When Does It Snow in Hokkaido? First Snow in October, Skiing From About December
Sapporo sees its first snowfall on 28 October on average, and the Niseko area earlier. But snow falling is not the same as snow you can ski: the base has to hold and the resorts have to open, which in past seasons has meant early December. First-snow and lasting-cover normals, plus each resort's snowfall and season dates.
When does it snow in Hokkaido? Using Japan Meteorological Agency normals (August 1990 to July 2020), Sapporo sees its first snowfall on 28 October on average, and the Niseko area earlier still, on 20 October. But "it snows" and "you can ski" are two different things: the snow has to settle into a lasting base and the resorts have to open, which in past seasons has meant waiting until early December.
The short answer
The key dates:
First snowfallNiseko area 20 October on average, Sapporo 28 October
Snow stops meltingNiseko area from 21 November on average, Sapporo from 6 December
SkiableEarly December in past seasons; for reliable conditions, 12/20 to mid-March has been good
Resorts closeMost resorts are scheduled to close in early May for 26-27; Rusutsu on 31 March
Two windows we recommendJanuary between the holidays (after New Year, before Lunar New Year), and after mid-March (low-season rates, good for drilling technique)
These are long-term normals and observations from past seasons. Every winter is different, so check the current forecast and each resort's own announcements.
When does it snow around Hokkaido?
For the places people ask about most, the JMA normals are as follows:
| Place | First snowfall | First snow cover | Snow stops melting (lasting cover) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niseko area | First snowfall20 October | First snow cover6 November | Snow stops melting (lasting cover)21 November to 17 April |
| Sapporo | First snowfall28 October | First snow cover12 November | Snow stops melting (lasting cover)6 December to 2 April |
| Lake Toya (ref. Muroran) | First snowfall2 November | First snow cover24 November | Snow stops melting (lasting cover)1 January to 7 March |
| Lake Shikotsu (ref. Tomakomai) | First snowfall2 November | First snow cover30 November | Snow stops melting (lasting cover)29 December to 11 March |
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency, Sapporo Regional Headquarters, normals for first snowfall and related dates, statistical period August 1990 to July 2020. The Niseko figures come from the Kutchan station. Lake Toya and Lake Shikotsu have no official JMA station at the lakeshore, so the nearby Muroran and Tomakomai stations are used as a reference; conditions at the lakes themselves vary with terrain.
What the table shows: within the same prefecture, the Niseko area gets its first snow about a week before Sapporo and enters lasting snow cover about two weeks earlier. On the Pacific side, where Lake Toya and Lake Shikotsu sit, the season with snow on the ground is noticeably shorter. If you are coming to see snow, that difference matters.
First snowfall, snow cover and lasting cover
- First snowfall: snow is observed falling, but it may melt soon after it lands
- First snow cover: the ground holds snow for the first time
- Lasting snow cover: once the snow builds up it no longer melts away, and stays through to spring
Whether you can ski depends on how much snow has accumulated after lasting cover begins, and on whether the resorts are open. So Sapporo entering lasting cover around 6 December lines up with "skiable from about early December" in past seasons.
How much snow does each resort get?
The figures each resort publishes:
| Resort | Published figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Niseko | Published figure13.5 m of snowfall over the 2025-26 season | SourceNiseko United (May 2026) |
| Rusutsu | Published figureAbout 14 m average annual snowfall | SourceRusutsu official site |
| Kiroro | Published figureAbout 21 m average annual snowfall | SourceKiroro official site |
| Sapporo Teine | Published figureAbout 349 cm at the summit (five-year average of each season's maximum depth) | SourceSapporo Teine official site |
A caveat: snowfall is how much snow fell across a season, while snow depth is how deep it actually lies on the ground, so the two cannot be compared directly. The methods differ as well: the Niseko figure is a single measured season, Rusutsu and Kiroro publish annual averages, and Teine's is a five-year average of each season's peak depth. Treat them as rough indicators. Separately, Mt. Teine's summit is visibly snow-capped from Sapporo by 18 October on average (JMA normals).
What each month is actually like
November: snow starts to hold, resorts begin opening
Snow typically starts holding on the ground in the first half of November, and resorts open towards the end of the month (Teine 11/21, Niseko and Rusutsu 11/28, all planned). The base is still building at this point, so the number of open runs is usually limited.
Does it snow in early December in Hokkaido?
Yes. By the normals, the Niseko area enters lasting snow cover in late November and Sapporo in early December. Skiing has generally been possible from about early December, though early-season depth varies a lot year to year, and conditions are more reliable from late December onwards.
January and February: the most reliable stretch in past seasons
12/20 to mid-March has been good throughout in past seasons. Based on FUYU coaches' observations across multiple winters in Niseko, it keeps snowing through this stretch, and the terrain and climate together keep conditions relatively stable.
Is there still snow in Hokkaido in March?
Yes. In our experience conditions hold up well until about mid-March; after that they turn less predictable, with the snow becoming wetter and heavier, and skiing feels different from January and February. Lasting snow cover around Lake Toya and Lake Shikotsu ends in the first half of March on average, so go earlier if snow scenery is the point.
Is there still snow in Hokkaido in April?
There is usually still snow up on the mountain. Niseko United notes that little new snow falls in April, but the base built through winter is still there. Niseko and Teine are planned to still be open, and Kiroro is estimated to be; lasting snow cover in central Sapporo ends on 2 April on average.
