPORT
It has been an amazing week of huge snowfalls in Japan, with some centres posting over a metre (40”) of snowfall. Some areas in the north of the country are reporting record-breaking snowfall quantities, even by Japan’s normally snowy standards. After seeing the first areas in the world surpass the 4m base-depth mark a month ago, Japan has now recorded its first ski area with a 5m+ upper slope base depth. Niigata Prefecture’s Arai (500/500cm / 200/200”) near Myoko was the first to exceed 5m (200”). The number of Japanese ski areas with more than 4m base depths has also increased, with Hakuba’s Happo One (425/425cm / 170/170”) among the best known. Niseko (115/275cm / 46/110”) reports all runs open, as well as waist-deep fresh snow.
JAPAN FORECAST
Heavy snowfall is set to continue across Japan’s mountains over the coming week. The very intense snowfall of the past week is expected to persist for a few more days. After that, snowfall is forecast to continue at a lighter but steady rate, with daily accumulations averaging 10-30cm (4-12”) through next week.
