Snow Quality in Japan, Ranked

All 397 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. The score is an index that would reach 100 only if all four were at their best. Warm or rainy snow days pull it down hard, so even the top ski area in Japan scores 49.4, and the median 8.4.

Calculated: 2026-10-02 · 397 ski areas

See the snowfall ranking →

Rank	Ski area	Prefecture	Quality score	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%	79
2	Asahidake	Hokkaido	45.9	−11.6°C	4%	19%	81
3	Chisennupri Not operating	Hokkaido	40.0	−7.3°C	7%	26%	96
4	Shiga Kogen Shibutoge Ski Area	Gunma	39.4	−11.3°C	8%	20%	119
5	Shiga Kogen Terakoya Ski Area	Nagano	35.0	−9.8°C	8%	20%	120
6	Togakushi Ski Area	Nagano	35.0	−5.3°C	11%	33%	34
7	Kawaba Ski Resort	Gunma	34.7	−7.2°C	11%	26%	68
8	Shiga Kogen Yokoteyama Ski Area	Nagano	34.5	−9.7°C	8%	20%	122
9	Tengendai Kogen	Yamagata	33.6	−7.8°C	12%	27%	85
10	Tambara Ski Park	Gunma	33.2	−6.8°C	11%	26%	69
11	Kagura Area	Niigata	33.0	−6.7°C	15%	31%	39
12	Tashiro Area	Niigata	33.0	−7.1°C	11%	27%	53
13	Akita Hachimantai Ski Area	Akita	32.3	−6.4°C	11%	29%	61
14	Shiga Kogen Kumanoyu Ski Area	Nagano	32.2	−8.9°C	8%	20%	117
15	Shiga Kogen Yakebitaiyama Ski Area	Nagano	31.5	−8.6°C	8%	20%	121
16	Shiga Kogen Ichinose Family Ski Area	Nagano	31.4	−8.6°C	8%	20%	115
17	Shiga Kogen Higashidateyama Ski Area	Nagano	30.6	−8.3°C	8%	20%	114
18	Shiga Kogen Okushiga Kogen Ski Area	Nagano	30.1	−8.2°C	8%	20%	118
19	Hakuba 47	Nagano	29.5	−4.5°C	14%	38%	16
20	Mount Gassan Ski Resort	Yamagata	29.2	−7.4°C	20%	41%	20
21	Grandeco Snow Resort	Fukushima	29.0	−6.4°C	12%	27%	84
22	Shiga Kogen Ichinose Yamanokami Ski Area	Nagano	28.7	−7.7°C	8%	20%	116
23	Tsugaike Kogen	Nagano	28.4	−4.2°C	14%	38%	18
24	Kiroro Resort	Hokkaido	27.8	−8.0°C	6%	17%	125
25	Sapporo Kokusai Skiing Resort	Hokkaido	27.3	−7.8°C	6%	17%	126
26	Hakkoda Kokusai Ski Area	Aomori	26.6	−5.4°C	10%	26%	89
27	Ryuoo Ski Park	Nagano	26.1	−5.4°C	11%	25%	77
28	Iwanai Resort	Hokkaido	26.0	−4.6°C	11%	30%	88
29	Mashike Choei Shokanbetsudake Ski Area	Hokkaido	25.9	−3.2°C	8%	35%	71
30	Seki Onsen Ski Area	Niigata	25.4	−4.2°C	17%	38%	14
31	Amihari Onsen Ski Resort	Iwate	25.3	−6.2°C	10%	22%	98
32	Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort	Hokkaido	25.3	−6.9°C	7%	17%	161
33	Appi Kogen	Iwate	25.2	−5.2°C	10%	25%	87
34	Kagura	Niigata	24.6	−6.6°C	22%	36%	33
35	Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort	Nagano	24.2	−3.9°C	16%	37%	22
36	Blue Resort Norikura	Nagano	23.7	−7.7°C	13%	18%	142
37	IIZUNA HIGASHI KOGEN RESORT	Nagano	23.4	−5.1°C	12%	23%	100
38	Niseko Grand Hirafu	Hokkaido	23.3	−6.2°C	7%	17%	160
39	Ani Ski Resort (Mt. Moriyoshi)	Akita	23.1	−5.8°C	17%	27%	92
40	Hirayu Onsen Ski Area	Gifu	23.0	−5.7°C	15%	24%	83
41	Marunuma Kogen Ski Resort	Gunma	22.9	−8.0°C	7%	15%	201
42	Shinshu-Matsumoto Nomugitoge Ski Resort	Nagano	22.5	−7.2°C	13%	18%	141
43	Manza Onsen	Gunma	22.0	−8.7°C	10%	14%	184
44	Oze Hinoemata Onsen Ski Resort	Fukushima	21.6	−3.7°C	12%	29%	60
