Factually correct, however rudimentary to the point of being redundant.

Hokkaido and Chubu (central Honshu) have vastly different, barely comparable climates, across all four seasons.

Edit: not that observations are not interesting, just comparisons are virtually meaningless.

Not a meaningless comparison, if like me, you are trying to choose where to go right now...

Looks like some wild weather Sunday/Monday for Hokkaido at least.

Very meaningful in that case!

Happy travels.

Arrived in Hirafu today. It was pretty mild, getting up to around 2 degrees but there's been no rain at all. It started snowing in the afternoon and has continued fairly lightly into this evening. It's only just below freezing though so it's not the driest snow at village level. Hoping it continues to cool off and snow throughout the night.

moist warm humid aussie like mid mountain fog conditions in hakuba today... super windy tonight as well, reminds me of a ECL type weather in aus... though it must be below zero now as the guns looked on at 47 -goryu. yes this is Donza posting on smitty sans outer ..stupid swedes poach ip addresses like they poach lines

Snowing here in Hakuba this morning

^ what they said! I'm about a day away from booking two weeks at Niseko. Hoping to get some decent conditions.

Surprising amount of snow today in Niseko. Surprising because no one was forecasting it.

Quote Rod White
"There was easily 30 --40 cm up high of very dry powder. These Feb guests calling it the best powder day of their lives....and I would have to admit ...it was prety darn sweet.
We came in with still huge areas of untouched paddocks and lines in the trees going begging. Tomorrow's morning program is looking good !"

Snowing heavily here in Yokohama this morning!!!!

Looks like we are back on .....

The current forecast certainly looks a lot more promising for Hokkaido than Honshu

Fletch, you reek of vested interests. Got any?

Are you in Niseko right now?

This is a weather forum, all you needed to say was "30-40cm dry powder" to be objective. The rest was irresistible [re]spin marketing on your behalf.

This
btw "paddocks and lines" made me larf...has rod run outta adjectives.

For the record I have and would continue to say the same thing when there is Hakuba spin in the weather forum as well.

And yes, "paddocks" is not a word I'd use to describe a ski or snowboard environment if I were a spin spruiker like this RW character. I guess when the season is getting on and your pretenses are not as robust, you let your guard down and reality starts to slip through in your language.

It is snowing lightly again in Hakuba, has been on and off for a few days since the rain for little more than 20-30cm as of yesterday.

In that same time period you could have gone 2 hours drive to Charmant Hyuchi and had 50cm. Or to Seaside Valley for a similar amount.

Next week looks a bit warm for lower elevations in Nagano/Niigata?

Yeah next week (sunday onwards for 72 hours) looks dire for honshu
a moist warm and tight system born in Taiwan slides up the side of Honshu.....bringing rain..moist SE winds and high humidity...
In Australian terms it would be similar to a ECL sliding down from Norfolk island.

50cm is too much for seaside, we tried (in resort anyway)

What's nasty about next week is that once that rain event rolls through the high behind it doesn't look strong enough to deliver good follow up snow (at this stage anyway) IMO

Snowing very lightly this morning in the village in Hirafu. Conditions will be excellent this morning but it is expected to get slightly above freezing later today so lower slopes will get a little heavy. I have to have a rest day today though. Been 6 days straight now and did a pretty big backcountry trip yesterday, legs are shot.

I think it might have been closer to 90

2cm of accummulated snow on the streets of Yokohama so far!!!

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm......

Would you guys blow $5-6k on 14 days in Niseko from next week with the current weather predicitions? I'm just a bit worried that for the amount I'm going to spend I'm not getting ideal conditions.

Yes or no is fine.... I know it's a judgement call, I just don't have past experiences to use as a guide.. so interested in hearing what you think.

b.

well 5-6 k would last me 6 weeks nearly in Niseko...but i digrees...


Niseko will be pretty good...IMO
all of Hokkaido will be

Now 3cm in Yokohama.

Tokyo

Sorry that includes Prem Economy flights, nice apararment with ski in / out and a decent budget for food. I could go cheaper if I wanted to I guess.. but I need spoiling.

I would go

It is a little hard to forecast 14 days starting from next week. With Niseko, the odds of ok conditions based on weather are in your favour. Go for it, with fingers crossed knowing that mean reversion has so far not dogged them.

times two
If I have the option if going skiing I do
and let the weather work itself out
Niseko can snow 50cm overnight yet show insipid model projections
just ask rod white