yetis sat on a chairlift
Snow Report

Low Season, Low Quality? | Snow Report

Not even close!

The Christmas and New Year crowds have left for home from most of the Northern Hemisphere resorts, the exception being Japan with January as High Season for visiting Australian and Southeast Asian holiday makers.

This is a fantastic time to visit Europe and North America with less people on the lifts and slopes, less competition for powder, lower prices for accommodation and lift passes, and the most terrain available to date.

The Three Valleys, France has a whopping 552km of piste available, the world leader.

If you can head to the mountains in the next three weeks you won’t be disappointed.

people dressed in trad. Bulgarian fur outfits, like yetis, assemble on the snow
Bansko Kukeri

In Bulgaria between New Year and before Lent, the Kukeri walk and dance through villages to scare away evil spirits with their costumes and the sound of their bells. They are also believed to provide a good harvest, health, and happiness to the village for the year ahead. After parading around the village, they usually gather at the village square to dance wildly and amuse the crowd (pictured above on a chairlift).

So if you’re visiting any of the Bulgarian resorts look out for these elaborately costumed Bulgarian men and women.

If you’re out in resort drop us a line via our social media channels to share your ‘on the snow’ experiences and photos.

We’ll be posting twice weekly snow reports on Mondays and Thursdays throughout the 2023/24 winter season, so bookmark us or better yet subscribe to get the latest snow news and our tips for where the snow will be.

Between snow reports please visit the ‘Stories’ section of our Instagram account to see the latest images and videos from ski resorts around the world.

moon huge, above a chairlift
Palisades putting on show

Forecast for the Next 3-4 Days

After light snow overnight, Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland will see below freezing temperatures and sunny skies through to Thursday, with a chance of light flurries in the Aosta Valley, Italy and Zermatt, Switzerland Tuesday into Wednesday.

It will be a similar story in the Pyrenees, Andorra and Southern Spain with Font Romeu and Grand Tourmalet, France and Formigal, Spain forecast to receive between 20-30cm Tuesday into Wednesday.

A new system is moving into the Nordic countries bringing warmer temperatures – but still well below freezing – and 10-15cm in Levi and Ruka, Finland through Thursday; freeze thaw conditions in southern Norway but Narvik close to the Arctic Circle set to receive 60-70cm above mid-mountain; and 15-20cm in Are, Sweden.

Outside of the big four European destinations (Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland), Central and Eastern Europe will see below freezing temperatures and a mix of sunshine and snow showers, with the Bulgarian resorts of Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo finally getting some quality snowfall with 15-20cm forecast.

Further east, the Georgian and Turkish resorts will remain cold and are forecast to receive between 5-15cm of new snow with Tetnuldi, Georgia expecting between 30-40cm.

The Scottish resorts will see freeze-thaw conditions through Thursday with a mix of cloud and sunshine.

lone skier on virgin snow, lots of powder, bluebird day
Mt Hood

The East coast of the US will see 5-15cm through to Tuesday evening, when the temperature will spike bringing heavy rain top to bottom on Wednesday.

The Mountain States of the US will see temperatures dropping into the minus double digits with 10-20cm forecast through Thursday. Grand Targhee, Wyoming could see up to 50cm of new snow in this storm.

The Western states of the US will see the next storm system rolling through bringing 20-30cm in California; 75-95cm at Mt Hood and Timberline, Oregon; and over a metre at Crystal Mountain and Mount Baker, Washington.

Eastern Canada will see 5-15cm through to Tuesday evening, when the temperature will spike bringing a mix of snow and rain on Wednesday.

The mountain provinces of Alberta and BC will see temperatures well below freezing through Monday with 10-15cm forecast, and 30-40cm at Revelstoke and Whitewater, BC.

Whistler Blackcomb continues to make up for lost time with the freezing level remaining below village level and 30cm forecast down low and 45cm up high.

The resorts on Japan’s main island, Honshu, received 35-45cm overnight, with a smaller system dropping between 10-20cm through Thursday.

It’s a similar story for the Hokkaido resorts with temperatures well below freezing top to bottom, and steady snowfall forecast across the island. Kiroro will be the big winner with 65-75cm forecast.

snowy streets
Zermatt’s snowy streets

What’s Open Now?

