Hokkaido
Japan
Furano
Natural snow at mid-mountain (660 m) is reliably skiable from 16 Dec to 15 Apr. At the peak of the season the village at 245 m is snow-sure (100% of days) and modelled snowfall at the summit averages 69 cm a fortnight.
How natural snow at Furano has changed
Days each winter (November to April) with 30 cm or more of natural snow, every winter since 1950. The lines are the averages for 1961/62 to 1990/91 and 1995/96 to 2024/25.
Village, 245 m
About the same as in 1961–1990.Mid-mountain, 660 m
About the same as in 1961–1990.Modelled from ERA5 weather (Copernicus Climate Change Service), one consistent record for every winter. Checked against measured snow, this model got the direction of change right at 18 of 19 Swiss weather stations and 22 of 25 US snow stations, but overstated its size: a typical loss of 26 days against 17 measured in Switzerland, and 12 against 6 in the US. Read the changes as upper estimates. See the measurements · All 104 resorts since 1950
Month by month
October
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
November
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 16% of days.
December
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 87% of days, typically 65 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. Snow usually reaches the village too (60% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 147 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
January
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (660 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 130 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (100% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 117 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
February
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (660 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 169 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (100% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 103 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
March
Snow-sure. Mid-mountain (660 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days, with a typical depth of 194 cm. The worst of the thirty winters managed 100%. Snow usually reaches the village too (100% of days). Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 130 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
April
Usually skiable. Mid-mountain had 30 cm or more on 85% of days, typically 120 cm deep. In the worst of the thirty winters there was none. Modelled snowfall at the summit averages 81 cm in the month, before wind and settling.
May
Unreliable for natural snow. Mid-mountain reached 30 cm on 8% of days.
June to September
Natural snow at mid-mountain reached 30 cm on fewer than 5% of days.
Questions
When is the best time to ski Furano?
For natural snow, 16 Dec to 15 Apr. In that window mid-mountain (660 m) had 30 cm or more of natural snow on at least 90% of days across thirty winters. March is the most reliable month.
Is there snow at Furano in December?
In December, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 87% of days over thirty winters, typically 65 cm deep. One or more seasons had none at all.
Does the snow reach the village at Furano?
At its most reliable, in March, the village at 245 m had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days. You can usually ski back to the village.
How high is Furano?
The modelled village is at 245 m, mid-mountain at 660 m and the summit at 1,074 m. The ski area itself spans 235 m to 1,064 m.
How much does natural snow vary from winter to winter at Furano?
Across the thirty winters modelled, mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of natural snow on between 119 and 176 days per season, with a typical winter around 152. Thirty winters show how much one season can differ from the next. For how snow has changed since 1950, see the long record below.
What is the nearest airport to Furano?
Asahikawa (AKJ) is about 39 km away in a straight line. New Chitose (CTS) is 82 km away. Road distances are longer.