45	Aizu Kogen Takatsue Ski Resort	Fukushima	21.4	−5.9°C	14%	22%	135
46	Hachimantai Resort Shimokura Ski area	Iwate	21.2	−5.3°C	10%	20%	128
47	Hakuba Iwatake	Nagano	21.2	−2.7°C	14%	38%	17
48	Myoko Suginohara	Niigata	21.2	−4.4°C	12%	23%	101
49	Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort	Hokkaido	21.1	−4.9°C	7%	19%	154
50	Minowa Ski Resort	Fukushima	21.1	−6.0°C	11%	20%	152
51	Iwate Kogen Snow Park	Iwate	21.0	−5.3°C	10%	20%	124
52	Aizu Kogen Takahata	Fukushima	20.7	−3.5°C	12%	29%	59
53	Naeba	Niigata	20.6	−5.0°C	17%	28%	55
54	Oguna Hotaka Ski Area	Gunma	20.5	−7.1°C	10%	15%	193
55	Shizukuishi Ski Resort	Iwate	20.4	−4.6°C	10%	22%	99
56	Nakayama-toge Ski Resort	Hokkaido	20.4	−7.7°C	6%	13%	172
57	Yokomuki Onsen Ski Area	Fukushima	20.2	−5.7°C	11%	20%	153
58	Nekoma Mountain	Fukushima	20.1	−6.0°C	15%	22%	107
59	Otaru Tenguyama Ski Area	Hokkaido	19.5	−4.4°C	7%	19%	155
60	YAMABOKU Wild Snow Park	Nagano	19.5	−7.5°C	10%	14%	186
61	Adatara Kogen Ski Resort	Fukushima	19.3	−5.4°C	11%	20%	163
62	Numajiri Ski	Fukushima	19.2	−5.3°C	11%	20%	164
63	Tangram Madarao Ski Circus	Nagano	19.2	−4.2°C	17%	26%	65
64	Madarao Kogen Mountain Resort	Niigata	19.1	−4.2°C	17%	26%	64
65	Hachimantai Resort Panorama Ski Are	Iwate	18.9	−4.5°C	10%	20%	127
66	Hakuba Goryu	Nagano	18.5	−5.8°C	22%	27%	73
67	Urabandai Ski Resort	Fukushima	18.5	−5.4°C	15%	22%	108
68	Kurohime Kogen	Nagano	18.4	−4.0°C	17%	26%	63
69	Nikko Yumoto Onsen Ski Park	Tochigi	18.2	−8.4°C	8%	12%	246
70	Okutadami Maruyama Ski Resort	Niigata	18.1	−3.5°C	20%	45%	1
71	Sapporo Teine	Hokkaido	17.9	−5.4°C	7%	15%	175
72	Geto Kogen	Iwate	17.7	−5.0°C	18%	26%	102
73	Hakuba Cortina	Nagano	17.7	−2.3°C	16%	37%	21
74	Ikenotaira Onsen Alpen Blick Ski Resort	Niigata	17.7	−3.8°C	17%	26%	66
75	Tanigawadake Tenjindaira Ski Area	Gunma	17.6	−4.3°C	15%	25%	94
76	Hotaka Bokujo Ski Area Not operating	Gunma	17.4	−5.8°C	10%	15%	192
77	Shiga Kogen	Nagano	17.4	−6.5°C	10%	14%	185
78	Asahigaoka Ski Resort	Hokkaido	17.3	−5.0°C	8%	15%	162
79	Zao Liza World	Yamagata	17.3	−6.2°C	13%	17%	188
80	Zao Onsen	Yamagata	17.3	−6.2°C	13%	17%	177
81	White World Oze Iwakura	Gunma	17.2	−5.7°C	10%	15%	195
82	Kusatsu Onsen Ski Resort	Gunma	17.0	−6.5°C	9%	14%	196
83	Miyagi Zao Sumikawasu Snow Park	Miyagi	17.0	−6.0°C	13%	17%	176
84	Hida Takayama Municipal Ski Resort	Gifu	16.7	−5.2°C	18%	21%	103
85	Norn Minakami	Gunma	16.6	−4.0°C	15%	25%	93
86	Aizu Kogen Daikura Ski Resort	Fukushima	16.5	−4.1°C	14%	22%	111
87	Snow Park Oze Tokura	Gunma	16.3	−5.2°C	10%	15%	194
88	Pirika Ski Resort	Hokkaido	16.0	−4.5°C	9%	16%	207
89	Honokidaira Ski Area	Gifu	15.9	−4.9°C	18%	21%	104
90	グランドサンピア猪苗代リゾートスキー場 Not operating	Fukushima	15.9	−4.4°C	15%	22%	131
91	Hodaigi Ski Resort	Gunma	15.8	−4.5°C	13%	18%	157
92	Akakura Kanko Ski Resort	Niigata	15.7	−3.1°C	17%	26%	56
93	Akakura Onsen Ski Area	Niigata	15.7	−3.1°C	17%	26%	57
94	Kurobushi Kogen Snow Park Jangle Jungle	Yamagata	15.5	−4.4°C	16%	23%	150
95	Jiigatake Snow Resort	Nagano	15.4	−3.6°C	21%	29%	51
