Japanese ski resorts struggle amid declining birthrate

Many ski resorts in Japan are facing difficulty in staying open. As the number of domestic skiers and snowboarders declines significantly, whether or not resorts can attract foreign tourists determines their success or failure.

The number of skiers and snowboarders in Japan fell to 4.6 million in 2023 from 18.6 million in 1993 due to increasing options for leisure activities and a declining birthrate, according to a white paper on leisure issued by the Japan Productivity Center.

Ski resorts are one after another being forced to shut down due to financial difficulties caused by declining visitor numbers and the monetary burden of refurbishing old facilities. Data from the Japan Sports Agency shows that the number of ski resorts across the nation dropped to 449 in 2021 from 1,669 in 1985 when the number peaked.