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.
Backcountry Skiing
JAN’s New Snow Bulletin Board
The first place the powder snow season begins each year in Japan is that sacred area called Tateyama. As powder-lovers returned t...
Skiing
Further into Hokuriku
A sleek new bullet train blazes a trail past the majestic Japan Alps, through Nagano City and continues on to the Japan Sea, whis...
Backcountry Tours
Hakuba Mind Shift
Hakuba is a great backcountry launching point, but many visitors might not realize its full potential.
Backcountry Tours
Avalanche Awareness in Japan
It was a typical season-opening day in Tateyama. Hundreds of skiers, boarders and climbers were out to get the first powder of th...
Snowboarding
10 Years On the Road – A Car Danchi Flashb...
Time is a fickle creature, sometimes creeping along, other times so fast you can’t keep up. There are many ways to measure time, ...
Snowshoeing
Escaping Winter’s Venom in Snake Valley
From 10 meters above, atop a steep, ice-covered ravine, I could hear my hiking partner’s voice calling down to me. “Yes, I’m OK,”...
Features
Japan Snow Guide – Download the Free iOS M...
Outdoor Japan Media and MapMotion launch Japan Snow Guide mobile app, the new comprehensive English-language guide to Japan’s sno...
Winter
The 21-Day Wasabi Powder Diet
Two Dutch powder junkies enjoy their first taste of fresh "Wasabi Powder." Big, white, fluffy snowflakes dance through a pitch...