This coming winter, Japan offers special deals and events for you. You'll get gifts and discounts at accommodation and ski facilities, and heaps of events are scheduled from December to March.
Play in the powder, enjoy exquisite Japanese cuisine, and treat yourself with a soak in hot springs after a day on the slopes.
The offer is only available this season. Escape the hot summer and take advantage of the benefits in Japan's winter.
In Japan, there are three major skiing areas; Hokkaido, Nagano + Niigata, and Tohoku. Each area has different slopes and runs, and activites cater to your needs. In this article, we'll introduce you Nagano + Niigata area.
NAGANO and NIIGATA
The Nagano and Niigata areas on Honshu receive consistent high quality snow throughout the season. In the area are ski resorts of Hakuba, Myoko, Nozawa-Onsen, Shiga-Kogen, all of which are accessible by bus from JR Nagano station, which is only 1.5 hours away on a bullet train from Tokyo.
The area has a rich history with old temples and castle towns, and is the home of wild monkey park where you'll enjoy the sight of snow monkeys batheing in hot springs.
In winter, buses run frequently between the resorts and to tourist attraction sites.
In ski fields in Nagano and Niigata, they offer visitors the following privilege and exciting events to join. Take advantage of this chance! 
» Privileges
* Certain condition applies. Visit thier website for further information.
» Events and festivals
♦ Snow Monkey & Zenkoji Temple (National Treasure) Day Tour
A day tour is organized to visit internationally renowned snow monkey park, traditional town of Obuse, and Zenkoji temple in Nagano city which temple is designated a national treasure.
Tours depart twice a week from Hakuba, Nozawa Onsen, and Myoko.
♦ Japanese Culture Experience with Japanese Lunch (PDF, 667KB)
This program offers you Japanese hands-on experiences and traditional Japanese food in an old house with some 160 years of history. Try on kimono, tea ceremony and Origami making to appreciate the traditions.
- Date: Every Tuesdays from January 12 to March 16, 2010
- Time: 9:00 to 13:30
- Place: Shouya Maruhachi, Hakuba
♦ Japanese Buffet Dinner & Show (The Night of Japan)(PDF, 530KB)
Enjoy a buffet dinner with heaps of cultural activities – Taiko drumming, Japanese traditional dance, and kimono show.
- Date: Every Wednesday during the winter season
- Time: 19:00 to 21:00
- Place: Hakuba Goryu Escal Plaza
♦ Nagano Toumyo (Lighting) Festival
Commemorating the host of Nagano Winter Olympic Games, this festival has been held since 2004 to convey the spirit of Olympics praying the world peace. Zenkoji temple will be lit up at night time with five colours representing the Olympic’s five rings, and other various programs are also scheduled during the festival,
- Date: February 6 to 14, 2010
- Time: 18:00 to 21:00
- Place: Nagano city
♦ Dosojin Fire Festival
Dosojin Fire Festival in Nozawa Onsen is one of the most exciting events in winter Japan. The festival worships Dosojin, a god to prevent evil and bring happiness and fertility. On the night of January 15, the locals will split into two groups and bump into each other, with one group making an attempt to burn a shrine pavillion and the other protecting it from the fire.
- Date: January 15, 2010
- Time: 19:00 to 21:00
- Place: Nozawa Onsen
♦ Myoko Fire Festival
The locals will burn traditional decoration for the New Year, wishing the safety of their family and success in business. The festival finishes with a hundreds of fireworks set off on the snow field. Locally brewed sake will be offered at the event.
- Date: January 16, 2010
- Time: 19:00
- Place: Myoko Suginohara Ski Resort
For more information on ski Japan, visit our website: www.jnto.org.au/
- Ski tour operators
- Japan ski packages
Next, we'll introduce Hokkaido!
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