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Deep Snow Within Reach of a City

Every ski area on earth that gets at least 300 cm a season, ranked by how close it sits to a city of 200,000 people or more. 64 of the top 100 are in Japan.

Closest of all
IIZUNA HIGASHI KOGEN RESORT
Its distance
10.2km
Japan in the top 100
64

Why distance to a city matters

Ski trips in North America and Europe share a shape. You land, rent a car, drive one to three hours into the mountains, and arrive at a village that exists only because of the resort. Six restaurants, resort prices, and no city.

Japan does not work that way. Sapporo Kokusai Skiing Resort gets 331 cm a season 21.8 km from central Sapporo, a city of 2.5 million. Togakushi — 553 cm, world rank 61 for snowfall — sits 12.3 km from Nagano. You can ski until the lifts close and be eating in a city an hour later.

This matters in four concrete ways. A non-skiing partner has somewhere to be. You are not trapped by one mountain's conditions — change plan in the morning and take a train. Food costs what food costs, because the restaurants compete with a whole city rather than each other. And you do not have to drive on snow, which removes the single most dangerous part of most ski trips.

Top 100 by country

64 Japan 16 Switzerland 12 France 3 Canada 3 Norway 1 United States 1 Chile
Rank Resort Nearest city Distance Snowfall Distance from the city (0–50 km)
1 IIZUNA HIGASHI KOGEN RESORT Nagano Nagano 594k 10.2km 357 02550
2 Kanazawa Municipal Ski Resort Ishikawa Kanazawa 551k 10.7km 314 02550
3 Grouse Mountain Vancouver 2.3M 12.1km 631 02550
4 Togakushi Ski Area Nagano Nagano 594k 12.3km 553 02550
5 Moya Hills Aomori Aomori 298k 12.6km 339 02550
6 Cypress Mountain Vancouver 2.3M 13.9km 314 02550
7 Domaine Skiable Chamrousse Grenoble 389k 15.3km 339 02550
8 IOX-AROSA Toyama Kanazawa 551k 16.2km 314 02550
9 Mt Seymour Vancouver 2.3M 16.7km 573 02550
10 Iwate Kogen Snow Park Iwate Morioka 295k 18.1km 332 02550
11 Hakkoda Kokusai Ski Area Aomori Aomori 298k 19.5km 371 02550
12 Kurohime Kogen Nagano Nagano 594k 19.5km 432 02550
13 Shizukuishi Ski Resort Iwate Morioka 295k 19.5km 358 02550
14 Amihari Onsen Ski Resort Iwate Morioka 295k 20.5km 358 02550
15 Klewenalp - Stockhütte Luzern 250k 20.8km 319 02550
16 Kuriko International Ski & Resort Yamagata Fukushima 294k 21km 333 02550
17 L'Alpe du Grand Serre Grenoble 389k 21.6km 334 02550
18 Sapporo Kokusai Skiing Resort Hokkaido Sapporo 2.5M 21.8km 331 02550
19 Domaine de Beldina Grenoble 389k 22.3km 303 02550
20 Hachimantai Resort Panorama Ski Are Iwate Morioka 295k 22.4km 329 02550
21 Tateyama Sanroku Ski Area Toyama Toyama 333k 22.8km 682 02550
22 Bannalp Luzern 250k 23.3km 339 02550
23 Asahi Shizenkan Snow Park Yamagata Yamagata 272k 23.5km 419 02550
24 Gitschenen – Isenthal Luzern 250k 23.8km 319 02550
25 Awasuno Ski Area Toyama Toyama 333k 23.8km 425 02550
26 Tangram Madarao Ski Circus Nagano Nagano 594k 23.8km 432 02550
27 Mount Rose Ski Tahoe Reno 329k 24.1km 319 02550
28 Madarao Kogen Mountain Resort Niigata Nagano 594k 24.2km 432 02550
29 Myoko Suginohara Niigata Nagano 594k 24.4km 357 02550
30 Hakusan Senjo Onsen Seymour Ski Area Ishikawa Kanazawa 551k 24.7km 507 02550
31 Hachimantai Resort Shimokura Ski area Iwate Morioka 295k 25.3km 329 02550
32 Les 7 Laux Grenoble 389k 25.4km 328 02550
33 Engelberg-Brunni Luzern 250k 25.6km 339 02550
34 Yomase Onsen Ski Area Nagano Nagano 594k 26.5km 327 02550
