Japan ski resorts using only natural snow could fall to 7 on warming: study

SAPPORO - The number of ski resorts in Japan that operate entirely on natural snowfall could plummet to just seven if global warming continues to accelerate without effective countermeasures being taken, a recent study by Japanese researchers has shown.

The decrease could deal a major blow to Japan's ski culture and regional tourism industries. The study by Hokkaido University and the Forest Research and Management Organization analyzed 349 ski resorts nationwide with lifts or gondolas.