AUSTRIA

Ski Arlberg [St. Anton, ​St. Christoph, ​Stuben, ​Lech, Zürs, ​Warth, ​Schröcken] (79/85 lifts; 271/301km piste; 65-340cm base)
SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental (77/82 lifts; 222/270km piste; 40-90cm base)
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis (38/38 lifts; 209/214km piste; 40-160cm base)
Ski Circus [Saalbach Hinterglemm, Leogang, Fieberbrunn] (68/70 lifts; 200/270km piste; 40-110cm base)
KitzSki [Kitzbühel, ​Kirchberg] (58/58 lifts; 188/188km piste; 60-85cm base)
Silvretta Arena [Ischgl, Samnaun] (37/46 lifts; 2152/239km piste; 80-160cm base)
Zillertal Arena [Zell am Ziller/, Gerlos, Königsleiten, ​Hochkrimml] (51/52 lifts; 138/150km piste; 90-210cm base)
Snow Space Salzburg [Flachau, Wagrain, ​St. Johann-Alpendorf] (41/45 lifts; 106/120km piste; 50-170cm base)
Gurgl [Obergurgl, Hochgurgl] (20/25 lifts; 99/112km piste; 80-155cm base)
Hochkönig [Maria Alm, ​Dienten, ​Mühlbach] (33/34 lifts; 90/120km piste; 40-100cm base)
Ski Optimal [Kaltenbach, Hochzillertal, ​Hochfügen] (35/39 lifts; 86/86km piste; 10-95cm base)
Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau (37/45 lifts; 85/97km piste; 35-140cm base)
Dachstein West [Gosau, ​Russbach, ​Annaberg] (21/22 lifts; 51/51km piste; 30-110cm base)

Axamer Lizum (7/9 lifts; 23/38km piste; 80-100cm base), Bad Gastein (16/18 lifts; 72/82km piste; 35-110cm base), Bad Kleinkirchheim (20/22 lifts; 90/103km piste; 50-90cm base), Damuls Mellau (19/20 lifts; 75/81km piste; 110-170cm base), Hintertux (17/21 lifts; 56/62km piste; 35-225cm base), Kaunertal (6/7 lifts; 49/55km piste; 210-340cm base), Kitzsteinhorn (20/21 lifts; 56/61km piste; 40-225cm base), Kuhtai (12/12 lifts; 41/47km piste; 150-210cm base), Mayrhofen (44/44 lifts; 140/142km piste; 5-100cm base), Nassfeld (27/30 lifts; 90/110km piste; 10-100cm base), Nauders (11/11 lifts; 75/75km piste; 50-120cm base), Obertauern (26/26 lifts; 100/100km piste; 140-200cm base), Pitztal (7/7 lifts; 35/41km piste; 50-255cm base), Schladming (45/47 lifts; 120/123km piste; 50-130cm base), Silvretta Montafon (36/36 lifts; 125/140km piste; 20-190cm base), Solden (29/31 lifts; 141/147km piste; 30-295cm base), Stubai (15/26 lifts; 50/68km piste; 70-305cm base), Tauplitz (15/17 lifts; 40/44km piste; 30-200cm base), and Zell am See (26/28 lifts; 69/77km piste; 20-155cm base)

FRANCE

Three Valleys [Val Thorens, Les Menuires, ​Méribel, Courchevel] (151/156 lifts; 552/600km piste; 130-195cm base)
Les Portes du Soleil [Morzine, ​Avoriaz, ​Les Gets, ​Châtel, ​Morgins, ​Champéry] (144/165 lifts; 395/580km piste; 10-145cm base)
Tignes / Val D’Isere (70/79 lifts; 271/300km piste; 90-335cm base)
Les Sybelles [Le Corbier, ​La Toussuire, Les Bottière, ​St Colomban des Villards, ​St Sorlin, ​St Jean d’Arves] (47/68 lifts; 220/310km piste; 10-130cm base)
Le Grand Massif [Flaine, ​Les Carroz, ​Morillon, ​Samoëns, ​Sixt] (50/62 lifts; 195/265km piste; 5-370cm base)
Espace Diamant [Les Saisies, ​Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe, ​Praz sur Arly/, Flumet, ​Crest-Voland] (64/82 lifts; 130/192km piste; 105-150cm base)
Le Grand Domaine [Valmorel, ​Doucy, ​Celliers, ​St François Longchamp] (43/47 lifts; 116/165km piste; 20-130cm base)
Grand Tourmalet/​Pic du Midi [La Mongie, ​Barèges] (18/29 lifts; 100/100km piste; 30-40cm base)
Espace San Bernardo [La Rosière, ​La Thuile] (35/38 lifts; 105/144km piste; 90-315cm base)
Espace Lumière [Pra Loup, ​Val d’Allos] (15/36 lifts; 76/180km piste; 25-90cm base)

