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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. 72 of the top 100 are in Japan.

Closest of all
IIZUNA HIGASHI KOGEN RESORT
Its distance
10.2km
Japan in the top 100
72

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. There is a ski area getting 304 cm a season 18.6 km from central Sapporo, a city of 2.5 million. Togakushi — 597 cm, world rank 38 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

72 🇯🇵 Japan 11 🇨🇭 Switzerland 9 🇫🇷 France 3 🇳🇴 Norway 3 🇨🇱 Chile 2 🇨🇦 Canada
Rank Resort Nearest city Distance Snowfall
1 IIZUNA HIGASHI KOGEN RESORT 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 10.2km 374
2 Kanazawa Municipal Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Ishikawa Kanazawa 551k 10.7km 320
3 Grouse Mountain 🇨🇦 Canada Vancouver 2.3M 12.1km 591
4 Togakushi Ski Area 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 12.3km 597
5 Moya Hills 🇯🇵 Aomori Aomori 298k 12.6km 418
6 Domaine Skiable Chamrousse 🇫🇷 France Grenoble 389k 15.3km 353
7 IOX-AROSA 🇯🇵 Toyama Kanazawa 551k 16.2km 320
8 Mt Seymour 🇨🇦 Canada Vancouver 2.3M 16.7km 591
9 Iwate Kogen Snow Park 🇯🇵 Iwate Morioka 295k 18.1km 357
10 Snowcruse ONZE 🇯🇵 Hokkaido Sapporo 2.5M 18.6km 304
11 Adatara Kogen Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Fukushima Fukushima 294k 18.8km 311
12 Hakkoda Kokusai Ski Area 🇯🇵 Aomori Aomori 298k 19.5km 445
13 Kurohime Kogen 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 19.5km 466
14 Shizukuishi Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Iwate Morioka 295k 19.5km 386
15 Amihari Onsen Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Iwate Morioka 295k 20.5km 386
16 Kase Ski Area 🇯🇵 Aomori Aomori 298k 20.5km 319
17 Yokomuki Onsen Ski Area 🇯🇵 Fukushima Fukushima 294k 20.7km 311
18 Klewenalp - Stockhütte 🇨🇭 Switzerland Luzern 250k 20.8km 319
19 Kuriko International Ski & Resort 🇯🇵 Yamagata Fukushima 294k 21km 400
20 Minowa Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Fukushima Fukushima 294k 21km 311
21 L'Alpe du Grand Serre 🇫🇷 France Grenoble 389k 21.6km 356
22 Sapporo Kokusai Skiing Resort 🇯🇵 Hokkaido Sapporo 2.5M 21.8km 344
23 Hachimantai Resort Panorama Ski Are 🇯🇵 Iwate Morioka 295k 22.4km 357
24 Tateyama Sanroku Ski Area 🇯🇵 Toyama Toyama 333k 22.8km 677
25 Bannalp 🇨🇭 Switzerland Luzern 250k 23.3km 319
26 Asahi Shizenkan Snow Park 🇯🇵 Yamagata Yamagata 272k 23.5km 431
27 Gitschenen – Isenthal 🇨🇭 Switzerland Luzern 250k 23.8km 319
28 Awasuno Ski Area 🇯🇵 Toyama Toyama 333k 23.8km 464
29 Tangram Madarao Ski Circus 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 23.8km 466
30 Madarao Kogen Mountain Resort 🇯🇵 Niigata Nagano 594k 24.2km 466
31 Numajiri Ski 🇯🇵 Fukushima Fukushima 294k 24.3km 311
32 Myoko Suginohara 🇯🇵 Niigata Nagano 594k 24.4km 374
33 Hakusan Senjo Onsen Seymour Ski Area 🇯🇵 Ishikawa Kanazawa 551k 24.7km 482
34 Hachimantai Resort Shimokura Ski area 🇯🇵 Iwate Morioka 295k 25.3km 357
35 Les 7 Laux 🇫🇷 France Grenoble 389k 25.4km 345
36 Engelberg-Brunni 🇨🇭 Switzerland Luzern 250k 25.6km 319
37 Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Hokkaido Sapporo 2.5M 26.2km 311
38 Akakura Kanko Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Niigata Nagano 594k 26.8km 466
39 Kurobushi Kogen Snow Park Jangle Jungle 🇯🇵 Yamagata Yamagata 272k 26.9km 357
40 Akakura Onsen Ski Area 🇯🇵 Niigata Nagano 594k 27.4km 466
41 Col d'Ornon 🇫🇷 France Grenoble 389k 27.6km 339
42 X-JAM Takaifuji 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 27.6km 554
43 Kijimadaira Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 28km 366
44 Hakuba Goryu & Hakuba47 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 28.2km 453
45 Kiroro Resort 🇯🇵 Hokkaido Sapporo 2.5M 28.2km 344
46 Seki Onsen Ski Area 🇯🇵 Niigata Nagano 594k 28.5km 748
