What Is the Snowiest Ski Resort in the World?

By Alice Nichols

If you are a ski enthusiast, then you know how important it is to find a ski resort with plenty of snow. After all, a lack of snow can make or break your skiing experience.

So, which ski resort in the world gets the most snow? The answer is Niseko, located in Japan.

The Snowiest Place on Earth

Niseko is located on the northern island of Hokkaido in Japan. It receives an average of 15 meters (49 feet) of snow every year, making it the snowiest ski resort in the world. This amount of snowfall is more than enough to cover an adult elephant!

What Makes Niseko So Snowy?

Niseko’s unique location and weather patterns are what make it so snowy. The resort is situated on the western side of Hokkaido, which means it gets hit by cold air masses from Siberia that pick up moisture as they travel over the Sea of Japan. When this moisture hits Niseko’s mountains, it dumps as snow.

Additionally, Niseko has what is known as “lake-effect” snow. This occurs when cold air passes over a body of water and picks up moisture before depositing it as snow when it hits land. In Niseko’s case, the Sea of Japan provides this moisture.

Other Snowy Ski Resorts

While Niseko takes the cake for being the snowiest ski resort in the world, there are other resorts that receive significant amounts of snowfall. Here are some other snowy destinations worth checking out:

  • Whistler Blackcomb – located in British Columbia, Canada and receives an average of 11 meters (38 feet) of snow annually.
  • Mt. Baker Ski Area – located in Washington state, USA and receives an average of 16 meters (54 feet) of snow annually.
  • Alta Ski Area – located in Utah, USA and receives an average of 13 meters (45 feet) of snow annually.

Conclusion

If you’re a ski enthusiast looking for the snowiest ski resort in the world, then Niseko is the place to be. With an average of 15 meters (49 feet) of snowfall every year, it’s no wonder why this Japanese resort is so popular among skiers and snowboarders.

But if you can’t make it all the way to Japan, there are plenty of other snowy destinations worth checking out. Just make sure to pack your warmest gear!