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Coronavirus: in Hokkaido, Japan’s luxury ski resorts say the snow must go on
The snow-capped Mount Yotei, a dormant volcano in Niseko, Japan. Photo: Getty Images
Over Christmas 2019 and into the New Year, there was hardly a hotel room, chalet or high-end condominium to be had in the Hokkaido mountain town of Niseko. Restaurants were no longer taking bookings, drinkers spilled out the doors of packed bars - despite the sub-zero temperatures - and everyone looked forward to getting back on the slopes just as soon as the ski lifts started turning in the morning.
Today, a town widely recognised as having the best powder snow in the world - so perfect that they call it "Japow!" - is largely deserted.