Alpe d’Huez (63/69 lifts; 160/250km piste; 100-270cm base), Chamonix (11/17 lifts; 41/56km piste; 10-275cm base), Font Romeu (21/23 lifts; 37/58km piste; 70-80cm base), La Clusaz (29/49 lifts; 73/125km piste; 5-195cm base), La Plagne (71/74 lifts; 193/225km piste; 5-295cm base), Les 2 Alpes (33/44 lifts; 180/200km piste; 30-200cm base), Les Arcs (48/53 lifts; 180/200km piste; 35-350cm base), Les Contamines (19/24 lifts; 90/120km piste; 5-210cm base), Megeve (78/81 lifts; 190/263km piste; 35-140cm base), Serre Chevalier (46/59 lifts; 188/250km piste; 55-160cm base), Val Cenis (27/29 lifts; 105/125km piste; 30-85cm base), and Vars/Risoul (30/36 lifts; 129/185km piste; 10-130cm base)

ITALY

The Milky Way / Via Lattea  [Sestriere, Sauze d’Oulx, ​San Sicario, ​Claviere, ​Montgenèvre] (58/69 lifts; 250/400km piste; 110-160cm base)
Monterosa Ski [Alagna Valsesia, Gressoney-La-Trinité, ​Champoluc, ​Frachey] (19/20 lifts; 115/132km piste; 20-80cm base)
3 Zinnen Dolomites [Helm, ​Stiergarten, ​Rotwand/​Kreuzbergpass] (20/20 lifts; 84/86km piste; 15-30cm base)
Latemar [Obereggen, ​Pampeago, ​Predazzo] (18/18 lifts; 49/49km piste; 20-45cm base)
Civetta [Alleghe, Selva di Cadore, Palafavera, ​Zoldo] (17/23 lifts; 32/72km piste; 10-60cm base)

Alpe di Siusi (21/21 lifts; 62/63km piste; 10-30cm base), Alta Badia (53/53 lifts; 121/130km piste; 30-50cm base), Arabba/Marmolada (26/26 lifts; 55/63km piste; 10-40cm base), Bardonecchia (12/22 lifts; 60/100km piste; 30-50cm base), Bormio (11/14 lifts; 50/50km piste; 25-95cm base), Courmayeur (18/18 lifts; 35/42km piste; 70-110cm base), Cortina (26/27 lifts; 100/120km piste; 25-60cm base), Kronplatz (31/31 lifts; 120/121km piste; 5-50cm base), Livigno (31/32 lifts; 115/115km piste; 100-140cm base), Madesimo (10/10 lifts; 30/37km piste; 25-45cm base), Madonna di Campiglio (57/58 lifts; 125/155km piste; 70-85cm base), Meran 2000 (8/8 lifts; 40/40km piste; 80-110cm base), Passo Tonale (30/30 lifts; 90/100km piste; 40-250cm base), Pila (11/12 lifts; 40/50km piste; 40-60cm base), San Martino di Castrozza (20/21 lifts; 55/60km piste; 15-40cm base), Solda (11/11 lifts; 44/44km piste; 100-180cm base), and Val Gardena (79/79 lifts; 175/181km piste; 45-60cm base)

SWITZERLAND

4 Valleys [Verbier, ​La Tzoumaz, ​Nendaz/, Veysonnaz, ​Thyon] (65/68 lifts; 390/412km piste; 30-180cm base)

Aletsch Arena (35/35 lifts; 74/104km piste; 115-145cm base), Andermatt (12/13 lifts; 67/70km piste; 65-135cm base), Arolla (5/5 lifts; 40/47km piste; 90-165cm base), Arosa Lenzerheide (43/43 lifts; 209/225km piste; 110-120cm base), Crans Montana (16/19 lifts; 100/140km piste; 100-180cm base), Davos Klosters (18/18 lifts; 95/95km piste; 95-200cm base), Engelberg-Titlis (17/17 lifts; 60/80km piste; 30-290cm base), Flims Laax (28/28 lifts; 188/214km piste; 30-180cm base), Grimentz Zinal (21/21 lifts; 114/115km piste; 40-130cm base), Grindlewald Wengen (22/23 lifts; 66/102km piste; 5-65cm base), Leukerbad (13/13 lifts; 45/48km piste; 30-220cm base), Murren (16/16 lifts; 36/54km piste; 45-170cm base), Saas Fee (19/23 lifts; 77/100km; 70-310cm base), St Moritz (23/23 lifts; 152/155km piste; 10-90cm base), Villars (22/25 lifts; 64/84km piste; 15-105cm base), and Zermatt (24/51 lifts; 130/322km piste; 10-200cm base)

