Category
Snow and Ice
ActivitiesSnow and Ice
Japan’s reputation for the best snow on Earth is well earned — Niseko’s international powder scene, Nagano’s dense concentration of resorts, and Tohoku’s quieter, heavier-snowfall hills that never quite make the international lists. Our complete guide to skiing and snowboarding in Japan covers all of it, region by region, alongside dedicated coverage of backcountry touring, avalanche awareness, and the annual Japan Snow Guide. Browse below for resort deep dives, trip reports, and season-by-season updates.
Snowboarding
Deep Turns in Tohoku
Paul Vanderheiden was drawn to the Hakkodas in search of the deep powder they are known for. He formed a deep connection with the mountains and the people in this far corner of Tohoku, never imagining life would take such a dramatic turn.
Snowboarding
Powder Room With a View
Akita Prefecture's Lake Tazawa region barely registers on Japan’s tourism radar. Yet it is paradise for winter lovers and a “Top ...
Cat Skiing
Hikarigahara Highlands
Masanori Takeuchi is a legend in snowboarding. Hailing from the Joetsu area of Niigata, he was raised a skier and then discovered...
Activism
Kazu lends a hand to JEARS
On a day Kazuhiro Kokubo should have been focusing on defending his U.S. Open half pipe title at Stratton Mountain, Vermont, the n...
Telemark Skiing
Photo Essay: Myoko Kogen with Adam Ü
Two weeks of endless powder in Myoko Kogen If I was forced to rank my best powder memories, my time in Myoko during January 20...
Snowboarding
Photo Essay: Winter in Shiga Kogen with Olympian...
Going Deep from Shiga Kogen to Manza Onsen "My Japon trip was awesome! Deep snow with good forest to ride even when it wasn’t ...
Backcountry Skiing
Riding an Icon: Mt. Fuji
Mt. Fuji could easily be anointed the tourism ambassador for Japan. Look at any postcard or travel poster featuring the mountain ...
Hiking
Thief in the Fortress
The sound of my footsteps echoes across the empty Hayakawa Valley. No other footprints in the snow, no signs of life ahead or beh...