Frequently asked questions

No. Japow shows forecast new snowfall, worked out from modeled precipitation. It isn't a reading from a snow stake or a resort's morning report. Treat it as a forecast, and check the resort's own report before you drive.

New snow between 18:00 tonight and 09:00 tomorrow, Japan time. That is what should be on the ground at first chair. It is never a calendar-day total. After midnight, Japow shows the night already in progress.

Four weather models: JMA MSM, ECMWF, GFS and ICON. The number on each row is the median of the models.

How closely the four models agree. A means they agree closely, C means they don't. The letters follow the 信頼度 convention you may know from tenki.jp.

It is the "worth driving" line. The bars run from 0 to 50 cm, and anything beyond that shows as 50+.

About every three hours. If an update fails, the last forecast stays on screen with a "forecasts updated Xh ago" note, so you can always see how old it is.

A dry night is the common case, even in a good winter. Resorts still rank, and a dash means no snow is forecast for the night.

Depth from a weather model is a rough guess on a coarse grid, and it drifts as the season goes on, so Japow leaves it out. Lift status, road conditions and crowds aren't weather data, and Japow has no source for them.

Rain is the precipitation that the snow doesn't account for. The models don't tell sleet apart, so Japow doesn't show it.

The overnight window is defined in Japan time, wherever you are looking from.

Distance is worked out on your device. Your location is never sent to Japow's servers. If you decline, Near is switched off and everything else keeps working.

No. You need one to sync favorites across devices and to get alerts.

Without an account, three on this device. With an account, as many as you like.

Enter your email address and Japow sends you a six-digit code. There is no password. The same step creates your account the first time.

Yes. Japow installs to your Home Screen like an app. On iPhone, installing is also what makes push alerts work. Step-by-step guide ↓

The last resort list you loaded is available offline. Everything else needs a connection.

Yes. Use the language button at the top of any page.

Japow covers powder-focused resorts and is adding more. If your resort isn't listed, email support@kakera.app and tell us which one.

To the resort's or the camera operator's own site. Japow doesn't host them.

Star a resort, then tap its bell. When tonight's forecast reaches your snowfall minimum, Japow tells you around 18:00 Japan time, by push, by email, or both. Step-by-step guide ↓

A free account gets one alert, for one resort, on snowfall alone. Japow+ lifts those limits: any number of alerts and resorts, plus up to two extra conditions for wind, model agreement, or a multi-day outlook.

Japow sends one digest each evening, and only on nights a resort matches your conditions. On iPhone, push arrives only when Japow is on your Home Screen. Email alerts work either way.

Every alert email has a "Stop email alerts" link that works without signing in. Push alerts can be turned off on the alerts page, and you can remove any alert there too.

Higher alert limits. The forecast stays free: the whole list and every resort panel.

Japow+ costs ¥800 (tax included) for 30 days, paid once. It doesn't renew by itself.

By card, with Apple Pay and Google Pay where your device supports them. Japow never sees your card number.

No. Japow+ is a single payment for 30 days and never renews, so there is nothing to cancel. Purchases aren't refundable once bought, because access starts immediately. If you were charged twice, or a purchase didn't unlock, email support@kakera.app and we'll put it right. The full terms are on the seller information page.

Email support@kakera.app from the address you signed in with, and we'll remove your account.

It keeps what it needs to run your account and alerts, and nothing else. There are no ads and no analytics trackers. Details are in the Privacy Policy.

Email support@kakera.app.