Japan Snow Report: March 26, 2026
Weekly Snow News for Japan, updated March 26, 2026: Hokkaido leads with a snow depth of 440cm (156″) and has received 32cm (13″) of fresh snow. Honshu is settling into classic spring skiing conditions.
- Hokkaido Snowpack: Hokkaido boasts Japan’s deepest snowpack, currently at 440cm (156″).
- Recent Snowfall: Up to 32cm (13″) of fresh snowfall has refreshed northern slopes.
- Honshu Conditions: Resorts in Honshu are experiencing typical spring skiing conditions.
- Southern Resorts: Freeze–thaw cycles are dominating southern resorts.
Hokkaido: Powder Paradise
Hokkaido remains the most reliable region in Japan for late-season snow, consistently maintaining cold temperatures and deep snowpacks. Kiroro has reported the largest recent snowfall with 32cm (13”).1 Rusutsu (120/170cm / 48/68”) reported 30cm (12”), Furano (75/195cm / 30/78”) received 18cm (7”), and Niseko (148/270cm / 59/108”) too saw significant top-ups. Conditions vary from packed powder to spring snow depending on elevation. Daisetsuzan Kurodake (360/440cm / 144/156″) currently has one of the deepest snow bases globally for late March.
Honshu: Spring Skiing Conditions
Major resorts in Honshu, including Hakuba, Nozawa Onsen, and Shiga Kogen, have transitioned to classic spring conditions. Freeze–thaw cycles are now the dominant pattern, with limited novel snowfall. However, these resorts still maintain solid upper-mountain coverage, although lower slopes are becoming thinner.
Japan Snow Forecast
A cooler pattern is expected to persist across Japan this week. In Hokkaido, summit temperatures will dip to around –14°C before gradually rising toward the weekend. Upper slopes from Niseko to Furano will remain frosty, even as base temperatures will fluctuate between –8°C and +7°C, ensuring firm morning conditions that soften later in the day.2
Across Honshu, resorts such as Hakuba, Nozawa Onsen, and Shiga Kogen will continue to follow a typical spring cycle, with crisp starts near –10°C on higher terrain followed by mild afternoons climbing into double digits at village level. Increasingly spring-like conditions prevail, with the best snow quality early each day.
1Image of Madarao, Japan, March 23, 2026.
2Japan snow forecast for the next 3-6 days.