Japan's 2021/22 winter season kicks off with no international tourists for the second year running

When the powder tap turns on in Japan, it turns on hard. In just days, ski resorts across the country have transformed from the auburn shades of autumn into full-blown powder paradise, as a 3-day storm delivered over a metre of snow to the likes of Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro and Hakuba, with daily recorded snowfalls of up to 50cm.

The wintry change has given a green light to the ski season, with lifts now turning days ahead of schedule and locals flocking to resorts for early season turns.

Already, ski resort operators will be questioning the influence of La Niña, which has developed for the second year running and is typically a very good thing for Japanese ski resorts. Last season was a case in point.

It’s also the second year in a row that Japan’s ski season has begun without international tourists, which is great news for Japan’s skiers and snowboarders, who might be sick getting sick of fresh powder by the time the New Year rolls around, but devastating for businesses who rely on foreign clientele. Needless to say, there will be many watching on from afar.

Instagram has been awash with photos of snow-laden ski fields, buried cars and excited locals. Here are some of our favourites so far.

November delivers

Niseko-based Rising Sun Guides were off the mark early, slashing into these early season turns almost five days ago, while many were still waxing their skis. Skier Alex Koens sure knows how to throw some spray.

 

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The locals in Niseko, even the four-legged ones, are pretty used to this sight. The caption on this photo from Rhythm Japan reads “winter is officially here”, and it’s hard to argue. Local news site 360niseko.com are reporting 110cm of cumulative snowfall already, with dumps of 40cm, 38cm and 20cm over the last three days.

 

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Kiroro is renowned for the quality and quantity of snow it gets. In fact, we recently named it as one of Japan’s top five ski resorts for powder. 50cm of snow fell there yesterday, and with the resort not planning to open its gates until December 4, it’s going to be one hell of an opening day.

Rusutsu welcomed its first guests to the resort yesterday, exactly a week earlier than last season. Only the lower slopes on West Mountain were open, but with 37cm of overnight snowfall, visitors won’t have been complaining.

Zao Onsen ski resort opened in the kind of conditions you get very used in Japan: not much light, not much visibility, but a whole lot of powder.

50cm at Hakuba’s Happo One resort this morning, and a total of 130cm for the season so far. Hakuba is off to a cracking start.

Furano officially kicks off its season today, opening D1 and D2 courses in the Furano Zone. 16cm of snow fell overnight no top of the 45cm from yesterday.

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