47 Kyukamura Myoko 🇯🇵 Niigata Nagano 594k 29km 466
48 L’Essert – Abondance 🇫🇷 France Lausanne 266k 29.4km 334
49 Hakuba Cortina 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 29.4km 685
50 Shiga Kogen Kumanoyu Ski Area 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 29.4km 341
51 Tengendai Kogen 🇯🇵 Yamagata Fukushima 294k 29.4km 423
52 Alpe d'Huez Grand Domaine 🇫🇷 France Grenoble 389k 29.8km 437
53 Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 29.8km 685
54 Hakuba Sanosaka Snow Resort 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 29.9km 453
55 Engelberg-Titlis 🇨🇭 Switzerland Luzern 250k 30.1km 405
56 Hakuba Iwatake 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 30.1km 718
57 Bygdastølen skiskytterstadion 🇳🇴 Norway Bergen 214k 30.2km 318
58 Grandeco Snow Resort 🇯🇵 Fukushima Fukushima 294k 30.3km 423
59 Hakuba Happo-One 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 30.3km 453
60 Melchsee-Frutt 🇨🇭 Switzerland Luzern 250k 30.4km 384
61 Ryuoo Ski Park 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 30.5km 407
62 Shiga Kogen Yokoteyama Ski Area 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 30.7km 341
63 Hakuba Goryu 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 30.8km 465
64 Tsugaike Kogen 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 30.8km 718
65 Kashimayari Snow Resort 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 30.9km 465
66 Shinshu-Matsumoto Nomugitoge Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Nagano Matsumoto 225k 31km 303
67 Tazawako Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Akita Morioka 295k 31.1km 325
68 Hakuba 47 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 31.2km 718
69 Otaru Tenguyama Ski Area 🇯🇵 Hokkaido Sapporo 2.5M 31.7km 311
70 Fuyudorigoe Ski Garden 🇯🇵 Niigata Niigata 570k 31.8km 362
71 Shiga Kogen Higashidateyama Ski Area 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 32km 341
72 Shiga Kogen Ichinose Yamanokami Ski Area 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 32km 341
73 Plateau des Glières 🇫🇷 France Geneva 1.2M 32.1km 302
74 Shiga Kogen Shibutoge Ski Area 🇯🇵 Gunma Nagano 594k 32.2km 341
75 Appi Kogen 🇯🇵 Iwate Morioka 295k 32.3km 413
76 Eikedalen skisenter 🇳🇴 Norway Bergen 214k 32.4km 543
77 Espace Liberté 🇨🇭 Switzerland Lausanne 266k 32.5km 334
78 Espace Liberté 🇫🇷 France Lausanne 266k 32.5km 334
79 Shiga Kogen Ichinose Family Ski Area 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 32.7km 341
80 Eggberge 🇨🇭 Switzerland Luzern 250k 32.8km 372
81 Shiga Kogen Terakoya Ski Area 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 33km 341
82 Shiga Kogen Yakebitaiyama Ski Area 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 33.2km 341
83 Centro de Ski Chapa Verde 🇨🇱 Chile Rancagua 233k 33.4km 322
84 Brüsti – Attinghausen 🇨🇭 Switzerland Luzern 250k 33.5km 372
85 Hanagasa Kogen Ski Area 🇯🇵 Yamagata Yamagata 272k 33.5km 388
86 SAM Hakusan Ichirino Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Ishikawa Kanazawa 551k 33.7km 510
87 Meiringen-Hasliberg 🇨🇭 Switzerland Luzern 250k 34km 372
88 Shiga Kogen Okushiga Kogen Ski Area 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 34.2km 341
89 グランドサンピア猪苗代リゾートスキー場 🇯🇵 Fukushima Koriyama 341k 34.4km 352
90 Jiigatake Snow Resort 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 34.7km 465
91 El Colorado 🇨🇱 Santiago Santiago 5.7M 34.8km 326
92 Blue Resort Norikura 🇯🇵 Nagano Matsumoto 225k 35.6km 303
93 La Parva 🇨🇱 Santiago Santiago 5.7M 35.6km 326
94 Furedalen alpin 🇳🇴 Norway Bergen 214k 35.7km 468
95 Le Reposoir Chalet Neuf 🇫🇷 France Geneva 1.2M 36.1km 302
96 Asahidake 🇯🇵 Hokkaido Asahikawa 357k 36.5km 345
97 Biel-Kinzig 🇨🇭 Switzerland Luzern 250k 36.7km 365
98 Urabandai Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Fukushima Koriyama 341k 36.7km 352
