Hokkaido Japan’s Rusutsu Resort — Tree Ski Paradise For powder enthusiasts, there are few better sensations than picking an untouched line through a perfectly spaced tree grove and experiencing near weightlessness while one’s skis or board silently carve patterns on the perfect snowy canvass draping a mountainside. At Rusutsu Resort, located near Sapporo on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, be prepared to feel that sensation frequently with […] Jared Roberts | February 27, 2024 0 Comments
Warm Temperatures Bring Early Cherry Blossom to Japan After an unseasonably warm winter, Japan’s famous cherry blossom is expected to arrive early this year. Typically, cherry trees will blossom in Japan in late March or early April, but this year the earliest pink flowers can be expected to be seen in Tokyo from as early as mid-March. The popular cherry blossom season is anticipated to start up to […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | February 22, 2024 0 Comments
Pod of Orca Whales Trapped in Ice off the Coast of Hokkaido, Japan A pod of orca whales has been trapped off the Eastern Coast of Hokkaido, Japan. Local officials in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island which is home to ski resorts such as Furano, Niseko, and Rusutsu, reported the heartbreaking situation on Tuesday morning, February 6. According to footage from a drone, a pod of about 10-13 orcas, including several calves, found themselves […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | February 7, 2024 0 Comments
With the Yen at Multi-Decade Lows, Now is the Time to Book a Ski Trip to Japan Monetary policy and weakening currencies aren’t usually how I decide where to take my next ski trip. But, this year, the weak yen keeps coming up. At ¥141 to $1, the cost of a trip to Japan is at an all-time low. The cost savings are significant! Japan is a bucket list destination. Social media would have you believe there […] Mike Humphrey | January 8, 2024 0 Comments
Niseko, Japan, Backcountry Report: Sunny Skies and Soft Snow Report from January 1, 2024 What better way to start 2024 than by breaking out the skins and looking for some fresh snow. Driving to the backside of Mt. Niseko-Annupuri, there was noticeable snow accumulation on the parked cars. The sun was shining which made for scenic views. I parked and headed up the skin track passing tons of Sassa […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | January 3, 2024 0 Comments
Plane from Japan’s Ski Fields in Hokkaido Bursts into Flames Upon Landing in Tokyo A Japanese Airline (‘JAL’) flight from Chitose Airport to Tokyo Haneda burst into flames as it landed at the domestic airport of Japan’s capital on Tuesday, January 2, 2023. The plane allegedly struck a Coast Guard flight that was due to fly aid to the regions affected by the New Year’s Day earthquake in Ishikawa prefecture. All 379 passengers and […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | January 2, 2024 0 Comments
Update on Japanese Earthquake That Has Left at Least 30 Dead On New Year’s Day, a level 7.5 earthquake as measured by the United States Geological Survey (7.6 by Japan’s Meteorological Agency) struck off the west coast of Japan near the Ishikawa prefecture. Rescue operations are still underway but thus far the death of 30 people has been confirmed. Numbers are expected to rise as many people are still trapped under […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | January 2, 2024 0 Comments
Earthquake Off the West Coast of Japan Shocks Hakuba Ski Areas Reported January 1, 2024 At 4:10PM local time January 1, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit Noto in the Ishikawa Prefecture of Japan. Tsunami warnings are in effect for Niigata with the swell expected to be over 10ft. This coastal region directly includes the route between Hakuba and Lotte Arai. Two ski resorts frequented by Americans on the Epic and IKON pass […] Weather Brett Ploss | January 1, 2024 0 Comments
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