Sknowed Blog | Snow Forecasts, Ski Maps & Resort Updates
Aerialways – How to Update OpenStreetMaps.org
There are a lot of features to map on every ski mountain. Some of the main features include aerialways (eg chairlifts, gondolas, etc), pistes (ski course or run) and the actual area of a ski resort. Commonly, pistes are lines or ways. Ski areas are normally mapped as polygons. Chairlifts are normally mapped as lines but also contain point data, the pylons. This video will introduce to you how to map chairlifts and pylons. There are many projects using this data. Of course, freshsnow.jp uses this data but also Microsoft Fly Simulator expansion packs also use this data (see this...
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For Ski Season, 2023/2024, Are we to expect the unexpected?
As the curtains rise on another thrilling ski season in the Land of the Rising Sun, there’s a new character lurking in the wings, ready to add its own twist to the winter drama – El Niño. Yes, the infamous climate phenomenon has decided to grace Japan with its presence this time around, and it’s looking like the ski resorts are in for quite the rollercoaster ride. For the uninitiated, El Niño is like the unpredictable relative who shows up at your family gathering, throwing everything into delightful chaos. In this case, it’s not bringing gifts; instead, it’s packing a bag...
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Sapporo Ski Resorts on a Budget for Beginners
If you are a beginner and on a budget, there are an astounding 8 ski mountains to choose from about 1 hour of downtown Sapporo. Staying off the ski mountain will certainly bring down your accomodation price. Also, in early February of each year, Sapporo has their famous snow festival. Ski during the day and drink, eat and be entertained at the Sapporo Snow Festival at night (btw, in 2024, the snow festival is planned for Feb 4 to Feb 11 and that is also a great time to ski in the middle of winter with excellent...
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Japan Ski Resorts Map
Search Japan Ski Resorts by… You can search and sort mountains by: Name (English and Japanese) Number and length of lifts Number and length of trails (pistes) Max and minimum elevation Total vertical Number and length of each course by difficultly Total of 42 data fields for each mountain and much more… Search Map of Japan Ski Resorts Now! Japan Ski Resort Information – fast! You can: Click the helicopter icon to fly there! List 10, 20 or 50 resorts at a time Sort by various attributes like altitude, run length, etc. Search by free text in the top right for a specific resort The list will automatically filter as you zoom in and out of the...
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How to Get to Hakuba from downtown Tokyo or Directly from Haneda Airport?
There are many ways to get to Hakuba Valley. Most people arriving from overseas will either arrive at Haneda Airport or Narita Airport but some may wish to stay a few days in Tokyo before traveling to Hakuba Valley. We look at all the of the different ways to get to Hakuba Valley from downtown Tokyo or Haneda Airport. Table of Contents Which Airport is more Convenient to get to Hakuba? Where Exactly is Downtown Tokyo Anyway? How do I get to Downtown Tokyo from Haneda Airport? How to get to Downtown Tokyo by Train from Haneda Airport? How to get to...
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Skiing in Japan – Most Common Questions
What are the Best Ski Resorts in Japan? Japan is known for its world-class ski resorts that offer excellent powder snow and a unique skiing experience. Some of the best ski resorts in Japan include: Niseko: Located in Hokkaido, Niseko is famous for its abundant snowfall and diverse terrain suitable for all skill levels. It offers a vibrant international ski scene, with a range of accommodation options, restaurants, and nightlife. Hakuba Valley Ski Resort: Located in Nagano, this is one of Japan’s largest ski resorts that boast 10 mountains within close proximatey of each other. The skiing and apres ski are excellent as...
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Japanese Ski Run Difficulty Ratings
Japan’s Ski Run Rating System: An Overview When skiing or snowboarding in Japan, you might notice that ski run difficulty ratings differ from those in other countries. Unlike North America or Europe, Japan uses a simplified system to classify slopes. According to Wikipedia, most Japanese ski resorts categorize their runs into three primary levels: beginner, intermediate, and expert. However, there’s no standardized definition for each level across all resorts. This means the difficulty of a “beginner” run at one resort might not exactly match a “beginner” run at another. Skiers and snowboarders should always proceed with caution and pay attention to...
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End of the Ski Season in Hakuba Valley
There was a great dump of snow in Hakuba Valley in 2022. Due to the amount of snow dumped in the 21/22 ski season, the end of the ski season in Hakuba in 2022 lasted until Golden Week, a series of four national holidays in the span of a week at the end of April and the beginning of May. Weather and Snow Conditions sign at Hakube Sotyu in the Spring of 2022 On May 7th, people arrived at the foot of Goryu ready to hit their last snow of the season. It was 13c on May 7,...
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freshsnow.jp is live – Ski Resort Map
Japan has a lot of ski resorts! In fact, snowjapan.com states Japan has about 450. For me, Japan is the most perfect place in the world. It is an archipeligo of 4 main islands stretching significantly north, south, east and west. The geography, the weather and seasons are amazing. Winter is of course my favorite. In February in Tokyo, it is often sunny but cool. Not shorts’ weather at all but certainly not excessively cold. Jump in a bullet train for 1.5 hrs and *poof*, you are at a ski resort where it is snowing! Japan is blessed with a mountain range through the...
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