Lowest Snowfall On Record Forces Japanese Ski Resorts To Close Early; Hakuba Snow Total - 0 cm

Sumo, skyscrapers, sushi – and skiing. Japan has emerged as a booming hotspot for international skiers in recent years, due to its high quality powder snow which normally falls as punctually as a bullet train every winter.

This year, however, Japan’s burgeoning ski industry has hit a stumbling block, with unusually low levels of snowfall across the country disappointing visitors and forcing many resorts to shut their doors.

Northern Japan has been hit particularly hard, with only 38 per cent of its average snowfall in December, marking the lowest level since the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) started collecting records in 1961.

Other areas impacted include Nagano, the site of the 1998 Winter Olympics, which reportedly has grassy patches on the slopes. The region's popular Hakuba resort has experienced 0 Cm of snow this winter, compared to its 30-year average of 49 cm.

EDIT

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ski/news/japan-snow-report-skiing/