96	Hoshino Resorts Tomamu	Hokkaido	15.4	−7.6°C	6%	10%	226
97	Kokusetsu Horotachi Ski Area	Hokkaido	15.3	−5.8°C	7%	12%	197
98	Tazawako Ski Resort	Akita	15.3	−4.8°C	15%	20%	140
99	X-JAM Takaifuji	Nagano	14.8	−2.9°C	18%	28%	31
100	Ashimoi Kanko Takaho Ski Area	Hokkaido	14.6	−5.5°C	7%	12%	227
101	Kashimayari Snow Resort	Nagano	14.6	−3.3°C	21%	29%	52
102	Hakuba Happo-One	Nagano	14.5	−4.1°C	22%	27%	74
103	Kyukamura Myoko	Niigata	14.4	−2.7°C	17%	26%	58
104	Dynaland	Gifu	14.3	−4.3°C	18%	21%	136
105	Minakami Kogen Ski Resort	Gunma	14.2	−3.8°C	13%	18%	158
106	Katashina Kogen Ski Resort	Gunma	13.9	−4.2°C	10%	15%	191
107	Moya Hills	Aomori	13.9	−2.3°C	14%	27%	112
108	Miyagi Zao Eboshi Resort	Miyagi	13.8	−4.5°C	13%	17%	187
109	Takasu Snow Park	Gifu	13.7	−4.0°C	18%	21%	134
110	Otoineppu Otoifuji	Hokkaido	13.6	−5.0°C	7%	13%	203
111	Shakotan Town	Hokkaido	13.6	−2.7°C	9%	19%	148
112	Snowcruse ONZE	Hokkaido	13.6	−2.7°C	7%	19%	166
113	Fujiwara Snow&Spa Resort	Gunma	13.5	−3.6°C	13%	18%	156
114	Kuriko International Ski & Resort Not operating	Yamagata	13.4	−2.9°C	17%	27%	113
115	Minami Furano	Hokkaido	13.4	−6.1°C	6%	10%	228
116	Furano Ski Resort	Hokkaido	13.3	−7.6°C	8%	9%	237
117	Sannokura	Fukushima	13.3	−2.8°C	20%	28%	82
118	Hidaka Kokusai	Hokkaido	13.2	−5.5°C	7%	11%	230
119	Minenohara Kogen	Nagano	13.2	−5.5°C	10%	12%	268
120	Muikamachi Hakkaisan	Niigata	13.2	−3.3°C	30%	42%	2
121	Mia Ski Resort	Nagano	12.8	−8.2°C	15%	10%	198
122	White Valley Ski Area	Gunma	12.7	−2.6°C	15%	25%	95
123	Kitashiga Komaruyama Ski Resort	Nagano	12.6	−3.5°C	12%	17%	129
124	Nayoro Piyashiri	Hokkaido	12.5	−7.0°C	7%	9%	216
125	Aomori Spring Resort	Aomori	12.3	−4.9°C	18%	17%	132
126	Rusutsu Resort	Hokkaido	12.3	−6.1°C	8%	10%	249
127	Kisofukushima Ski Resort	Nagano	12.2	−6.0°C	14%	12%	222
128	Boyodai Ski Area	Hokkaido	12.1	−2.9°C	11%	19%	159
129	Consadole Niki Ski Park	Hokkaido	12.1	−3.6°C	9%	14%	202
130	Grandee Hatoriko Ski Resort Not operating	Fukushima	12.1	−4.9°C	13%	15%	208
131	Yomase Onsen Ski Area	Nagano	12.1	−3.2°C	12%	17%	130
132	Bifuka Ski Area	Hokkaido	12.0	−4.9°C	7%	11%	206
133	Mitsumata Area	Niigata	12.0	−2.2°C	22%	36%	30
134	Nozawa Onsen	Nagano	11.9	−4.0°C	37%	28%	49
135	Asahi Ski Area Not operating	Hokkaido	11.8	−5.3°C	7%	10%	182
136	Touma Ski Area	Hokkaido	11.7	−5.4°C	8%	10%	220
137	Santa present park	Hokkaido	11.6	−5.9°C	7%	9%	265
138	Katsurazawa Kokusetsu Ski Area	Hokkaido	11.5	−4.6°C	11%	12%	219
139	Kandatsu Kogen Ski Resort	Niigata	11.4	−2.6°C	32%	37%	25
140	Inosawa Sky Slopes	Hokkaido	11.3	−5.6°C	7%	9%	264
141	Aizukogen Nango Ski Area	Fukushima	11.2	−2.7°C	21%	28%	80
142	Bibai Kokusetsu Ski Area Not operating	Hokkaido	11.2	−4.5°C	11%	12%	218
143	Nukabira Gensenkyo Ski Area	Hokkaido	11.2	−6.2°C	4%	8%	293
144	Palcall Tsumagoi Resort Ski & Hotel	Gunma	11.2	−6.8°C	9%	9%	289
145	Kamui Ski Links	Hokkaido	11.1	−5.9°C	7%	9%	253
146	Mount Racey	Hokkaido	11.1	−6.0°C	10%	10%	273
147	Pippu Ski Slopes	Hokkaido	11.0	−7.0°C	8%	8%	238
148	Sahoro	Hokkaido	10.9	−6.1°C	6%	9%	272