99 Hoshino Resorts Nekoma Mountain 🇯🇵 Fukushima Koriyama 341k 37.2km 352
100 Togari Onsen Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 37.3km 510
101 Hirayu Onsen Ski Area 🇯🇵 Gifu Matsumoto 225k 37.4km 362
102 Matsumori Ski Area 🇯🇵 Akita Akita 320k 37.5km 386
103 Aktiven skiheis 🇳🇴 Norway Bergen 214k 37.6km 468
104 ARAI SNOW RESORT 🇯🇵 Niigata Nagano 594k 37.8km 725
105 Ala di Stura 🇮🇹 Italy Turin 1.7M 38km 350
106 Lagunillas 🇨🇱 Santiago San Bernardo 247k 38.2km 384
107 Le Grand Bornand 🇫🇷 France Geneva 1.2M 38.3km 302
108 Snowpark 🇫🇷 France Geneva 1.2M 38.3km 302
109 Valle Nevado 🇨🇱 Santiago Santiago 5.7M 38.4km 326
110 Mikawa Onsen 🇯🇵 Niigata Niigata 570k 38.6km 386
111 Ninox Snow Park 🇯🇵 Niigata Niigata 570k 38.6km 599
112 Champéry – Les Crosets – Champoussin – Morgins 🇨🇭 Switzerland Lausanne 266k 38.7km 343
113 Champéry – Les Crosets – Champoussin – Morgins 🇫🇷 France Lausanne 266k 38.7km 343
114 Iwakisan Hyakuzawa Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Aomori Aomori 298k 38.7km 344
115 Onogawa Onsen 🇯🇵 Yamagata Fukushima 294k 39.1km 345
116 Ratzi – Spiringen 🇨🇭 Switzerland Luzern 250k 39.2km 329
117 Aomori Spring Resort 🇯🇵 Aomori Aomori 298k 39.2km 344
118 Nozawa Onsen 🇯🇵 Nagano Nagano 594k 39.2km 510
119 Nekoma Mountain 🇯🇵 Fukushima Koriyama 341k 39.3km 352
120 Mount Gassan Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Yamagata Yamagata 272k 39.5km 708
121 Akita Hachimantai Ski Area 🇯🇵 Akita Morioka 295k 39.7km 466
122 Charmant Hiuchi Snow Resort 🇯🇵 Niigata Nagano 594k 39.8km 725
123 Le Collet d'Allevard 🇫🇷 France Grenoble 389k 39.9km 341
124 Itoigawa Seaside Valley Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Niigata Nagano 594k 40km 718
125 Les Deux Alpes 🇫🇷 France Grenoble 389k 40.3km 440
126 Norn Minakami 🇯🇵 Gunma Maebashi 345k 40.7km 395
127 Les Sybelles 🇫🇷 France Grenoble 389k 41.1km 413
128 Northstar at Tahoe Resort 🇺🇸 United States Reno 329k 41.2km 318
129 Axalp ob Brienz 🇨🇭 Switzerland Luzern 250k 41.3km 372
130 Tainai Ski and Snowboard area 🇯🇵 Niigata Niigata 570k 41.7km 717
131 Tenoko Ski Area 🇯🇵 Yamagata Yamagata 272k 42.2km 334
132 Stade de Slalom 🇫🇷 France Geneva 1.2M 42.3km 302
133 Ani Yuguchinai Ski Area 🇯🇵 Akita Akita 320k 42.5km 339
134 Villars/Gryon/Les Diablerets 🇨🇭 Switzerland Lausanne 266k 42.9km 319
135 Kawaba Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Gunma Maebashi 345k 43km 449
136 Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area 🇺🇸 United States Reno 329k 43.1km 447
137 Tambara Ski Park 🇯🇵 Gunma Maebashi 345k 43.4km 449
138 Honokidaira Ski Area 🇯🇵 Gifu Matsumoto 225k 43.7km 334
139 Kuzuryu Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Fukui Fukui 249k 44km 320
140 Dakota Ridge Recreation Site 🇨🇦 Canada Vancouver 2.3M 44.2km 558
141 Fukui Izumi Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Fukui Fukui 249k 44.5km 339
142 Daisetsuzan Sounkyo Kurodake Ski Area 🇯🇵 Hokkaido Asahikawa 357k 44.8km 373
143 Ani Ski Resort (Mt. Moriyoshi) 🇯🇵 Akita Akita 320k 45.5km 423
144 White Valley Ski Area 🇯🇵 Gunma Maebashi 345k 45.9km 395
145 Le Chazelet 🇫🇷 France Grenoble 389k 46.3km 374
146 Adelboden - TschentenAlp 🇨🇭 Switzerland Bern 275k 46.8km 349
147 La Grave 🇫🇷 France Grenoble 389k 47.5km 388
148 First – Grindelwald 🇨🇭 Switzerland Luzern 250k 48km 372
149 Tayama Ski Area (Hachimantai City) 🇯🇵 Iwate Morioka 295k 48.3km 302
150 Hodaigi Ski Resort 🇯🇵 Gunma Maebashi 345k 48.8km 307

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 three-season average described on our snowfall ranking; the model grid is 10–30 km across, so neighbouring resorts share a value.

Calculated: 2026-09-06

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 3,112 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.