
Sapporo Teine operates across 683 vertical metres from a 340-metre base to a 1,023-metre summit on Mount Teine in western Sapporo, offering 15 runs across 76 hectares served by 10 lifts. The resort hosted alpine skiing, bobsleigh and luge events during the 1972 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Games held in Asia. Terrain splits 35 per cent beginner, 40 per cent intermediate and 25 per cent advanced, with north-facing slopes preserving Hokkaido's dry powder through extended periods.
The resort divides into two zones connected by the Eight Gondola and a 6-kilometre linking run. Highland Zone at altitude features the FIS-approved Olympic downhill course, the steep Kitakabe North Face with pitches to 36 degrees, permitted tree skiing zones and a terrain park. Olympia Zone occupies gentler mid-mountain terrain with wide groomers including Shirakaba Sunshine, family facilities and a snow escalator for novices. The longest continuous run from summit to base measures 5.4 kilometres.
Daytime operations run 0900 to 1600 hours, with night skiing in Olympia Zone from 1600 to 2000 hours on most days. The mountain draws local families and day-trippers from Sapporo alongside international visitors, with weekdays noticeably quieter than weekends when ski schools dominate lower slopes. On-mountain facilities include Highland Ski Center and Olympia Ski Center with rentals, restaurants and ticket sales, plus mid-mountain cafeterias. Views from the summit extend across Sapporo city to Ishikari Bay.
Sapporo Teine operates independently without major pass affiliations, though the K-Winter Pass at 89,000 yen covers multiple Hokkaido resorts. The 2025-26 season runs 16 November to 6 May, with weekend-only operation after early April. Standard day tickets cost 8,200 yen for adults, with online discounts reducing rates to 7,900 yen. The resort suits intermediate skiers seeking accessible Hokkaido powder, advanced riders chasing steep tree skiing near a major city, and families requiring separated beginner terrain with urban amenities.
Sapporo Teine is the Olympic mountain on the western edge of Sapporo, hosting alpine events at the 1972 Games. Its 76 hectares hold 15 runs over 683 vertical metres, from 1,023 metres to a base at 340 metres. The grading is 35% beginner, 40% intermediate and 25% advanced, with no expert-rated terrain. A gondola, a quad, a triple, six double chairs and a surface lift make up the network. The mountain divides into two zones, Highland above and Olympia below, linked by the Eight Gondola, and snow holds well on the north-facing slopes.
Highland is the serious zone, with the FIS-approved women's giant slalom run of 2,000 metres and Kitakabe, the North Face, a mogul run reaching 36 degrees that passes through spaced trees. A nature area allows tree skiing, and a small terrain park sits nearby. Olympia is gentler, with wide green runs, a snow escalator, a kids park and the ski school, and it also runs night skiing most evenings. The longest run, from summit to base, covers 5.4 kilometres. Advanced skiers wanting an Olympic piste close to the city, and families who need a convenient base, will both find a good fit.
The 2025-26 season opens 16 November and runs through 6 May, though Highland Zone typically accesses snow several days before Olympia Zone opens. After 6 April, operations continue weekends and national holidays only, with Highland remaining open into early May when conditions allow. Standard daily hours span 0900 to 1600, extending to 2000 for night skiing.
Mount Teine receives approximately 10 metres of annual snowfall, with the summit's 1,023-metre elevation and north-facing orientation maintaining cold temperatures and dry snow quality characteristic of Hokkaido. Base depths routinely exceed 300 centimetres mid-season. The provided data shows 772 centimetres season-to-date accumulation with 300-centimetre current base. Limited snowmaking supplements natural snowfall on lower runs, though the resort depends primarily on natural precipitation.
January through mid-February delivers peak powder conditions with consistent cold temperatures and frequent storms, whilst December sees the snowpack building with late-month storms averaging 50 centimetres weekly. March maintains good coverage with warming temperatures and longer daylight, though afternoon corn snow replaces morning powder. April transforms remaining terrain to spring conditions, appealing to those seeking reduced lift ticket prices and emptier slopes. Weekdays from January through March offer the best combination of fresh snow and minimal crowds.
