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Snow Quality in Japan, Ranked

All 395 Japanese ski areas ordered by what falls rather than how much. Built from four things — the temperature when it snows, how often it snows, how often it rains, and the wind — and how much snow falls is deliberately not one of them.

Calculated: 2026-08-17 · 395 ski areas

See the snowfall ranking →

Rank Ski area Prefecture Quality Temp when snowing Rain days Days over 5 cm Snowfall rank
1 Daisetsuzan Sounkyo Kurodake Ski Area Hokkaido 49.4 -11.0°C 3% 20% 105
2 Asahidake Hokkaido 45.9 -11.6°C 4% 19% 124
3 Tengendai Kogen Yamagata 41.1 -8.1°C 11% 30% 83
4 Chisennupri Hokkaido 40.0 -7.3°C 7% 26% 85
5 Shiga Kogen Shibutoge Ski Area Gunma 39.4 -11.3°C 8% 20% 136
6 Tambara Ski Park Gunma 37.2 -7.2°C 8% 26% 73
7 Shiga Kogen Terakoya Ski Area Nagano 35.0 -9.8°C 8% 20% 137
8 Tashiro Area Niigata 34.9 -7.5°C 10% 26% 74
9 Kawaba Ski Resort Gunma 34.7 -7.2°C 11% 26% 72
10 Shiga Kogen Yokoteyama Ski Area Nagano 34.5 -9.7°C 8% 20% 139
11 Kagura Area Niigata 33.0 -6.7°C 15% 31% 41
12 Akita Hachimantai Ski Area Akita 32.3 -6.4°C 11% 29% 57
13 Shiga Kogen Kumanoyu Ski Area Nagano 32.2 -8.9°C 8% 20% 134
14 Togakushi Ski Area Nagano 32.2 -5.0°C 9% 30% 31
15 Shiga Kogen Yakebitaiyama Ski Area Nagano 31.5 -8.6°C 8% 20% 138
16 Shiga Kogen Ichinose Family Ski Area Nagano 31.4 -8.6°C 8% 20% 132
17 Shiga Kogen Higashidateyama Ski Area Nagano 30.6 -8.3°C 8% 20% 131
18 Shiga Kogen Okushiga Kogen Ski Area Nagano 30.1 -8.2°C 8% 20% 135
19 Tsugaike Kogen Nagano 30.1 -4.4°C 12% 33% 13
20 Hakuba 47 Nagano 29.5 -4.5°C 14% 38% 10
21 Mount Gassan Ski Resort Yamagata 29.2 -7.4°C 20% 41% 15
22 Grandeco Snow Resort Fukushima 29.0 -6.4°C 12% 27% 81
23 Shiga Kogen Ichinose Yamanokami Ski Area Nagano 28.7 -7.7°C 8% 20% 133
24 Kiroro Resort Hokkaido 27.8 -8.0°C 6% 17% 128
25 Sapporo Kokusai Skiing Resort Hokkaido 27.3 -7.8°C 6% 17% 129
26 Hakkoda Kokusai Ski Area Aomori 26.6 -5.4°C 10% 26% 75
27 Ryuoo Ski Park Nagano 26.1 -5.4°C 11% 25% 91
28 Iwanai Resort Hokkaido 26.0 -4.6°C 11% 30% 77
29 Mashike Choei Shokanbetsudake Ski Area Hokkaido 25.9 -3.2°C 8% 35% 46
30 Yokomuki Onsen Ski Area Fukushima 25.8 -6.1°C 9% 22% 159
31 Seki Onsen Ski Area Niigata 25.4 -4.2°C 17% 38% 6
32 Amihari Onsen Ski Resort Iwate 25.3 -6.2°C 10% 22% 98
33 Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort Hokkaido 25.3 -6.9°C 7% 17% 152