ANDORRA

Arcalis (12/17 lifts; 17/30km piste; 60-80cm base), Grandvalira (58/74 lifts; 88/215km piste; 30-60cm base), and Valnord (23/32 lifts; 30/63km piste; 30-50cm base)

snow topped picnic tables
Formigal, Spain with a fresh top up

SPAIN

Baqueira Beret (35/36 lifts; 106/165km piste; 40-50cm base), Candanchu (3/24 lifts; 3/50km piste; 20-40cm base), Formigal (13/21 lifts; 23/143km piste; 20-40cm base), La Molina (14/33 lifts; 45/145km piste; 15-30cm base), and Sierra Nevada (9/24 lifts; 16/113km piste; 20-40cm base)

a snowpark lit up by night with multi-coloured lights - casts a magical light
Ruka night scenes

NORDIC RESORTS

Levi (19/26 lifts; 21/38.5km piste; 25-60cm base), Pyha (6/9 lifts; 11/13km piste; 30-40cm base), Ruka (17/22 lifts; 16/19km piste; 30-40cm base), and Yllas (15/26 lifts; 33/53km piste; 70-70cm base) in Finland

Beitostolen (3/6 lifts; 6/12km piste; 60-60cm base), Gaustablikk (9/14 lifts; 17/35km piste; 80-100cm base), Geilo (18/20 lifts; 31/34km piste; 40-70cm base), Hafjell (16/18 lifts; 49/50km piste; 50-70cm base), Hemsedal (19/21 lifts; 27/44km piste; 35-65cm base), Kvitfjell (13/14 lifts; 37/39km piste; 20-80cm base), Myrkdalen (9/9 lifts; 28/32km piste; 95-130cm base), Narvik (4/6 lifts; 6/10km piste; 30-50cm base), Oppdal (4/16 lifts; 11/56km piste; 30-40cm base), Trysil (31/31 lifts; 72/78km piste; 45-65cm base), and Voss (10/11 lifts; 33/45km piste; 70-100cm base) in Norway

Are (32/35 lifts; 82/91km piste; 45-75cm base), Idre Fjall (23/24 lifts; 37/41km piste; 50-65cm base), Salen (40/40 lifts; 45/45km piste; 70-90cm base) and Vemdalen (16/16 lifts; 19/19km piste; 70-85cm base) in Sweden

snow monster trees, with an in-the-distance lift line looking very beautiful silhouetted against a pastel sky
Snow monsters in Levi

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Bjelasnica (3/7 lifts; 3/6 piste; 25-25cm base) and Jahorina (4/17 lifts; 20/52km piste; 20-20cm base)

BULGARIA

Bansko (12/14 lifts; 36/75km piste; 5-80cm base), Borovets (10/13 lifts; 50/58km piste; 85-95cm base), and Pamporovo (10/13 lifts; 15/30km piste; 70-80cm base)

CZECH REPUBLIC

Špindlerův Mlýn (11/17 lifts; 21/28km piste; 30-50cm base)

skiers and snowboarders line up for the chairlift, under heavy snow
Gudauri snow scenes

GEORGIA

Bakuriani (7/20 lifts; 18/29km piste; 45-70cm base), Gudauri (10/15 lifts; 26/35km piste; 45-70cm base), and Tetnuldi (5/5 lifts; 14/14km piste; 45-70cm base)

GERMANY

Garmisch-Partenkirchen-Zugspitze (18/18 lifts; 34/40km piste; 30-90cm base), Oberstdorf (12/14 lifts; 34/34km piste; 40-120cm base), Spitzingsee (10/10 lifts; 11/15km piste; 45-95cm base), and Sudelfeld-Bayrischzell (12/13 lifts; 23/31km piste; 35-115cm base)

LIECHTENSTEIN

Malbun (7/7 lifts; 23/23km piste; 90-130cm base)

POLAND

Białka Tatrzańska (16/19 lifts; 11/18km piste; 50-150cm base) and Zakopane (3/4 lifts; 3/3km piste; 15-65cm base)

ROMANIA

Poiana Brasov (4/10 lifts; 5/14km piste; 20-30cm base)