The resort calendar includes standard Japanese holiday periods with peak crowds 27 December through 4 January. No major festivals or competitions appear on the regular calendar beyond occasional national ski competitions on the FIS-approved Olympic course. Night skiing operates most evenings through March, typically closing for the spring season. The Olympia Zone's lit runs and proximity to Sapporo make it popular for after-work sessions amongst city residents.
Mount Teine rises in Teine Ward on the western edge of Sapporo, Hokkaido's capital city with 2 million residents. The mountain sits 20 kilometres northwest of central Sapporo in the Teine Range, with Highland Zone base facilities at approximately 500 metres elevation. Slopes face predominantly north towards Ishikari Bay, visible from upper elevations alongside urban sprawl. The resort occupies a forested mountainside with no on-mountain accommodation, operating strictly as a day-use facility.
Sapporo city centre lies 20 kilometres southeast with 40-minute drive times, whilst JR Sapporo Station serves as the main transport hub. The resort sits 20 kilometres from the coastal city of Otaru to the northwest, reachable in 40 minutes by road. Teine Ward itself forms a residential and light industrial district within greater Sapporo. The 1972 Winter Olympics established the mountain's global profile, with the original Olympic flame holder preserved at Olympia Zone.
Road access follows Route 5 from Sapporo to Teine Interchange on the Sasson Expressway, then 10 minutes via local roads to either Highland or Olympia base areas. Central Sapporo requires 40 minutes absent traffic, whilst highway tolls apply for expressway segments. New Chitose Airport lies 60 minutes south via expressway. Separate parking areas serve each zone, with weekend capacity constraints during peak season.
New Chitose Airport, Hokkaido's primary international gateway, sits approximately 50 kilometres southeast with connecting rail service. JR trains depart Sapporo Station every 15 minutes for the 11-to-18-minute journey to Teine Station at 360 yen. JR Hokkaido Bus route 70 continues from Teine Station south exit to Olympia Zone in 15 minutes or Highland Zone in 27 minutes at 1,000 yen, though weekday morning schedules miss first lifts. Direct ski buses operate December through March from Sapporo hotels, taking 50 to 100 minutes with packages including seven-hour lift tickets at 10,500 yen. The JR Pass covers train and bus segments.
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Zermatt is having another crack at a World Cup downhill, and this time nobody has to cross a border. Around 13 million Swiss francs is going into rebuilding the Gornergrat piste, including a jump fed by a roughly 300-metre in-run across the roof of the Gornergrat Railway gallery, with the Matterhorn lined up behind it for the TV cameras. First men’s race is pencilled in for March 2028, pending FIS homologation.

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Kelly Canyon had a rough 2025-26, and the Idaho resort has spent the summer making sure it doesn’t repeat. Snowmaking now reaches the top of Goldrush, the terrain park is doubling in size with a stereo system, lights and a snack shack, and the car park is getting bigger. Grooming is stepping up too. Target opening is December 4, conditions permitting.

Winter was meant to be winding down in Chile. Then Valle Nevado took 108 cm in 48 hours in early October, and the resort has pushed its closing date out to November 8 - its latest in 38 years of operation. That makes 143 days of skiing since opening day on June 19, with 690 cm banked for the season. Only part of the mountain is running while the storm settles, so check the mountain report before you plan a trip.
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Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
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Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Base depth, summit depth, and recent snowfall are the core numbers to watch. At Sapporo Teine, summit conditions (1023m) can differ noticeably from the base, so we break both out separately rather than showing a single average.
Wind and temperature swings matter as much as fresh snowfall. Cold, calm conditions hold snow quality well, while wind-loading or a warm-up can change things quickly — especially given the elevation spread between Sapporo Teine's base and summit.
Snowfall and depth figures for Sapporo Teine come from official mountain sources; weather and outlook data comes from independent forecasting services. The mountain is served by 10 lifts, including a quad chairlift and a gondola.
Conditions can change overnight, so mornings and late afternoons are the best times to check back on Sapporo Teine.