149	Cupid Valley Ski Area	Niigata	10.8	−2.7°C	26%	33%	35
150	Hida Kawai Ski Resort	Gifu	10.8	−3.6°C	22%	22%	109
151	Kamoidake Kokusai	Hokkaido	10.7	−5.6°C	9%	9%	262
152	Inawashiro Snow Paradise	Fukushima	10.6	−4.1°C	14%	16%	180
153	Hakuba Sanosaka Snow Resort	Nagano	10.5	−2.4°C	22%	27%	72
154	Ninox Snow Park	Niigata	10.5	−2.3°C	34%	39%	32
155	Nakatonbestucho Eikotobuki	Hokkaido	10.4	−4.9°C	7%	10%	231
156	Arai Mountain Resort	Niigata	10.3	−2.2°C	29%	37%	19
157	Iwakisan Hyakuzawa Ski Resort	Aomori	10.3	−3.8°C	18%	17%	133
158	New Greenpia Tsunan	Niigata	10.3	−2.1°C	32%	37%	28
159	Shintotsukawacho Sotchidake	Hokkaido	10.2	−5.1°C	9%	9%	257
160	Fu's snow area	Hokkaido	10.1	−4.4°C	6%	9%	252
161	Zao Sarukura	Yamagata	10.1	−3.4°C	17%	17%	190
162	Sakae Club Ski Area	Nagano	9.9	−2.3°C	26%	33%	36
163	Sugadaira Kogen Davos Hill Ski Area	Nagano	9.9	−5.5°C	11%	9%	314
164	Haboro Chomin Skijo	Hokkaido	9.8	−3.3°C	10%	14%	204
165	Tateyama Sanroku Ski Area	Toyama	9.8	−1.3°C	23%	39%	15
166	Charmant Hiuchi Snow Resort	Niigata	9.7	−2.0°C	29%	37%	13
167	Hunter Mountain Shiobara Ski Area	Tochigi	9.6	−6.5°C	13%	10%	275
168	Kiyosato Choei Midori Ski Area	Hokkaido	9.6	−4.6°C	6%	9%	248
169	Mikasayama Esashi	Hokkaido	9.6	−4.1°C	6%	10%	250
170	Yashima Ski Area	Akita	9.5	−2.4°C	25%	32%	47
171	Edelweiss Ski Resort	Tochigi	9.4	−6.4°C	13%	10%	274
172	Engaru Rock Valley	Hokkaido	9.4	−4.8°C	4%	8%	281
173	Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort	Niigata	9.2	−1.7°C	41%	36%	10
174	Sugadairakogen Pine Beak Ski Area	Nagano	9.2	−5.0°C	11%	9%	316
175	Hida Nagareha Resort	Gifu	9.1	−4.0°C	22%	17%	178
176	Monbetsu Oyama Ski Area	Hokkaido	9.1	−4.7°C	6%	8%	292
177	Wakkanaishi Komadori Ski Area	Hokkaido	9.1	−3.3°C	7%	13%	229
178	Jeunesse Kurikoma Ski Area	Akita	9.0	−2.4°C	25%	31%	76
179	Nakasato Kiyotsu Not operating	Niigata	9.0	−1.6°C	32%	37%	26
180	Matsumori Ski Area Not operating	Akita	8.9	−1.8°C	18%	23%	105
181	Sapporo Bankei Ski Area	Hokkaido	8.9	−4.1°C	11%	10%	271
182	Sugadaira Taro Area	Nagano	8.9	−4.7°C	11%	9%	315
183	Iwappara	Niigata	8.8	−1.6°C	27%	44%	3
184	Saroma Choei	Hokkaido	8.8	−3.9°C	5%	9%	294
185	Awasuno Ski Area	Toyama	8.7	−2.2°C	48%	29%	67
186	Family Snow Park Bandai X2 Not operating	Fukushima	8.7	−3.0°C	14%	16%	179
187	Hanawa Ski Area	Akita	8.7	−3.6°C	19%	16%	173
188	Memuro	Hokkaido	8.7	−3.7°C	9%	10%	261
189	Sarufutsu Sonei Ski Area	Hokkaido	8.7	−3.3°C	7%	12%	243
190	Takamine Mountain Park Ski Area	Gunma	8.7	−8.1°C	11%	6%	326
191	Yuzawa Kogen Ski Resort	Niigata	8.7	−1.5°C	32%	37%	29
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%	11
194	Listel Ski Fantasia	Fukushima	8.6	−2.9°C	14%	16%	205
195	Muica Snow Resort	Niigata	8.6	−1.7°C	42%	32%	38
196	Onikobe Ski Area	Miyagi	8.5	−3.5°C	20%	18%	174
197	Pilatus Tateshina Snow Resort	Nagano	8.5	−6.4°C	10%	7%	329
198	Hakodate Nanae Snowpark	Hokkaido	8.4	−4.8°C	12%	9%	313
199	Suttsu Town Ski Area	Hokkaido	8.4	−1.9°C	18%	23%	110
200	Canmore Ski Resort	Hokkaido	8.3	−5.0°C	8%	7%	245

