Your best trip is available until April; with the weak yen, Hokkaido, Japan, is the ideal destination!
The best, longest, deepest powder runs in the world: the only answer is Hokkaido, Japan. Hokkaido is the true Mecca of powder, providing a stable supply of high-quality snow from December to April. Along with that long season, the opportunities are even better in the 2023-24 season with the continued weak yen. Take advantage—visit Hokkaido!
There’s no resort with better conditions and a longer season than Hokkaido
Hokkaido’s snow resorts have one of the longest seasons in all of Japan. Some resorts will open—with natural snow—in mid-November, then continue until early May, for an amazingly long season of six months of snow!
| Area | Ski resort | Operating dates | Lift fees (One-day, adult) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sapporo area | Sapporo Teine | December 1, 2023 to May 6, 2024 | ¥6,900 |
| Sapporo Bankei | December 17, 2023 to end-April 2024 | ¥4,700 | |
| Sapporo Kokusai | November 17, 2023 to May 12, 2024 | ¥5,000 | |
| Western Hokkaido | Kiroro Snow World | December 1, 2023 to May 6, 2024 | ¥7,400 |
| Niseko Hanazono Resort | December 2, 2023 to April 7, 2024 | ¥7,800 | |
| Niseko Annupuri | December 2, 2023 to May 6, 2024 | ¥6,700 | |
| Niseko Village | December 1, 2023 to April 7, 2024 | ¥7,800 | |
| Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu | December 2, 2023 to May 6, 2024 | ¥7,800 | |
| Rusutsu Resort | November 11, 2023 to March 31, 2024 | ¥11,500 | |
| Central Hokkaido | Kamui Ski Links | Early December, 2023 to March 31, 2024 | ¥3,800 |
| Furano Ski Resort | November 25, 2023 to May 6, 2024 (Furano Zone) | ¥7,000 | |
| Sahoro Ski Resort | Early December, 2023 to end-March 2024 | ¥7,700 | |
| Hoshino Resorts Tomamu | December 1, 2023 to April 1, 2024 | ¥7,000 |
Both Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen, which have become popular with international travelers, will have snow on the ground throughout April; what makes Hokkaido different is that it not only will have snow in April, but you can find the same quality of powder snow as in mid-winter in early April. In the second half of March, ski resorts on Japan’s main island, Honshu, will see stable weather and little snowfall. If it snows in April it would be seen as unseasonal snow—but April in Hokkaido is still the snowy season.
Take a look at this: a lot of snow falls in April, not only in Niseko but also in the city of Sapporo.
| Ski resort | DEC | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sapporo Kokusai | 137cm | 267cm | 377cm | 402cm | 286cm |
| Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu | 205cm | 350cm | 450cm | 440cm | 330cm |
Let’s look, too, at the length of the snow season at some famous overseas resorts. Similar to Hokkaido are Vail, Colorado and Heavenly, California, both open until early April, and Zermatt, Switzerland, which is open until the end of April; Chamonix, France and Whistler/Backcomb in Canada stay open until early May, but both of these also feature glaciated slopes, something quite different from Hokkaido.
The advantages of the long Hokkaido season
In a word, Hokkaido has a long season with good snow conditions! Enjoy the world-famous, beautiful Japow until the end of April. This also gives you more time to enjoy a snow vacation in Japan. It’s a great opportunity for skiers and boarders who want to enjoy good snow for as long as possible.
And there are even more plusses to springtime in Hokkaido.
- 1. The weather is stable, with more sunny (and longer) days, so there’s more time to enjoy the fun
- 2. Even as new snow is falling, the ski slopes are relatively empty
- 3. Resorts will offer spring specials, with discounted lift tickets and other benefits
- 4. Package travel and accommodation rates go down in spring
- 5. You can often experience corn snow, for many people the next best thing to powder
- 6. The terrain becomes more interesting, as natural bumps and shapes develop because of the melting snow
- 7. The milder cold makes for more comfortable sightseeing in Sapporo and Asahikawa
International passes can be used in Hokkaido!