34 Appi Kogen Iwate 25.2 -5.2°C 10% 25% 87
35 Kagura Niigata 24.6 -6.6°C 22% 36% 32
36 Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort Nagano 24.2 -3.9°C 16% 37% 22
37 Blue Resort Norikura Nagano 23.7 -7.7°C 13% 18% 168
38 IIZUNA HIGASHI KOGEN RESORT Nagano 23.4 -5.1°C 12% 23% 103
39 Niseko Grand Hirafu Hokkaido 23.3 -6.2°C 7% 17% 151
40 Tangram Madarao Ski Circus Nagano 23.3 -4.6°C 14% 27% 61
41 Ani Ski Resort (Mt. Moriyoshi) Akita 23.1 -5.8°C 17% 27% 80
42 Hirayu Onsen Ski Area Gifu 23.0 -5.7°C 15% 24% 111
43 Marunuma Kogen Ski Resort Gunma 22.9 -8.0°C 7% 15% 209
44 Shinshu-Matsumoto Nomugitoge Ski Resort Nagano 22.5 -7.2°C 13% 18% 169
45 Manza Onsen Gunma 22.0 -8.7°C 10% 14% 217
46 Zao Liza World Yamagata 22.0 -6.5°C 10% 19% 177
47 Zao Onsen Yamagata 22.0 -6.5°C 10% 19% 178
48 Oze Hinoemata Onsen Ski Resort Fukushima 21.6 -3.7°C 12% 29% 67
49 Aizu Kogen Takatsue Ski Resort Fukushima 21.4 -5.9°C 14% 22% 117
50 Hachimantai Resort Shimokura Ski area Iwate 21.2 -5.3°C 10% 20% 113
51 Hakuba Iwatake Nagano 21.2 -2.7°C 14% 38% 11
52 Myoko Suginohara Niigata 21.2 -4.4°C 12% 23% 104
53 Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort Hokkaido 21.1 -4.9°C 7% 19% 155
54 Minowa Ski Resort Fukushima 21.1 -6.0°C 11% 20% 156
55 Iwate Kogen Snow Park Iwate 21.0 -5.3°C 10% 20% 114
56 Aizu Kogen Takahata Fukushima 20.7 -3.5°C 12% 29% 66
57 Naeba Niigata 20.6 -5.0°C 17% 28% 68
58 Oguna Hotaka Ski Area Gunma 20.5 -7.1°C 10% 15% 206
59 Shizukuishi Ski Resort Iwate 20.4 -4.6°C 10% 22% 101
60 Nekoma Mountain Fukushima 20.1 -6.0°C 15% 22% 120
61 Tanigawadake Tenjindaira Ski Area Gunma 20.1 -4.5°C 14% 25% 95
62 Otaru Tenguyama Ski Area Hokkaido 19.5 -4.4°C 7% 19% 158
63 Adatara Kogen Ski Resort Fukushima 19.3 -5.4°C 11% 20% 154
64 Urabandai Ski Resort Fukushima 19.3 -5.7°C 13% 21% 122
65 Numajiri Ski Fukushima 19.2 -5.3°C 11% 20% 157
66 Madarao Kogen Mountain Resort Niigata 19.1 -4.2°C 17% 26% 60
67 Hachimantai Resort Panorama Ski Are Iwate 18.9 -4.5°C 10% 20% 112
68 Hakuba Goryu & Hakuba47 Nagano 18.5 -5.8°C 22% 27% 69
69 Kurohime Kogen Nagano 18.4 -4.0°C 17% 26% 58
70 Nikko Yumoto Onsen Ski Park Tochigi 18.2 -8.4°C 8% 12% 243
71 Okutadami Maruyama Ski Resort Niigata 18.1 -3.5°C 20% 45% 1
72 Sapporo Teine Hokkaido 17.9 -5.4°C 7% 15% 188
73 Geto Kogen Iwate 17.7 -5.0°C 18% 26% 92
74 Hakuba Cortina Nagano 17.7 -2.3°C 16% 37% 21
