Magnitude 7.5 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Main Island & Hits Ski Resorts, 16’ Tsunami Expected, Evacuation Orders in Place A magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit Japan’s west coast on the main island, Honshu, on New Year’s Day at 4:10 p.m. local time near the Ishikawa prefecture. The earthquake was felt in the entire central part of Honshu, Japan’s largest island, which is home to ski resorts in the Nagano prefecture like Hakuba. Following the earthquake, between 15-20 aftershocks have been […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | January 1, 2024 0 Comments
Niseko Hanazono, Japan, Report: Light Snow Overnight, Holiday Crowds Arrive Report from December 31, 2023 I looked out my window this morning to finally see snow coming down. Typically a usual sight in Niseko, but any trace has been absent the past few days. Being New Year’s Eve, the crowds came. Lines aren’t often found in Japan, but since Niseko is rated as the #1 resort in the country, people […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | December 31, 2023 0 Comments
Niseko, Japan, Report: Softer Snow with More on the Way Report from December 30, 2023 Drove over to Niseko Grand Hirafu this morning. The snow was better than at Annupuri due to having less sun exposure. Niseko United is the umbrella that combines four ski resorts which are inter-connected by lifts and all available on the IKON pass. From left to right in the above trail map are Annupuri, Niseko […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | December 31, 2023 0 Comments
Niseko, Japan Report: More Snow than Hakuba, Still a Few Lifts yet to Open Report from December 29, 2023 I flew from Tokyo to Sapporo last night. Tokyo is located on the main island of Honshu, while Sapporo is located on a smaller island in the north called Hokkaido. I rented a car at Sapporo and drove the roughly two hours from Chitose airport to Niseko. There was noticeably much more snow on Hokkaido […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | December 30, 2023 0 Comments
Lotte Arai, Japan Report: Wet and Icy Down Low, Soft Snow Up Top Report from December 28, 2023 I drove two hours from Hakuba to Lotte Arai this morning. The drive snakes along Japan’s famous Jade Coast, named for the small pebbles of jade that can be found here. Pulling into Lotte Arai, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, which was quite the contrast from Hakuba yesterday. I took the gondola up, […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | December 30, 2023 0 Comments
Hakuba, Japan Report: Warm and Cloudy Report from December 27, 2023 Landed in Tokyo last night and rented a car and drove five hours north to Hakuba. Woke up to warm temperatures and melting snow, however, there was still about a foot or two on the ground around town. Skied Hakuba 47 & Goryu and Happo One. Goryu was sunny above the clouds and had nice, […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | December 29, 2023 0 Comments
The World’s Best Ski Destinations According to ‘Compare the Market’ The Australian subsidiary of British price comparison website for travel insurance ’Compare the Market’, Compare the Market AU, has ranked 50 different cities, towns, and villages around the world to see which one is the best for a snow sport holiday. The data analyses the number of listed accommodation options, the total length of ski runs by difficulty grade, annual […] Industry News SnowBrains | December 22, 2023 0 Comments
7 Essential Items to Pack For an International Ski Trip A U.S. TikTok influencer has been going viral for proving that some international skiing destinations may be much less expensive than staying in the country. So you’re convinced; you’ve booked your flights and the date is getting closer. Here’s a list of seven essentials not to forget if you’re going abroad this winter: #1 Your Ski Pass Ikon and Epic have […] Gear Brett Ploss | December 20, 2023 0 Comments
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