35 Akakura Kanko Ski Resort Niigata Nagano 594k 26.8km 445 02550
36 Kurobushi Kogen Snow Park Jangle Jungle Yamagata Yamagata 272k 26.9km 302 02550
37 Akakura Onsen Ski Area Niigata Nagano 594k 27.4km 445 02550
38 Col d'Ornon Grenoble 389k 27.6km 326 02550
39 X-JAM Takaifuji Nagano Nagano 594k 27.6km 568 02550
40 Kijimadaira Ski Resort Nagano Nagano 594k 28km 349 02550
41 Hakuba Goryu & Hakuba47 Nagano Nagano 594k 28.2km 414 02550
42 Kiroro Resort Hokkaido Sapporo 2.5M 28.2km 331 02550
43 Seki Onsen Ski Area Niigata Nagano 594k 28.5km 689 02550
44 Mörlialp Luzern 250k 28.7km 306 02550
45 Kyukamura Myoko Niigata Nagano 594k 29km 445 02550
46 L’Essert – Abondance Lausanne 266k 29.4km 360 02550
47 Hakuba Cortina Nagano Nagano 594k 29.4km 635 02550
48 Shiga Kogen Kumanoyu Ski Area Nagano Nagano 594k 29.4km 333 02550
49 Tengendai Kogen Yamagata Fukushima 294k 29.4km 379 02550
50 Alpe d'Huez Grand Domaine Grenoble 389k 29.8km 423 02550
51 Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort Nagano Nagano 594k 29.8km 635 02550
52 Hakuba Sanosaka Snow Resort Nagano Nagano 594k 29.9km 415 02550
53 Stoos Luzern 250k 30km 330 02550
54 Engelberg-Titlis Luzern 250k 30.1km 411 02550
55 Hakuba Iwatake Nagano Nagano 594k 30.1km 668 02550
56 Kitashiga Komaruyama Ski Resort Nagano Nagano 594k 30.1km 327 02550
57 Bygdastølen skiskytterstadion Bergen 214k 30.2km 394 02550
58 Domaine du Barioz Grenoble 389k 30.3km 303 02550
59 Grandeco Snow Resort Fukushima Fukushima 294k 30.3km 379 02550
60 Hakuba Happo-One Nagano Nagano 594k 30.3km 414 02550
61 Melchsee-Frutt Luzern 250k 30.4km 401 02550
62 Ryuoo Ski Park Nagano Nagano 594k 30.5km 405 02550
63 Shiga Kogen Yokoteyama Ski Area Nagano Nagano 594k 30.7km 333 02550
64 Tsugaike Kogen Nagano Nagano 594k 30.8km 668 02550
65 Kashimayari Snow Resort Nagano Nagano 594k 30.9km 449 02550
66 Stade des Neiges du Barioz Grenoble 389k 31km 303 02550
67 Shinshu-Matsumoto Nomugitoge Ski Resort Nagano Matsumoto 225k 31km 318 02550
68 Tazawako Ski Resort Akita Morioka 295k 31.1km 318 02550
69 Hakuba 47 Nagano Nagano 594k 31.2km 668 02550
70 Brunni-Holzegg-Rotenflue Luzern 250k 31.5km 330 02550
71 Fuyudorigoe Ski Garden Niigata Niigata 570k 31.8km 302 02550
72 Shiga Kogen Higashidateyama Ski Area Nagano Nagano 594k 32km 333 02550
73 Shiga Kogen Ichinose Yamanokami Ski Area Nagano Nagano 594k 32km 333 02550
74 Plateau des Glières Geneva 1.2M 32.1km 332 02550
75 Shiga Kogen Shibutoge Ski Area Gunma Nagano 594k 32.2km 333 02550
76 Appi Kogen Iwate Morioka 295k 32.3km 377 02550
77 Eikedalen skisenter Bergen 214k 32.4km 693 02550
78 Espace Liberté Lausanne 266k 32.5km 360 02550
79 Espace Liberté Lausanne 266k 32.5km 360 02550
80 Shiga Kogen Ichinose Family Ski Area Nagano Nagano 594k 32.7km 333 02550
81 Eggberge Luzern 250k 32.8km 369 02550
82 Shiga Kogen Terakoya Ski Area Nagano Nagano 594k 33km 333 02550
83 Shiga Kogen Yakebitaiyama Ski Area Nagano Nagano 594k 33.2km 333 02550
84 Centro de Ski Chapa Verde Rancagua 233k 33.4km 332 02550
85 Brüsti – Attinghausen Luzern 250k 33.5km 378 02550
86 Hanagasa Kogen Ski Area Yamagata Yamagata 272k 33.5km 321 02550
87 SAM Hakusan Ichirino Ski Resort Ishikawa Kanazawa 551k 33.7km 526 02550
88 Meiringen-Hasliberg Luzern 250k 34km 399 02550
89 Shiga Kogen Okushiga Kogen Ski Area Nagano Nagano 594k 34.2km 333 02550
90 グランドサンピア猪苗代リゾートスキー場 Fukushima Koriyama 341k 34.4km 325 02550
91 Leysin Lausanne 266k 34.5km 318 02550
