WHICH IS THE BEST MONTH TO SKI IN JAPAN?

This is a question we are frequently asked, usually by those with the freedom to travel “whenever conditions are best”. And what you are really asking us, I am well aware, is really “when is that famous Japanese powder snow at its most plentiful and deep?” 

Perhaps playing second fiddle to the ideal snow conditions, I would argue that another consideration ought to be; how busy it will be, on and off the slopes? And, for those of you mindful of the budget, when are the best value non-peak periods? 

Let’s start with the basics; the Japanese ski season is broadly similar to the European ski season, which takes you through from mid-December through until early, and sometimes mid, April. Many of the larger Japanese ski resorts advertise that they open in early December and then many close as late as early May…though, this is motivated by unfounded optimism and at Different Snow we will be very reluctant sell you a ski holiday for these first and last several weeks. Perhaps if you want to try steal a few days on the slopes as bit part of a cherry blossom season holiday in April, then we’ll do it. But for a dedicated ski-focussed holiday? Nah. It’s just too risky, as your chances of experiencing Japan’s legendry powder this late in the season are at almost zero.

So, going back to the original question, when is the best time to go skiing in Japan? For those lucky enough not to be constrained by dates in the diary, then I tend to hone in on the mid to late February weeks, even into early March.

Not what you were expecting? There is an accepted narrative out there that Japan hits its straps though January and early February only and, yes…. this is a truly awesome time to be on the slopes. Fill your boots, it’s truly powder’tastic.

However, in my opinion (informed by over 20 consecutive seasons skiing in Japan), leave it those few weeks later and the abundant snow is every bit as good, though you may now also enjoy the occasional bluebird day, fresh tracks can be more easily found and you no longer have to worry about finding a seat in an izakaya in the evenings. Mid-February onwards in to early March is my sweet spot, and it is no coincidence that this is when I head to Japan every year. If you can, this is when you should too.

Pre-Christmas the snow usually begins to fall in earnest, so therefore it’s usually possible to get a good weeks’ skiing in before the festive period. However, travel in this period can be hit and miss and snow cover varies considerably each season. Whilst you’ll get no guarantees from us pre-Christmas, take a quick look at the historical snow records of all the major ski resorts for the week leading up to Christmas and it encourages optimism – the resorts are almost always fully open, the snow is plentiful and a good time is ordinarily had by all. And it’s amazing value to boot.

On the whole, Hokkaido generally has an earlier start to the season than Honshu resorts, with more dependable snowfalls in December creating the beginnings of a good snowpack.

Over Christmas & New Year you are (as good as) assured powder snow across all the Japanese ski resorts we feature. It may be busy, but the atmosphere can be wonderfully festive and they usually put on a good show to celebrate the New Year, which is a big family-orientated celebration in Japan.

However, it’s popular and the major resorts experience huge demand, largely out of Australia and Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, China…etc). It’s high season pricing and you will need to book many months in advance. Restaurant reservations become essential in Niseko, Nozawa Onsen and the Hakuba Valley.

I’ve enjoyed several awesome family ski holidays to Japan myself over this period – the conditions couldn’t have possibly been better – but we had to save our pennies to afford it and book early, and I’m talking the April – July months to book, to have a choice of accommodation options and secure good value flights.

We now move into January & February, universally considered to be Japans’ best powder snow months. It’s hard to argue with that, so I won’t. However, there are several extra factors you need to consider.  

During January the snow falls almost continuously throughout the month, with almost every day a powder day. It’s as relentless as it is awesome! And because this is probably why you are here, then why wouldn’t you come during what is, factually, peak-powder month?

Well, there will be weeks in deep January where you don't see the sunshine, or even the mountain around you, because it just doesn't stop snowing. A good or bad thing? This depends on your perspective. Storms often roll in from Siberia during January and it can be very cold, most especially up on Hokkaido Island.  Also, due to the potential for high winds and the fact that the resorts can be very conservative with their lift operations, there will be times the upper lifts are closed and this causes congestion on the lower slopes…thus less powder to go around.

We also need to factor in the Australian national (summer) holidays, which take you through until the end of January. This fact alone makes it the busiest month, during which package holidaymakers from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth are common-place in the larger Japanese ski resorts. And those Aussies have a very annoying habit of tracking out the best powder before you can get to it, and then they also pack out the bars and restaurants in the evening. Our Antipodean cousins are equally enthusiastic about both so it’s certainly lively and it is, to be fair, an awful lot of fun…though it can get a little rowdy at times in Japan’s two most popular ski resorts, Niseko and the Hakuba Valley.

Chinese New Year falls in either late January or early February (pesky lunar calendar!), and it is the week to try to avoid if you can. High prices and super-busy ski resorts as many guests from Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, etc. descend en masse, usually as large extended families, to the major Japanese ski resorts. If these are your dates and there is no flexibility, then console yourself that conditions will be just about perfect... just book well in advance, and accept a few lift queues here and there.

February (post Chinese New Year) and in to early March – the snow continues to fall in what is, quite frankly, ridiculous amounts, so powder days remain frequent and awesome. However, previously overcast skies are now interspersed with frequent bluebird days.  And…the Asian and Australian hordes have departed. Perfect. The ski resorts remain moderately busy and so retain their atmosphere, though with few (if any) lift queues to contend with on the mountain. Opportunities to make fresh tracks abound. In the village, restaurant reservations are no longer an absolute necessity (apart from Niseko and Hakuba) and, importantly, the accommodation has now moved on from ‘peak season’ pricing. This is the best time to go skiing and snowboarding in Japan, if you ask me. Which you often do.

During late March and early/mid-April you’ll find classic Spring conditions in the ski resorts, but usually with plenty of snow lingering around still. Indeed, many resorts still get powder days well into April! 

Elsewhere, the cherry blossom season grips Japan, a beautiful sight to behold ... though it makes accommodation difficult to secure (if booking late) because this is when most mainstream tourists choose to visit Japan. For very good reasons, I should add.

But there is an important footnote to all this - I need to state what has now become obvious to us all. In Japan, you are assured great powder snow with more certainty than any other ski country I can think of, certainly anywhere in the European Alps (that doesn’t have a glacier). However, snowfall patterns are becoming less and less predictable with the clearly observable changes in our global climate. I’ve certainly noticed this in Japan, where it can be more hit and miss than it ever was before, as established ‘patterns’ become less discernible. Whenever you travel (and, wherever you travel) luck really does play an increasingly significant role – it may have been dumping snow for weeks, but then when you arrive a sudden warm spell melts away your dreams of skiing snorkel-deep Japanese powder. Or, with a more glass-half-full outlook, when you arrive in resort you may be horrified to see more grass than snow in the village, but then the snow gods deliver in spades overnight and you wake up to life-affirming knee-deep powder the next day (and you need ‘spades’ to get out of the hotel!). Both can happen, and far more often than they used to only 10-15 years ago.

So – pay (us!) your money, and take your chances. No doubt your window of opportunity will be governed by your existing diary commitments and when you can travel to Japan is thus dictated by other home-based considerations. As I hope this blog explains, Japan can – and will – be awesome whenever you are able get there over the winter months. But, exactly ‘when’ may impact which ski resort we choose and why.

You really need to get in contact with us.