Best time to ski in Japan
Ok, we might be a teensy bit biased, but we think there’s no such thing as a ‘bad’ time to visit Japan…that said, if you’re after some of that incredible powder that Japan is famous for, then there are definitely times when the winter months are more likely to deliver optimal conditions.
Of course, the type of conditions that you personally favour should be a major consideration when deciding the best time to visit – what works for a fair-weather skier or après enthusiast is going to be very different to a hard-core powder hound.
If you’re travelling with school age children, you’ll probably be guided by school holiday dates. And if you’ve got really small humans in tow then outdoor temperatures are also an important factor (there’s a big difference between learning to ski in low single digits versus minus 15C…especially for littlies!)
Budget is often also a factor as visiting during peak periods can be more costly.
The snow is amazingly consistent in Japan and the amount of snow can be quite unbelievable, but different conditions will see different levels of snowfall.
The season doesn’t always start like clockwork and prevailing weather patterns such as El Nino, or (his far better-looking sister) La Nina, will influence not only the quantity of snow you can expect but also how early the season might start. (La Nina usually generates more snow due to higher precipitation).
Love the idea of a white Christmas? There’s nothing better than family first tracks on Christmas Day, but the reality is that it’s early in the season for some resorts. Awesome if you’re after bluebird conditions, but if you’re chasing waist deep powder, then you may want to think about booking a few weeks later.
As a guide, Japan generally sees the greatest snowfall between the last two weeks in January and the first two weeks in February. As with all things weather related, this is by no means a guarantee and of course, it often snows - a lot - outside of these windows. But this is when the base is usually at its best and the powder fairies like to deliver back-to-back powder days.
The further north you go, the colder it is and so the better the chance of snow. This is a bit of a generalisation but in the shoulder months of the season, it’s worth bearing in mind.
The higher you go, the better the chances of snow. Japan offers a staggering number of options when it comes to resorts, however, Japanese ski resorts are not known for their altitude. This isn’t typically an issue because the snowfall is so consistent. Of course, some Japanese ski resorts are higher than others, and the greater the altitude, the greater the chance of snow.
Another consideration for some is how many other people you might have to share the slopes with. It is fair to say that most Aussies or Americans aren’t too fussed about busy ski slopes and chairlifts but we think one of the absolute pleasures of skiing and snowboarding in Japan is the relative absence of crowds (especially at resorts on Honshu).
Avoiding peak travel periods often means sharing runs with just your crew – a pretty amazing experience. And if having a gondola cabin or quad chair to yourself sounds appealing, there are Japanese ski resorts out there that can deliver! Outside of peak periods, you’ll also see a drop in the cost of accommodation and flights as well as increased access to ski lessons and the like.
We know though that many people’s travel dates will be determined by school holiday periods, but this doesn’t mean those of you with school aged kids have to miss out on uncrowded slopes.
How?
There are close to 500 resorts in Japan. If you want to avoid the crowds, look a little further off the beaten track. Places like Appi or Zao offer an incredible Japanese snow experience with only a fraction of the visitors.
Ski or snowboard on weekdays – there are over 3.5 million skiers or snowboarders in Japan, and they mostly get their kicks on weekends. The relative ease of access to the Japanese ski resorts from Tokyo and other cities means that weekends can get a little busy. Our advice if you want to avoid the crowds is to schedule your rest or travel days for Saturdays and Sundays.
Avoid the Lunar New Year period – the rest of the world is as excited about Japan’s snow conditions as you are. The Lunar New Year is an extremely busy period for visitors from the Asian region and it’s probably a good idea to avoid travelling to ski resorts during these times if you would prefer a quieter holiday.
Other things to consider are how important ease of access to the resort and off-mountain activities are, including food and beverage offerings – after all, Japanese après-ski can look a little different to what you might experience in Thredbo or Aspen (which is half the fun!)
The good news is we’re here to help if you have any questions or need guidance on the best options for your Japan ski or snowboard adventure.
We have extensive experience in planning awesome Japanese snow holidays, and we know that we can come up with the perfect personalised itinerary for you and your crew.
Please drop us a line if you want help planning the most amazing Japanese holiday ever!
Wishing you peace, love and powder days!