92 Jiigatake Snow Resort Nagano Nagano 594k 34.7km 449 02550
93 Blue Resort Norikura Nagano Matsumoto 225k 35.6km 317 02550
94 Skilifte Ibergeregg Luzern 250k 35.7km 330 02550
95 Furedalen alpin Bergen 214k 35.7km 592 02550
96 Le Reposoir Chalet Neuf Geneva 1.2M 36.1km 343 02550
97 Asahidake Hokkaido Asahikawa 357k 36.5km 388 02550
98 Biel-Kinzig Luzern 250k 36.7km 373 02550
99 Urabandai Ski Resort Fukushima Koriyama 341k 36.7km 347 02550
100 Togari Onsen Ski Resort Nagano Nagano 594k 37.3km 450 02550
101 Hirayu Onsen Ski Area Gifu Matsumoto 225k 37.4km 384 02550
102 Matsumori Ski Area Akita Akita 320k 37.5km 351 02550
103 Aktiven skiheis Bergen 214k 37.6km 634 02550
104 ARAI SNOW RESORT Niigata Nagano 594k 37.8km 663 02550
105 La Forclaz VD Lausanne 266k 38km 318 02550
106 Lagunillas Santiago San Bernardo 247k 38.2km 307 02550
107 Le Grand Bornand Geneva 1.2M 38.3km 343 02550
108 Snowpark Geneva 1.2M 38.3km 343 02550
109 Mikawa Onsen Niigata Niigata 570k 38.6km 363 02550
110 Ninox Snow Park Niigata Niigata 570k 38.6km 567 02550
111 Champéry – Les Crosets – Champoussin – Morgins Lausanne 266k 38.7km 361 02550
112 Iwakisan Hyakuzawa Ski Resort Aomori Aomori 298k 38.7km 324 02550
113 Hoch-Ybrig Luzern 250k 38.8km 330 02550
114 Onogawa Onsen Yamagata Fukushima 294k 39.1km 314 02550
115 Ratzi – Spiringen Luzern 250k 39.2km 354 02550
116 Aomori Spring Resort Aomori Aomori 298k 39.2km 324 02550
117 Nozawa Onsen Nagano Nagano 594k 39.2km 450 02550
118 Nekoma Mountain Fukushima Koriyama 341k 39.3km 347 02550
119 Mount Gassan Ski Resort Yamagata Yamagata 272k 39.5km 655 02550
120 Grimmialp Bern 275k 39.7km 315 02550
121 Akita Hachimantai Ski Area Akita Morioka 295k 39.7km 437 02550
122 Charmant Hiuchi Snow Resort Niigata Nagano 594k 39.8km 690 02550
123 Le Collet d'Allevard Grenoble 389k 39.9km 337 02550
124 Itoigawa Seaside Valley Ski Resort Niigata Nagano 594k 40km 703 02550
125 Les Deux Alpes Grenoble 389k 40.3km 419 02550
126 Norn Minakami Gunma Maebashi 345k 40.7km 368 02550
127 Les Sybelles Grenoble 389k 41.1km 413 02550
128 Northstar at Tahoe Resort Reno 329k 41.2km 390 02550
129 Axalp ob Brienz Luzern 250k 41.3km 396 02550
130 Tainai Ski and Snowboard area Niigata Niigata 570k 41.7km 629 02550
131 Les Giettes Lausanne 266k 42km 309 02550
132 Tenoko Ski Area Yamagata Yamagata 272k 42.2km 312 02550
133 Stade de Slalom Geneva 1.2M 42.3km 343 02550
134 Villars/Gryon/Les Diablerets Lausanne 266k 42.9km 336 02550
135 Kawaba Ski Resort Gunma Maebashi 345k 43km 423 02550
136 Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area Reno 329k 43.1km 519 02550
137 Tambara Ski Park Gunma Maebashi 345k 43.4km 423 02550
138 La Clusaz Geneva 1.2M 43.6km 326 02550
139 Honokidaira Ski Area Gifu Matsumoto 225k 43.7km 354 02550
140 Kuzuryu Ski Resort Fukui Fukui 249k 44km 300 02550
141 Dakota Ridge Recreation Site Vancouver 2.3M 44.2km 574 02550
142 Fukui Izumi Ski Resort Fukui Fukui 249k 44.5km 315 02550
143 Daisetsuzan Sounkyo Kurodake Ski Area Hokkaido Asahikawa 357k 44.8km 396 02550
144 Ani Ski Resort (Mt. Moriyoshi) Akita Akita 320k 45.5km 370 02550
145 Elsigen-Metsch Bern 275k 45.8km 330 02550
146 Gstaad - Saanen - Rougemont Lausanne 266k 45.9km 318 02550
147 White Valley Ski Area Gunma Maebashi 345k 45.9km 368 02550
148 Le Chazelet Grenoble 389k 46.3km 360 02550
149 Adelboden - TschentenAlp Bern 275k 46.8km 371 02550
150 Rellerli – Schönried Bern 275k 47.2km 318 02550