SERBIA

Kopaonik (17/26 lifts; 18/55km piste; 10-20cm base)

SLOVAKIA

Jasna (17/19 lifts; 43/45km piste; 40-100cm base) and Tatranska Lomnica (9/9 lifts; 12/12km piste; 50-80cm base)

SLOVENIA

Kanin-Bovec (4/10 lifts; 11/30km piste; 10-120cm base), Kranjska Gora (3/15 lifts; 1/20km piste; 20-20cm base), Krvavec (6/13 lifts; 4/30km piste; 0-30cm base), Maribor (7/14 lifts; 9/35km piste; 10-30cm base), and Vogel (3/9 lifts; 1/22km piste; 0-45cm base)

TURKEY

Ejder 3200 (13/13 lifts; 36/42 piste; 10-110cm base) and Erciyes (5/19 lifts; 6/34 piste; 10-80cm base)

UNITED KINGDOM

Cairngorm Mountain (3/11 lifts; 2/32km piste; 0-15cm base), The Lecht (2/13 lifts; 1/18km piste; 10-10cm base) and Glenshee (6/21 lifts; 2/40km piste; 10-10cm base) in Scotland

a biker with skis attached to bike, makes its way with the traffic in the snow
Palisades local commutes to the slopes

UNITED STATES

Alyeska (7/7 lifts; 45/62km piste; 100-285cm base) in Alaska
Heavenly (17/27 lifts; 29/94km piste; 10-55cm base), June Mountain (6/7 lifts; 30/41km piste; 30-40cm base), Kirkwood (11/13 lifts; 43/65km piste; 45-85cm base), Mammoth (19/25 lifts; 65/90km piste; 75-105cm base), Northstar (14/19 lifts; 35/97km piste; 10-70cm base), Palisades Tahoe (16/43 lifts; 51/200km piste; 60-80cm base) and Snow Summit (7/11 lifts; 13/29km piste; 40-45cm base) in California

Arapahoe Basin (6/9 lifts; 12/105km piste; 40-60cm base), Aspen Highlands (5/5 lifts; 119/135km piste; 50-90cm base), Aspen Mountain (8/9 lifts; 82/103km piste; 20-55cm base), Beaver Creek (23/25 lifts; 78/150km piste: 40-90cm base), Breckenridge (31/35 lifts; 73/153km piste; 50-70cm base), Copper (19/24 lifts; 57/126km piste; 40-65cm base), Keystone (21/21 lifts; 81/135km piste; 30-65cm base), Loveland (7/10 lifts; 26/93km piste; 35-65cm base), Snowmass (15/20 lifts; 117/237km piste; 40-100cm base), Steamboat (20/20 lifts; 142/165km piste; 40-85cm base), Telluride (16/19 lifts; 51/88km piste; 30-60cm base), Vail (29/34 lifts; 199/234km piste; 60-95cm base), Winter Park (20/25 lifts; 87/143km piste; 60-90cm base) and Wolf Creek (9/11 lifts; 100/100km piste; 80-90cm base) in Colorado

Schweitzer (5/10 lifts; 21/95km piste; 20-80cm base) and Tamarack (4/7 lifts; 18/42km piste; 40-75cm base) in Idaho

Sugarloaf (11/15 lifts; 28/87km piste; 10-35cm base) and Sunday River (11/20 lifts; 35/85km piste; 60-70cm base) in Maine

Big Sky (31/38 lifts; 113/250km piste; 30-40cm base), Bridger Bowl (9/11 lifts; 45/71km piste; 25-45cm base), and Whitefish (11/16 lifts; 45/91km piste; 30-100cm base) in Montana
Mt Rose (7/8 lifts; 48/60km piste; 60-120cm base) in Nevada

Attitash (6/8 lifts; 8/37km piste; 40-45cm base), Loon (9/11 lifts; 23/49km piste; 15-30cm base), and Wildcat (4/5 lifts; 4/25km piste; 5-30cm base) in New Hampshire
Taos (11/14 lifts; 51/113km piste; 40-70cm base) in New Mexico

Mt Bachelor (11/15 lifts; 54/100km piste; 50-80cm base) and Mt Hood (8/12 lifts; 55/90km piste; 50-105cm base), and Timberline (4/7 lifts; 10/31km piste; 40-85cm base) in Oregon
Alta (8/8 lifts; 49/71km piste; 90-145cm base), Deer Valley (19/25 lifts; 65/103km piste; 60-65cm base), Park City (37/42 lifts; 165/250km piste; 55-85cm base), Powder Mountain (8/9 lifts; 51/68km piste; 50-80cm base), Snowbird (12/14 lifts; 91/103km piste; 70-100cm base), and Solitude (9/9 lifts; 53/64km piste; 45-85cm base) in Utah

