397 Japanese ski areas, measured the same way
Until the first ski area in Japan opens
11 days
Browse ski areas in Japan Snowfall rankings
46/100 What is JAPOW?46 of the world’s 100 snowiest ski areas are in Japan. See it on video.Okutadami Maruyama Ski Resort 765 cm
One bar per ski area, by snowfall in a normal season.
Madarao Kogen ski area, Nagano — photo by the site operator, December 2024
| Region | Areas | Season (median)Season | Snowiest | First to open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hokkaido | 85 | 211cm | Mashike Choei Shokanbetsudake416cm | 20 NovSapporo Kokusai Skiing Resort |
| Tohoku | 89 | 296cm | Mount Gassan655cm | 6 DecAppi Kogen |
| Hokuriku | 76 | 446cm | Okutadami Maruyama765cm | 11 DecKandatsu Kogen |
| Kanto-Koshin | 92 | 252cm | Hakuba 47668cm | 31 OctPrince Hotels and Resorts Karuizawa |
| Tokai, Kinki | 21 | 187cm | Yogo Kogen Resort249cm | 23 OctFujiyama Snow Resort Yeti |
| West | 29 | 115cm | Wakasa Hyonosen205cm | not yet |
Snowfall is the average season over the last 12 (weather-model estimate). Opening dates are those confirmed on official sites.
The next openings, from the 28 resorts whose dates we have checked on their official sites.
An opening date is the resort’s plan. It moves with the snow. Checked: .
Opening dates, and whether there will be snow → All opening dates →
Where it falls
We measured snowfall at all 3,069 ski areas on earth the same way. The top two both shut in winter because they get too much snow: a Norwegian glacier at 783 cm that opens in May, and Okutadami Maruyama in Niigata at 765 cm. 46 of the top 100 are Japanese.
No snow marks yet. The dots are ski areas; once it starts snowing, places with 3cm+ in 48 hours get a mark.
Tap the map to zoom in there · once resorts are spread out, tap one for details · drag to pan · pinch or scroll to zoom
Ski areas in Japan scored on today’s snow.
No ski area in Japan has had 3 cm or more in the last 48 hours.
Japanese ski areas ordered by snowfall in an average winter, over twelve winters.
| Ski area | Typical snowfall | Lowest winter | Highest winter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Okutadami Maruyama Ski Resort Niigata | 765 cm | 381 cm | 989 cm |
| 2 | Muikamachi Hakkaisan Niigata | 728 cm | 313 cm | 974 cm |
| 3 | Iwappara Niigata | 712 cm | 328 cm | 921 cm |
| 4 | Nakazato Snow Wood Ski Area Niigata | 712 cm | 328 cm | 921 cm |
| 5 | Yuzawa Nakazato Ski Resort Niigata | 712 cm | 328 cm | 921 cm |
| 6 | Yuzawa Park Ski Resort Niigata | 712 cm | 328 cm | 921 cm |
| 7 | Itoigawa Seaside Valley Ski Resort Niigata | 703 cm | 388 cm | 849 cm |
| 8 | Ippon Sugi Ski Resort Niigata | 695 cm | 328 cm | 983 cm |
| 9 | Ishiuchi Hanaoka Ski Area Niigata | 695 cm | 328 cm | 983 cm |
| 10 | Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort Niigata | 695 cm | 328 cm | 983 cm |
| 11 | Joetsu International Niigata | 695 cm | 328 cm | 983 cm |
| 12 | Maiko Snow Resort Niigata | 695 cm | 328 cm | 983 cm |
Twelve seasons of snowfall measured against how widely each place is known.
See every secret →Niigata
Season average728cm/season
Niigata
Season average703cm/season
Toyama
Season average682cm/season
Nagano
Season average635cm/season
Nagano
Season average635cm/season
Fukushima
Season average482cm/season
Ishikawa
Season average526cm/season
Ishikawa
Season average507cm/season
How well known a resort is comes from the number of Wikipedia language editions. Once the season starts this switches to live video buzz.
Updated daily · 12 Oct 2026, 09:34