cm/season

How this was measured, and what it cannot tell you

Only ski areas averaging at least 300 cm a season are included. Ranking a dry hill near a big city would defeat the point.

Distances are straight-line, not travel time. A mountain pass between the two will make the real journey considerably longer. Read these as an indication of proximity, not a timetable.

Cities come from Natural Earth populated places (public domain), filtered to 200,000 residents and above. Snowfall is the twelve-season average described on our snowfall ranking; the model grid is 10–30 km across, so neighbouring resorts share a value.

Calculated: 2026-09-28

These snowfall figures are estimates

The snowfall shown here is an estimate produced by a weather model, not a record of what actually fell.

We compared it against 63 Japan Meteorological Agency weather stations to see how far off it is. On average it comes to about six tenths of the real figure — it runs low. And it runs low by different amounts in different places: some read barely a third of what was measured, others match almost exactly. Mountains tend to read lowest.

We tried scaling everything up by a fixed amount to correct for it. It barely helped, because the error differs from place to place.

So treat these numbers as a guide to roughly where somewhere sits, not a precise figure. There is no meaning in the gap between first and second, or between 30th and 35th. Large differences between regions are real and can be read as they are.

We considered correcting the figures against the observations. But this ranking covers 3,069 ski areas across ten countries, and only Japan can be checked against weather stations. Correcting Japan alone would lift Japanese resorts above the Alps and North America with nothing behind it. Every place here is measured the same way instead.

Where a nearby weather station can be used, we print what it actually recorded on that ski area's own page.