How late into the year does it snow in Hokkaido?
Sapporo's last snowfall of the season falls on 21 April on average, and the Niseko area's on 27 April. Resorts are scheduled to close in early May, and once they close you cannot ski even if snow remains up high, so the operating calendar is what to plan around.
When the resorts open and close
| Resort | 26-27 season |
|---|---|
| Sapporo Teine | 26-27 season21 Nov 2026 to 5 May 2027 (planned) |
| Niseko | 26-27 season28 Nov 2026 to 5 May 2027 (planned) |
| Rusutsu | 26-27 season28 Nov 2026 to 31 Mar 2027 (planned) |
| Kiroro | 26-27 season28 Nov 2026 to 5 May 2027 (estimated; not yet announced) |
Actual dates follow each resort's own announcements. FUYU lessons start on 28 November at all four resorts; Teine's lifts open on 21 November, but our lessons there begin on 28 November.
Related: Niseko vs Rusutsu vs Kiroro vs Teine
Seeing snow vs. skiing on it
If you only want snow scenery, Sapporo has lasting snow cover from early December to the end of March. Around Lake Toya and Lake Shikotsu the window is shorter, roughly January to the first third of March.
If you want to ski, it is not just about whether snow exists: the resorts have to be open, and the conditions have to be worth travelling for. A resort being open does not mean the snow is at its best.
When is the best time to take a lesson?
Lessons run all season. What changes is what you can usefully work on:
| When | Good for |
|---|---|
| December to March | Good forChasing powder, drilling edge change, learning from scratch, exploring the mountain, family trips, group trips |
| After March | Good forDrilling edge change, learning from scratch, ground tricks, park jumps, natural terrain |
Lessons come as a full day of 6 hours (including a 1-hour lunch) or a half day of 3 hours; Niseko and Teine also run a 2-hour night session on night-skiing days. Rusutsu and Kiroro offer full days only.
The two windows we recommend
January between the holidays: after New Year, before Lunar New Year
Once the New Year holidays are over and before Lunar New Year (6 February in 2027), the resorts are much less busy. Lift queues are short, runs are empty, and there is room to practise. This window also sits inside the stretch that has been reliable in past seasons.
Lessons are easier to arrange too: you can book beginner or advanced Mountain Guiding (available from 4 January), or secure a coach for your child, with plenty of flexibility. One thing to note: 9 to 11 January is the Coming of Age Day long weekend in Japan, so the mountain is busier than on a normal weekday.
For a fuller plan, see our January guide to skiing between the holidays.
After mid-March: good for drilling technique
After mid-March the snow turns wetter and heavier and powder days become rarer, but it is a good time to drill edge change, learn from scratch, or play with ground tricks, park jumps and natural terrain. On the 26-27 price list, Niseko moves to low-season rates after 3/15 and spring rates after 4/8; Teine moves to low-season rates after 3/8.
Rusutsu is scheduled to close on 31 March, so check the dates if you are planning a Rusutsu trip after mid-March.
Planning the trip
First time on snow: we recommend two full days
| Day | What you get to |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | What you get toGetting used to the gear, and feeling what it is like to control your own speed and direction |
| Day 2 | What you get toSnowboarders start on edge change; skiers start to feel their turns link up |
| Add a third day if time allows | What you get toSnowboarders understand how edge change works; skiers begin trying parallel |
Days booked are not the only thing that sets your pace. Tell your coach what you are hoping for and we will adapt to where you are. If you only have one day, we suggest skis: you get to ski on your own sooner, which feels more rewarding.
Good windows: January between the holidays (empty runs, no worrying about collisions), or after mid-March (good for beginners and for practice).
Want powder: two days of private lessons plus one day of Mountain Guiding
Spend two days in private lessons tuning your technique, then one day with a guide who takes you into the trees and the powder. Mountain Guiding comes at two levels:
| Level | What you need | Where we take you |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner guiding | What you needStable edge change and parallel on green runs | Where we take youTrees and powder areas inside the resort boundary |
| Advanced guiding | What you needStable edge change and parallel on red and black runs | Where we take youTrees, powder and backcountry inside and outside the boundary, including the gates |
Mountain Guiding runs from 4 January to 7 April, at Niseko only. For powder, aim for 12/20 to mid-March; January between the holidays is a strong choice.
Worth knowing when you plan
- Heavy snow can delay JR trains and buses, so leave slack between the airport and the resort
- Popular dates have started filling from early October in past seasons, so ask early once your dates are fixed
Once you have picked your dates, the next step is picking the right lesson
Within the same stretch of winter, a first-timer and someone chasing powder need completely different things. FUYU SKI is a ski school in Hokkaido teaching in Chinese and English, running lessons at Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro and Sapporo Teine, matched to your level: from standing on a board for the first time through edge change, steeps, trees and powder.
For a closer look at conditions and crowds through the season, see when the best time to ski in Hokkaido is.
Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency, Sapporo Regional Headquarters, normals for first snowfall and related dates (August 1990 to July 2020); the official sites of Niseko United, Rusutsu, Kiroro and Sapporo Teine; each resort's 26-27 season announcements; the FUYU 26-27 price list; and FUYU coaches' on-the-ground observations across multiple winters in Niseko.