75 YAMABOKU Wild Snow Park Nagano 17.7 -7.8°C 8% 12% 219
76 Katashina Ogna Hotaka Snow Resort Gunma 17.4 -5.8°C 10% 15% 205
77 Shiga Kogen Nagano 17.4 -6.5°C 10% 14% 218
78 Asahigaoka Ski Resort Hokkaido 17.3 -5.0°C 8% 15% 173
79 Takasu Snow Park Gifu 17.1 -4.3°C 14% 21% 109
80 Kusatsu Onsen Ski Resort Gunma 17.0 -6.5°C 9% 14% 230
81 Miyagi Zao Sumikawasu Snow Park Miyagi 17.0 -6.0°C 13% 17% 176
82 Tazawako Ski Resort Akita 17.0 -5.1°C 12% 19% 146
83 Hida Takayama Municipal Ski Resort Gifu 16.7 -5.2°C 18% 21% 142
84 Norn Minakami Gunma 16.6 -4.0°C 15% 25% 94
85 Aizu Kogen Daikura Ski Resort Fukushima 16.5 -4.1°C 14% 22% 116
86 Snow Park Oze Tokura Gunma 16.3 -5.2°C 10% 15% 207
87 Hakuba Goryu Nagano 16.2 -3.9°C 21% 29% 62
88 Pirika Ski Resort Hokkaido 16.0 -4.5°C 9% 16% 166
89 Honokidaira Ski Area Gifu 15.9 -4.9°C 18% 21% 143
90 グランドサンピア猪苗代リゾートスキー場 Fukushima 15.9 -4.4°C 15% 22% 119
91 Hodaigi Ski Resort Gunma 15.8 -4.5°C 13% 18% 164
92 Akakura Kanko Ski Resort Niigata 15.7 -3.1°C 17% 26% 55
93 Akakura Onsen Ski Area Niigata 15.7 -3.1°C 17% 26% 56
94 Hoshino Resorts Tomamu Hokkaido 15.7 -7.0°C 5% 11% 249
95 Kurobushi Kogen Snow Park Jangle Jungle Yamagata 15.5 -4.4°C 16% 23% 115
96 Jiigatake Snow Resort Nagano 15.4 -3.6°C 21% 29% 63
97 Kokusetsu Horotachi Ski Area Hokkaido 15.3 -5.8°C 7% 12% 213
98 Ashimoi Kanko Takaho Ski Area Hokkaido 14.6 -5.5°C 7% 12% 212
99 Hoshino Resorts Nekoma Mountain Fukushima 14.6 -3.8°C 15% 22% 118
100 Kashimayari Snow Resort Nagano 14.6 -3.3°C 21% 29% 64
101 Hakuba Happo-One Nagano 14.5 -4.1°C 22% 27% 70
102 Kyukamura Myoko Niigata 14.4 -2.7°C 17% 26% 59
103 Minakami Kogen Ski Resort Gunma 14.2 -3.8°C 13% 18% 165
104 Katashina Kogen Ski Resort Gunma 13.9 -4.2°C 10% 15% 204
105 Moya Hills Aomori 13.9 -2.3°C 14% 27% 86
106 Miyagi Zao Eboshi Resort Miyagi 13.8 -4.5°C 13% 17% 175
107 Yomase Onsen Ski Area Nagano 13.7 -3.5°C 10% 17% 172
108 Otoineppu Otoifuji Hokkaido 13.6 -5.0°C 7% 13% 202
109 Shakotan Town Hokkaido 13.6 -2.7°C 9% 19% 121
110 Snowcruse ONZE Hokkaido 13.6 -2.7°C 7% 19% 167
111 Fujiwara Snow&Spa Resort Gunma 13.5 -3.6°C 13% 18% 163
112 Kuriko International Ski & Resort Yamagata 13.4 -2.9°C 17% 27% 93
113 Minami Furano Hokkaido 13.4 -6.1°C 6% 10% 250
114 Furano Ski Resort Hokkaido 13.3 -7.6°C 8% 9% 251
115 Sannokura Fukushima 13.3 -2.8°C 20% 28% 84
116 Hidaka Kokusai Hokkaido 13.2 -5.5°C 7% 11% 267
