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Sknowed Blog | Snow Forecasts, Ski Maps & Resort Updates
Japan Ski Season: What to Expect and How to Plan Your Trip
The Japan ski season is one of the most reliable and exciting winter seasons in the world. If you have skied here once, you probably already know why. If you have not, this guide will help you understand when to go, what the snow is like, and how to plan your trip so you get the most out of it. When does the Japan ski season start? For most major resorts, the Japan ski season begins in late November or early December. Hokkaido usually opens first, with places like Niseko and Furano often firing up lifts before Honshu. That early season period can...
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Hakuba Accommodation: Where I Would Stay for the Best Ski Trip
Hakuba is one of those places that can feel wildly different depending on where you stay. The skiing is the headline, but your base decides whether your trip feels smooth and effortless or slightly annoying every day. I have learned that the hard way. Some areas are perfect if you want to walk to lifts in the morning. Others are better if you care about restaurants, bars, and having options at night. This guide is how I would choose Hakuba accommodation if I was booking a ski trip right now. Hakuba is not a single resort. It is a valley of...
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Choosing the Right Ski Helmet: Safety Standards, MIPS & Fit
A ski helmet is recommended for all skiers, regardless of ability. The requirements for protection do not change with skill level — only speed, terrain, and environment do. What matters most is that a helmet is properly certified, fits correctly, and performs reliably in cold conditions. This guide explains what to look for and which standards actually matter. This is especially important when learning to ski safely, where falls are common and unpredictable. Helmet Safety Certifications (The Non-Negotiables) A ski helmet should meet at least one recognized snow-sports safety standard. These standards ensure the helmet performs in cold temperatures and during...
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Learn to Ski: The Complete Beginner Guide (Step-by-Step)
A step-by-step introduction to alpine skiing for first-time and beginner skiers Book Structure Overview Introduction Learning to ski doesn’t have to be confusing, intimidating, or rushed. With the right information and a calm, step-by-step approach, skiing becomes predictable, manageable, and genuinely enjoyable. This book is for first-time and beginner skiers — adults or kids — who want to understand skiing properly from the ground up. Whether this is your very first day on snow or you’ve tried skiing once or twice and still feel unsure, this guide is designed to meet you where you are. You don’t need athletic talent, courage, or expensive equipment to...
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Japanese Onsen (Hot Springs): Etiquette, Temperatures, Tattoos, Rotenburo Explained
What is an Onsen? An onsen is a naturally occurring hot spring. The characters used for onsen are 温泉. 温, read “on” means warm or hot. 泉, read “sen” means hot spring. Onsen and Ski Resorts Onsen are typically enjoyed more in the winter months than hot summer months. Therefore, ski resorts tend to have onsen (or do onsen have ski resorts? Haha). In fact, of the 335 ski resorts we have in our database for Japan, 22 of them already have the word onsen in their name. Of course, you don’t have to have the word onsen in the resort name to...
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Snow Forecast in Japan: Your Ultimate Guide to Planning the Perfect Ski Trip
Japan is well known for its world-class powder snow, drawing skiers and snowboarders from Asia and across the globe. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or a beginner, staying updated with the latest snow forecast in Japan is essential for planning an unforgettable trip. This guide provides real-time insights, expert tips, and everything you need to know about snow forecasts in Japan’s top ski regions. Why Snow Forecasts Matter for Skiers and Snowboarders Accurate snow forecasts help skiers and snowboarders plan their trips around optimal conditions. Fresh powder days are a dream for advanced riders, while stable weather is ideal for families and...
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Niseko in Japanese: Exploring the Meaning of Japan’s Most Popular Skiing Destination
What Does “Niseko” Mean in Japanese? Many people have asked me, “What does ‘Niseko‘ mean in Japanese?” so I decided to tap a few words together to explain. Japanese people write the word Niseko (ニセコ) in katakana (not hiragana or kanji), a script often used for foreign or indigenous names. They mainly use hiragana or kanji for words that originated in Japanese. Interestingly, Niseko doesn’t come from standard Japanese; it comes from the Ainu language, spoken by Hokkaido’s indigenous people. In Ainu, Niseko likely means something like “a river that winds through the mountains” or “a sheer cliff by a river.”...
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Sknowed Updates
Below is a list of updated to sknowed.com in reverse chronological order. Times are in GMT. DateActionCommentsFri Jun 06 23:26:42 2025ADDEDCheck if the URL hash is already set by MapboxFri Jun 06 06:32:02 2025ADDED Routes now accept HEAD verbMon Jun 02 07:53:37 2025FIXEDFixed display of Set New View buttonSun Jun 01 13:54:51 2025FIXEDRemoved datatables and css from home controllerSun Jun 01 11:45:25 2025ADDEDAdd a new sitemap for www.sknowed.comSun Jun 01 03:32:22 2025FIXEDfixed getResortName() was called without idSun Jun 01 02:23:51 2025FIXEDFixed location of wordpress styling for individual resortSun Jun 01 02:18:31 2025ADDEDAdded wordpress styles to sknowed_controller. Sat May 31...
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When is Snow Season in Japan: A Complete Guide
Japan is a premier destination for winter sports enthusiasts, renowned for its pristine powder snow, scenic landscapes, and world-class ski resorts. In fact, Japan has about 450 resorts. The snow season in Japan is a magical time, attracting skiers, snowboarders, and snow lovers from across the globe. Here’s everything you need to know about Japan’s snow season, including when it starts and ends, how much snow to expect, where it falls the most, where is the most snow, the lest snow and what to consider when planning a winter adventure. So, when is the snow season in Japan? When is the...
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