Killington (11/22 lifts; 53/121km piste; 5-30cm base), Okemo (11/20 lifts; 27/70km piste; 25-40cm base), Smuggler’s Notch (4/8 lifts; 17/78km piste; 20-60cm base); and Stowe (10/12 lifts; 20/70km piste; 45-60cm base) in Vermont

Crystal Mountain (7/11 lifts; 35/50km piste; 35-50cm base) and Mt Baker (7/10 lifts; 65/100km piste; 95-120cm base) in Washington

Snowshoe (10/12 lifts; 16/31km piste; 45-120cm base) in West Virginia

Grand Targhee (6/6 lifts; 34/35km piste; 70-110cm base) and Jackson Hole (13/13 lifts; 61/116km piste; 15-95cm base) in Wyoming

a skier in deep pow
Whistler playing catch-up after a slow start to the season

CANADA

Castle Mountain (5/6 lifts; 35/94km piste; 20-40cm base), Lake Louise (11/11 lifts; 115/139km piste; 45-90cm base), Marmot Basin (6/7 lifts; 75/91km piste; 30-45cm base), Mt Norquay (5/5 lifts; 13/16km piste; 50-75cm base), and Sunshine (12/12 lifts; 104/109km piste; 45-80cm base) in Alberta

Big White (11/12 lifts; 45/105km piste; 30-105cm base), Fernie (10/10 lifts; 83/142km piste; 55-130cm base), Kicking Horse (5/5 lifts; 68/100km piste; 40-90cm base), Kimberley (5/5 lifts; 46/80km piste; 0-55cm base), Panorama (10/10 lifts; 98/100km piste; 40-65cm base), Red Mountian (5/8 lifts; 25/120km piste; 75-75cm base), Revelstoke (5/7 lifts; 29/55km piste; 60-110cm base), Silver Star (10/10 lifts; 99/115km piste; 45-115cm base), Sun Peaks (12/12 lifts; 109/135km piste; 25-90cm base), Whistler Blackcomb (23/27 lifts; 150/200km piste; 15-150cm base), and Whitewater (4/5 lifts; 40/50km piste; 95-100cm base) in BC

Blue Mountain (8/11 lifts; 14/29km piste; 40-40cm base) in Ontario

Le Massif (7/9 lifts; 10/39km piste; 25-45cm base), Mont Saint Anne (6/9 lifts; 15/73 piste; 35-50cm base), Sommet-Saint-Sauveur (7/8 lift; 16/38km piste; 20-50cm base), Stoneham (4/6 lifts; 8/34km piste; 35-50cm base), and Tremblant (14/14 lifts; 49/82km piste; 10-65cm base) in Quebec

a skier in yellow off piste skiing in front of birch-like trees covered in snow
Kiroro turns

JAPAN

Happo One Hakuba (16/22 lifts; 43/52km piste; 35-140cm base), Naeba (9/15 lifts; 7/19km piste; 20-40cm base), Nozawa Onsen (7/17 lifts; 8/44km piste; 30-90cm base), Shigakogen (35/48 lifts; 71/83km piste; 40-90cm base), and Zao Onsen (32/35 lifts; 39/50km piste; 35-65cm base) on Honshu

Furano (9/9 lifts; 31/32km piste; 90-155cm base), Kamui (6/6 lifts; 22/24km piste; 100-160cm base), Kiroro (2/10 lifts; 3/24 piste; 70-160cm base), Niseko United (27/32 lifts; 41/51km piste; 85-200cm base), Rusutsu (15/18 lifts; 40/42km piste; 70-95cm base), Sahoro (6/8 lifts; 16/25km piste; 65-80cm base), and Tomamu (6/6 lifts; 19/22km piste; 45-150cm base) on Hokkaido

About the author

Mike Richards

Welsh valleys boy born & bred, Mike now lives between Cardiff and Niseko in Hokkaido, Japan where he's a pro ski instructor. Mike came to skiing later in life at 27, with his first ski season spent as a Chalet Host in Ellmau, Austria in 1993. He's skied every year since, notching up 100+ ski areas across 21 countries and five continents, including his home hill in Brecon Beacons National Park. His personal motto - "If it's snowing, I'm going..."

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