117 Minenohara Kogen Nagano 13.2 -5.5°C 10% 12% 274
118 Muikamachi Hakkaisan Niigata 13.2 -3.3°C 30% 42% 7
119 Mia Ski Resort Nagano 12.8 -8.2°C 15% 10% 248
120 Kitashiga Komaruyama Ski Resort Nagano 12.6 -3.5°C 12% 17% 171
121 Nayoro Piyashiri Hokkaido 12.5 -7.0°C 7% 9% 254
122 Aomori Spring Resort Aomori 12.3 -4.9°C 18% 17% 126
123 Rusutsu Resort Hokkaido 12.3 -6.1°C 8% 10% 279
124 Kisofukushima Ski Resort Nagano 12.2 -6.0°C 14% 12% 261
125 Boyodai Ski Area Hokkaido 12.1 -2.9°C 11% 19% 145
126 Consadole Niki Ski Park Hokkaido 12.1 -3.6°C 9% 14% 192
127 Grandee Hatoriko Ski Resort Fukushima 12.1 -4.9°C 13% 15% 197
128 Bifuka Ski Area Hokkaido 12.0 -4.9°C 7% 11% 244
129 Mitsumata Area Niigata 12.0 -2.2°C 22% 36% 33
130 Nozawa Onsen Nagano 11.9 -4.0°C 37% 28% 43
131 Asahi Ski Area Hokkaido 11.8 -5.3°C 7% 10% 223
132 Santa present park Hokkaido 11.6 -5.9°C 7% 9% 277
133 Zao Sarukura Yamagata 11.6 -3.5°C 14% 17% 181
134 Katsurazawa Kokusetsu Ski Area Hokkaido 11.5 -4.6°C 11% 12% 216
135 Tateyama Sanroku Ski Area Toyama 11.5 -1.5°C 21% 40% 23
136 Kandatsu Kogen Ski Resort Niigata 11.4 -2.6°C 32% 37% 25
137 Inosawa Sky Slopes Hokkaido 11.3 -5.6°C 7% 9% 276
138 Aizukogen Nango Ski Area Fukushima 11.2 -2.7°C 21% 28% 90
139 Bibai Kokusetsu Ski Area Hokkaido 11.2 -4.5°C 11% 12% 214
140 Nukabira Gensenkyo Ski Area Hokkaido 11.2 -6.2°C 4% 8% 304
141 Palcall Tsumagoi Resort Ski & Hotel Gunma 11.2 -6.8°C 9% 9% 296
142 Kamui Ski Links Hokkaido 11.1 -5.9°C 7% 9% 260
143 Mount Racey Hokkaido 11.1 -6.0°C 10% 10% 258
144 Pippu Ski Slopes Hokkaido 11.0 -7.0°C 8% 8% 256
145 Sahoro Hokkaido 10.9 -6.1°C 6% 9% 297
146 Yashima Ski Area Akita 10.9 -2.4°C 23% 32% 51
147 Cupid Valley Ski Area Niigata 10.8 -2.7°C 26% 33% 35
148 Hida Kawai Ski Resort Gifu 10.8 -3.6°C 22% 22% 123
149 X-JAM Takaifuji Nagano 10.8 -3.4°C 22% 22% 38
150 Kamoidake Kokusai Hokkaido 10.7 -5.6°C 9% 9% 268
151 Inawashiro Snow Paradise Fukushima 10.6 -4.1°C 14% 16% 198
152 Hakuba Sanosaka Snow Resort Nagano 10.5 -2.4°C 22% 27% 71
153 Ninox Snow Park Niigata 10.5 -2.3°C 34% 39% 30
154 White World Oze Iwakura Gunma 10.5 -6.1°C 11% 9% 208
155 Nakatonbestucho Eikotobuki Hokkaido 10.4 -4.9°C 7% 10% 220
156 ARAI SNOW RESORT Niigata 10.3 -2.2°C 29% 37% 8
157 Iwakisan Hyakuzawa Ski Resort Aomori 10.3 -3.8°C 18% 17% 127
158 New Greenpia Tsunan Niigata 10.3 -2.1°C 32% 37% 28
159 Yonezawa Snow World Yamagata 10.3 -2.5°C 16% 22% 179
