Japan’s ski resorts fear it’s downhill all the way

TOKYO — Japan’s winter resorts are on a slippery financial slope as rising COVID-19 infections deter skiers and snowboarders.

The country’s fine-quality snows had increasingly lured foreign enthusiasts over the last few years, but last year a historic snow shortage left many resorts under pressure. This season there is plenty of snow — but the coronavirus outbreak and Japan’s subsequent ban on foreign tourists are keeping most visitors away.

Some resorts are falling into bankruptcy, and industry experts suggest operators need to brace for a long winter of heavy price competition.

“Now should be the best season, but the number of visitors is very low,” said a representative of a ski resort in the Niseko region of Hokkaido, one of Japan’s most popular snow destinations. The resort usually welcomes 80-90% of its guests from abroad, mainly from Hong Kong and Southeast Asian countries…