The snowiest ski resort in the world finally opens its slopes

Japan’s Gassan ski resort, tucked away in Yamagata Prefecture, has launched its season with a staggering figure: 31 feet (950 cm, if you prefer metric) of accumulated snow, a world record for any ski area currently in operation, according to the specialist site Snow-Forecast.com.

What has impacted Gassan ski resort season?

The late opening is not an anomaly but a defining feature. Gassan can only open once most ski resorts in the Northern Hemisphere have shut down for the year. The reason is as extreme as it is simple – winter snowfall is so heavy that maintaining operations becomes impossible. Only with the arrival of spring do conditions stabilize enough for workers to clear the roads and prepare the slopes. The season often runs into July, offering a rare experience for skiers chasing snow in the warmer months.

This year, the resort’s opening has been defined by abundance. Recent storms dumped such vast amounts of snow that some ski lifts had to be temporarily closed for safety. Now, with milder temperatures ranging between 50°F and 68°F depending on altitude, the situation is more stable, making way for spring skiing at its finest.

But Gassan is far from your typical ski resort. Facilities are minimal – just one chairlift and two rope tows – and the focus is firmly on backcountry and off-piste skiing. With only 2.5 miles of marked trails, the real appeal lies in its natural terrain, which winds down the slopes of Mount Gassan, one of the sacred peaks of the Dewa Sanzan trio.

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