160 Shintotsukawacho Sotchidake Hokkaido 10.2 -5.1°C 9% 9% 255
161 Fu's snow area Hokkaido 10.1 -4.4°C 6% 9% 275
162 Sakae Club Ski Area Nagano 9.9 -2.3°C 26% 33% 36
163 White Valley Ski Area Gunma 9.9 -2.9°C 17% 20% 96
164 Haboro Chomin Skijo Hokkaido 9.8 -3.3°C 10% 14% 182
165 Sugadaira Kogen Davos Hill Ski Area Nagano 9.8 -6.0°C 9% 8% 319
166 Charmant Hiuchi Snow Resort Niigata 9.7 -2.0°C 29% 37% 9
167 Hunter Mountain Shiobara Ski Area Tochigi 9.6 -6.5°C 13% 10% 273
168 Kiyosato Choei Midori Ski Area Hokkaido 9.6 -4.6°C 6% 9% 247
169 Mikasayama Esashi Hokkaido 9.6 -4.1°C 6% 10% 236
170 Tayama Ski Area (Hachimantai City) Iwate 9.6 -2.8°C 15% 18% 170
171 Edelweiss Ski Resort Tochigi 9.4 -6.4°C 13% 10% 272
172 Engaru Rock Valley Hokkaido 9.4 -4.8°C 4% 8% 299
173 Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort Niigata 9.2 -1.7°C 41% 36% 18
174 Hida Nagareha Resort Gifu 9.1 -4.0°C 22% 17% 189
175 Monbetsu City Oyama Monbetsu City Oyama Hokkaido 9.1 -4.7°C 6% 8% 295
176 Sugadairakogen Pine Beak Ski Area Nagano 9.1 -5.4°C 9% 8% 321
177 Jeunesse Kurikoma Ski Area Akita 9.0 -2.4°C 25% 31% 76
178 Nakasato Kiyotsu Niigata 9.0 -1.6°C 32% 37% 26
179 Yuzawa Kogen Ski Resort Niigata 9.0 -1.6°C 30% 39% 29
180 Matsumori Ski Area Akita 8.9 -1.8°C 18% 23% 99
181 Sapporo Bankei Ski Area Hokkaido 8.9 -4.1°C 11% 10% 259
182 Touma Ski Area Hokkaido 8.9 -4.9°C 12% 9% 237
183 Iwappara Niigata 8.8 -1.6°C 27% 44% 2
184 Saroma Choei Hokkaido 8.8 -3.9°C 5% 9% 302
185 Sugadaira Taro Area Nagano 8.8 -5.2°C 9% 8% 320
186 Awasuno Ski Area Toyama 8.7 -2.2°C 48% 29% 65
187 Family Snow Park Bandai X2 Fukushima 8.7 -3.0°C 14% 16% 196
188 Hanawa Ski Area Akita 8.7 -3.6°C 19% 16% 183
189 Memuro Hokkaido 8.7 -3.7°C 9% 10% 264
190 Sarufutsu Sonei Ski Area Hokkaido 8.7 -3.3°C 7% 12% 186
191 Wassamu Higashiyama Ski Resort Hokkaido 8.7 -5.2°C 10% 8% 271
192 Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort Niigata 8.6 -1.4°C 32% 37% 24
193 Joetsu International Niigata 8.6 -1.5°C 41% 36% 19
194 Listel Ski Fantasia Fukushima 8.6 -2.9°C 14% 16% 199
195 Muica Snow Resort Niigata 8.6 -1.7°C 42% 32% 40
196 Onikobe Ski Area Miyagi 8.5 -3.5°C 20% 18% 184
197 Pilatus Tateshina Snow Resort Nagano 8.5 -6.4°C 10% 7% 339
198 Suttsu Town Ski Area Hokkaido 8.5 -1.8°C 20% 27% 106
199 Hakodate Nanae Snowpark Hokkaido 8.4 -4.8°C 12% 9% 300
200 Canmore Ski Resort Hokkaido 8.3 -5.0°C 8% 7% 270

