Hakuba Now: Sunday 8th May 2022
- May 8, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 19, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Hakuba region of Nagano
New snowfall at base 0cm
Snowfall at base this season 617cm
Posted on Sunday 8th May 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Hakuba Now report can be found here.
Good morning my Hakuba-loving friends.
Today (Sunday 8th May 2022) is the last day of the season for the four ski areas that made it until today (Happo-one, Goryu, 47 and Tsugaike). We finish the season with mostly blue skies and some cloud.
A big shout out to the folks working hard to keep everything open until this late date. Otsukaresama deshita.
It has been a long season. It has also been a very good one, as we were blessed with some really great snowfall on the mountains this year. Good snow makes everything easier for everyone, including myself! There's all sorts of interesting snow data for this season and previous seasons within this report section, so do be sure to check it all out.
From what I am hearing, ski areas saw an improvement in visitor numbers this season. Domestic skiers and snowboarders have been eager to enjoy the snow and apparently less worried about covid. (Voluntary) mark-wearing is still the norm here in Japan, but more people are getting out and about.
Of course, it is still not possible for overseas visitors to come to Japan with the international borders closed to tourists. (I'm sure you knew that). The abrupt disruption to the growing inbound market has without doubt made a significant difference to Hakuba in the last couple of years, and it still feels like a shock.
There are some cautiously encouraging signs that there might be some modest border easing in the near future, though nothing has been confirmed yet. Hopefully that goes well and is seen as a success, and that we can realistically hope that many more people will be able to visit for the 2022-2023 winter season.
It might well feel like a shock again when foreigners are allowed back in Japan, but I'll be very happy to feel that way!
I'm going to sign off for this season. I really enjoyed reporting the season, but I am now looking forward to a rest. I will try to enjoy the summer months without melting, and then I will be back in November as the 2022-2023 season approaches.
Thank you for reading, and see you (hopefully in person) later in the year.
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Total snowfall during the 2021-2022 on the upper areas of the ski areas (as reported by the ski areas):
Hakuba Goryu: 1002cm
Hakuba 47: 956cm
Hakuba Happo-one: 886cm
Hakuba Cortina: 1162cm
Tsugaike Mountain Resort: 945cm
Please always remember that my observed snowfall numbers in these reports come to you from base areas.
Hakuba Now 2021-2022 season |
Data as Sunday 8th May 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 617cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 60 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 54cm (14th January) November 2021 snowfall 29cm reported on 4 days December 2021 snowfall 130cm reported on 12 days January 2022 snowfall 228cm reported on 20 days February 2022 snowfall 197cm reported on 19 days March 2022 snowfall 32cm reported on 4 days April 2022 snowfall 1cm reported on 1 day May 2022 snowfall 0cm |
All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Hakuba. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report.