International visitors will be pleased to know that many resorts in Japan accept international passes including the Epic and Ikon passes. Niseko United accepts the Ikon Pass, while the Epic Pass can be used at Rusutsu. You’ll realize the value of these with a season this long, and more time to use your pass!
The chance for a longer stay—and the added advantage of a lower yen!
Since the end of the pandemic and the lifting of travel restriction into Japan have been lifted, airfares have risen because of increased demand, but at the same time, the yen has decreased in value: as of February 2024 the rate was approximately ¥149/US$1. Compared to a pre-pandemic rate of approximately ¥110/US$1, this means there is a 30% difference in value. So the cost of coming to Japan has also been cut by 30%—making this a great time to plan a snow trip to Hokkaido.
Take advantage of this opportunity and take that long-awaited trip to ski Japow in Hokkaido! Even if you’ve been here before, this change in the exchange rate makes it an ideal time for a repeat visit:
- 1. Extend the length of your stay at the resort
- 2. Upgrade your stay with a more luxurious hotel room
- 3. Get a private guide for cat ski or backcountry skiing—something that might have seemed just a bit too expensive!
- 4. Enjoy resort and nightlife activities
- 5. Head out for more Hokkaido sightseeing in more distant locations, including the Ainu culture center Upopoy, and the sight of drift ice at Abashiri
- 6. Enjoy more of the great local cuisine—ramen, sushi, Genghis Khan and more—at a very reasonable price
To find out more about how the added 30% purchasing power you have due to the low yen translates into actual costs, check out the hotel and resort activity information posted on this site.
A private one-day tour with Hanazono Powder Guides at Niseko Hanazono is ¥110,000. You’ll be guided to some special, secret powder spots. The Karifuridake cat tour offered by Hoshino Resorts Tomamu is ¥46,000, allowing up to 12 people to enjoy a full day of powder in a vast, private area. This will create some very vivid memories of your trip to Japan.
The prices are reasonable, but the quality of the Japow and the hospitality provided is the best in the world!
Lift tickets in Japan and Hokkaido are very affordable compared to famous resorts elsewhere in the world. For example, the prices for a one-day adult lift ticket at some famous resorts (as of January 15, 2024) are:
| Resorts in | One-day lift ticket (based on February 9 exchange rate) | Japanese yen equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Vail（CO, USA） | $260 (at ¥149/US$1) | ¥38,740 |
| Whistler＆Blackcomb（CAN） | $260（at ¥110/CAD$1） | ¥28,600 |
| Chamonix Mont Blanc（FRA） | €83（at ¥160/€1） | ¥13,280 |
| Zermatt（SUI） | CHF83（at ¥170/1CHF） | ¥14,110 |
| Resorts in Hokkaido | One-day lift ticket | Compared to overseas; |
|---|---|---|
| Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort | ¥5,000 | Save some ¥8,000 to ¥31,000 |
| Niseko United | ¥9,500 | Save some ¥3,000 to ¥27,000 |
| Rusutsu Resort | ¥11,500 | Save some ¥1,000 to ¥25,000 |
| Hoshino Resorts Tomamu | ¥7,000 | Save some ¥6,000 to ¥29,000 |
Even as lift prices rise around the world, lift tickets in Japan remain very affordable—and on top of this, the yen exchange rate is low. At the same time, the quality of snow in Hokkaido is some of the finest in the world, and with Japan’s outstanding level of hospitably you get some of the most attentive service in the world.
Amazing snow and deep Japanese culture—the low cost just makes this an amazing opportunity to enjoy both.
You can enjoy powder snow all the way into April in Hokkaido. With the pandemic behind us, the vibrancy of the past is returning to Hokkaido’s resorts. Cat skiing, a range of outdoor activities, nightlife—all here for you to enjoy. Everything you could want, in Hokkaido!