Showing the top 200. The national medians are -3.5°C, 16% rain days and 15% days over 5 cm.

Where this disagrees with the snowfall ranking

The two orderings agree through the middle and swap at the extremes. These are simply the largest gaps in each direction.

Better than their snowfall suggests

Ski areaQuality rankSnowfall rank
Nikko Yumoto Onsen Ski Park 70 243
Manza Onsen 45 217
Marunuma Kogen Ski Resort 43 209
Nukabira Gensenkyo Ski Area 140 304
Minenohara Kogen 117 274

Snowier than they are good

Ski areaQuality rankSnowfall rank
Yakushi Ski Area 309 34
Itoigawa Seaside Valley Ski Resort 281 12
Koide Ski Area 326 78
Ishiuchi Hanaoka Ski Area 263 17
Yokone 300 54

By prefecture

Medians. Only prefectures with four or more measured ski areas.

PrefectureAreasQualityTemp when snowingRain days
Iwate 11 areas 18.9 -4.9°C 10%
Gunma 24 areas 15.8 -5.7°C 11%
Fukushima 25 areas 14.6 -3.8°C 14%
Nagano 65 areas 11.9 -4.5°C 12%
Hokkaido 86 areas 9.8 -4.5°C 8%
Toyama 4 areas 8.7 -1.5°C 48%
Niigata 47 areas 8.6 -1.6°C 32%
Aomori 9 areas 8.0 -2.3°C 18%
Yamagata 17 areas 7.8 -2.1°C 22%
Miyagi 11 areas 6.6 -3.2°C 20%
Ishikawa 4 areas 6.5 -1.1°C 46%
Gifu 16 areas 6.2 -3.9°C 22%
Akita 17 areas 5.4 -1.5°C 27%
Tottori 6 areas 4.2 -2.8°C 38%
Hyogo 10 areas 4.0 -2.2°C 32%
Hiroshima 9 areas 1.8 -2.8°C 24%
Shiga 7 areas 1.7 -1.5°C 39%
Shimane 4 areas 1.6 -2.0°C 29%

How this was measured

Daily snowfall, precipitation, temperature and wind for December to March across the three most recent completed seasons — 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 — from Open-Meteo historical data on the ERA5 reanalysis.

A snowing day records 1 cm or more of snowfall; a rain day records 1 mm or more of rain. Temperature and wind are read only on snowing days: a whole-winter average would mix in clear cold days that have nothing to do with what the snow is like.

Temperatures are corrected from the grid cell's elevation to each ski area's own mid-elevation at 6.5°C per kilometre.

The score multiplies dryness by frequency and then applies the rain and wind penalties. Multiplying rather than adding is deliberate — one strong component should not be able to cover for a weak one. A place that is bitterly cold but rarely snows is not good, and neither is one that snows every day at 0°C.

What these numbers cannot tell you

The weights and thresholds are our judgement, not a measurement. Nothing in the physics says dryness should scale to zero at +2°C and full at −12°C, or that rain should cost at most 65%. We chose those numbers, and reasonable people would choose differently, and the order would shift. What the ranking can carry is that all 395 went through one identical calculation.

Rain and frequency only resolve to a valley. ERA5 runs on a 10–30 km grid, so the ten Shiga Kogen areas return an identical rain-day share. Temperature separates them because it is corrected for elevation; the precipitation columns treat them as one place.

Three winters. Enough to separate a −11°C place from a −4°C place, not enough to argue about tenths.

This is not how good the skiing is. Aspect, tree spacing, grooming policy and lift layout are not in it. This measures what arrives from the sky.