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 area	Quality rank	Snowfall rank
Nikko Yumoto Onsen Ski Park	69	246
Marunuma Kogen Ski Resort	41	201
Sugadaira Kogen Davos Hill Ski Area	163	314
Nukabira Gensenkyo Ski Area	143	293
Minenohara Kogen	119	268

Snowier than they are good

Ski area	Quality rank	Snowfall rank
Yakushi Ski Area	322	41
Itoigawa Seaside Valley Ski Resort	286	7
Yokone	313	54
Ishiuchi Hanaoka Ski Area	267	9
Ippon Sugi Ski Resort	251	8

By prefecture

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

Prefecture	Areas	Quality score	Temp when snowing	Rain days
Iwate	11 areas	18.9	−4.9°C	10%
Gunma	24 areas	16.3	−5.7°C	11%
Fukushima	24 areas	15.9	−3.7°C	14%
Nagano	64 areas	12.1	−4.2°C	12%
Hokkaido	87 areas	10.1	−4.6°C	7%
Niigata	48 areas	8.7	−1.5°C	32%
Toyama	4 areas	8.7	−1.3°C	48%
Aomori	9 areas	8.0	−2.3°C	18%
Yamagata	17 areas	7.8	−2.1°C	22%
Gifu	17 areas	7.6	−4.0°C	22%
Miyagi	11 areas	6.6	−3.2°C	20%
Ishikawa	4 areas	6.5	−1.1°C	46%
Akita	17 areas	5.4	−1.5°C	27%
Tottori	6 areas	4.2	−2.8°C	38%
Hyogo	11 areas	4.0	−2.2°C	30%
Hiroshima	9 areas	1.8	−2.6°C	27%
Shiga	7 areas	1.7	−1.4°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 397 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.

The "days over 5 cm" column is counted from the same estimates as our snowfall figures. How much snow falls really is excluded, as the lead says. How often it falls is not, and that comes from the same source — and how close that source runs varies by region. Against 63 Japan Meteorological Agency stations it returns 77% of measured snowfall in Hokuriku and Shinetsu, and 44% in Kinki and Chugoku. Undercount the snowy days and the quality rank falls with them.

Treat western Japan's positions here with particular care. Its 39 ski areas sit at a median of 350th, the lowest of any region in the country. It is also the region where these estimates are furthest from the ground, as above. Whether those positions reflect the snow or the measurement is not something we can separate with what we hold. Comparisons within one region are firmer than comparisons across them.

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.

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.