Japanese resorts mark runs green, red and black, with no blue. How steep each can be, the signs to know, and the slope rules resorts post.
Most Japanese ski resorts grade their runs in three colors: green for beginner (初級, shokyu), red for intermediate (中級, chukyu) and black for advanced (上級, jokyu). There is no national standard for how steep each color can be, so a red run at one resort can be much harder than a red at the next. The resort's course map, which usually gives the maximum angle of each run in degrees, is the thing to check.
| Color | Japanese | Level | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green | 初級 (shokyu) | Beginner | Wide, gentle, usually groomed. Includes long, narrow traverse trails (林間コース) that link areas |
| Red | 中級 (chukyu) | Intermediate | Anything from a cruiser to a steep pitch; often bumps by the afternoon |
| Black | 上級 (jokyu) | Advanced | Steep, and may be partly or fully ungroomed |
Europe uses blue, red and black (plus green in some countries), and North America uses a green circle, blue square and black diamond. Most Japanese maps have no blue, so red covers a wide range between easy and expert terrain. A few resorts use extra symbols or colors; the legend on the course map is the reference.
The angle varies by resort and even within one run. Two examples from official sources:
As a rough guide, compare the listed maximum angle with runs you already know at home. A red with a high maximum angle on an icy morning skis harder than its color suggests. If you are new to skiing in Japan, start on a red near the base and work up. Our beginner's guide covers choosing a first resort.
Many signs in big resorts are bilingual, but smaller areas often use Japanese only.
| Sign | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 圧雪 | assetsu | Groomed |
| 非圧雪 | hi-assetsu | Not groomed |
| コブ | kobu | Moguls |
| 林間コース | rinkan kōsu | Trail through the forest, usually easy and narrow |
| 迂回コース | ukai kōsu | Detour, the easier way down |
| 立入禁止 | tachiiri kinshi | No entry |
| コース外滑走禁止 | kōsu-gai kassō kinshi | No skiing outside the marked runs |
| 徐行 | jokō | Slow down |
Many Japanese resorts post the International Ski Federation's 10 rules on boards and in leaflets. The main ones (Weathernews summary of the FIS rules):
Ropes and closed areas matter more in Japan than many visitors expect. In Niseko you may enter the backcountry only through the official gates, ducking a rope is prohibited, rescues outside the resort are charged at a minimum of ¥100,000, and rule breakers can have their lift pass confiscated (Niseko Rules). See our Niseko gate system guide before skiing off-piste there.
Lift lines are usually orderly. Shuffle forward in turn, keep your skis off other people's, and say "sumimasen" (excuse me) if you bump someone.
Most resorts groom after the lifts close or overnight, so the first hour has the firmest corduroy. Popular red runs are often bumped up by the afternoon. Before you go up, our live cameras show how busy the main slopes are and whether they have been groomed.
Not reliably. Japan's red can cover the range that Europe splits into blue and red, so a Japanese red can be easier or harder than a European one. Check the maximum angle on the course map.
Only where the resort allows it. Many resorts ban skiing outside the marked runs (コース外滑走禁止). Others, such as Niseko, open their backcountry through gates. Tree runs inside the resort are covered in our tree skiing guide.