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  Experience the finest powder snow at some of the best resorts in the region. Japan offers great runs, varied terrain and amazing alpine scenery. Soak up the culture, indulge in the local cuisine and relax in the natural hot springs after a day in the powder.  
     
  Hokkaido  
  Japan’s northern island Hokkaido probably has the best quality snow in Japan. Chilly winds from Siberia translate to heaps of powder snow being dumped on Hokkaido from November through to April.  
     
  Niseko is one of Hokkaido’s most popular ski resorts for its great runs, deep powder and its accessibility from Sapporo City and New Chitose Airport. Niseko also has a reputation for being easy for the non-Japanese speaker to navigate, with many English signs and English speakers in the town.
Niseko resort spreads over three areas, Hirafu, Higashiyama and Annupuri, meaning a variety of runs for beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers and boarders. These three areas are situated close together and share Mt Annupuri. Their lifts all join up just below the peak. This makes it easy to traverse from one to the other, and provided you have the multiple lift ticket (Niseko All Mountain Pass), gives you access to high speed lifts. There are also half pipes, quarter pipes and night skiing - not to be missed!
Onsen, or hot springs, are the best place to relax and soothe aching muscles after a day on the slopes! Niseko has both indoor and outdoor onsen - some overlooking the ski runs. Niseko also has many restaurants, noodle bars and drinking establishments, many of which have menus in English to assist visitors from overseas.
Domestic flights from Tokyo fly to New Chitose Airport regularly in the ski season taking about 1.5 hours, and from Osaka take 2 hours. From New Chitose Airport, direct coach services operate to Niseko in about 2.5hours.
Once in Niseko, getting to the slopes is easy! Many hotels and inns are located less than a 5 minute walk from the lifts. Free shuttle buses also cart skiers and boarders around town and between the main base lifts on the mountain.
A “Niseko All Mountain Pass” lift pass gives access to Hirafu, Higashiyama and Annupuri within Niseko resort. A one day free passport costs around 4800 yen, however, ski specialists (listed under the Tour Operators link below) can often give heavily discounted passes included in a package - usually including night skiing.
Niseko Ski Resorts
Area Information 		 
     
  Rusutsu is located about 90 minutes’ drive from Sapporo and New Chitose Airport. It is a wonderful resort, blessed with natural splendour all year round. It also has many indoor facilities and steaming hot baths which are great for a relaxing soak after a day in the snow.
East Mountain, West Mountain and Mt. Isola soar above Rusutsu Resort, creating a dramatic and dynamic setup. Snowmobile Land, cross country ski course and half pipe are also available.
Rustsu Resort
  
     
  Furano, located in central Hokkaido, about 2 hours by JR train from New Chitose Airport, is blessed with four amazing seasons, breathtakingly beautiful nature and the best powder snow in Japan. In winter, Furano enjoys 8 meters of the lightest and dryest powder in Hokkaido. Furano Ski Area has two ski zones: Furano Zone and Kitanomine. Night skiing with amazing views of the Furano town turning on their lights is open until 9pm.
Culture and entertainment activities, great sightseeing, delicious restaurants, fun bars and the warmest people you are ever likely to come across.
Furano Ski Resorts
Area Information

Kiroro and Sahoro are also popular Hokkaido resorts. Both areas gift skiers and snowboarders with vast powder snow in winter. The gateway city, Sapporo, is accessible by air in 1.5 hours from Tokyo with several flights daily and coach buses running to the major ski areas.
Resort Kiroro
Sahoro Resort
 
     
  Tohoku  
  Tohoku area, the northern part of Honshu, also receives large amounts of snow. Not far from Yamagata city is the resort of Zao where you can experience the amazing powder snow and spectacular sight of the famous snow-monsters - windswept snow covered trees. Zao offers a wide variety of terrain together with breathtaking alpine scenery. The powder snow fields cater for all levels of skiers and boarders, and the local hot springs provide the perfect way to finish off a day in the snow.
Zao Ski Resort
Area Information
The Tohoku area is dotted with resorts and is accessed by bullet train from Tokyo in about 2 to 4 hours.
  
     
  Joetsu and Shinetsu  
  The Joetsu and Shinetsu areas on Honshu also receive consistent high quality snow throughout the season. These areas are also popular with Japanese skiers and boarders, as are the resorts of Hakuba, Ishiuchi-Maruyama, Naeba, Echigo-Yuzawa, Shiga-Kogen and Nozawa-Onsen, all of which are located within Nagano and Niigata Prefectures. Both are accessible by bullet train from Tokyo in less than 3 hours. In winter, buses run frequently to the various resort areas.
At the foot of the Japanese Alps, Hakuba has a variety of ski resorts. These include Happo-one ski resort which hosted the downhill race at the Winter Olympic Games in 1998. The course satisfies all skiers from beginners to advanced with an abundance of attractions.
Snow Resort Alliance
Hakuba Area Information
 
     
  Shiga-Kogen, the largest ski resort in Japan, has 21 various ski areas in its foothill. Abundant snow fall, fine powder snow, the latest facilities like a speedy lift operation system and its big scale have made Shiga-Kogen one of the world’s top ranked ski resorts. Each ski area, with its fantastic runs and terrains linked by lifts, attracts skiers who can enjoy the challenge of skiing continuously on an enormous variety of runs. The altitude and the installation of efficient snow making systems ensure that Shiga-Kogen boasts a long ski season from late November till early May.
After a day in snowy mountains, you can enjoy indoor or outdoor onsen, or hot springs at ryokan, traditional Japanese style inns. It is worth visiting “Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park”. This may be the only place in the world where wild monkeys bathe in natural hot spring water.
Shiga Kogen Snow Resorts
Snow Monkeys - Jigokudani Park

 Other related sites:
Echigo-Yuzawa
Nozawa-Onsen
Myoko Ski Area

Kusatsu is located a little closer to Tokyo, a hot spring and ski resort town, with heli-skiing and a family oriented atmosphere. Only 3 hours from Tokyo by express bus.
Kusatsu Snow & Ski Resort

View the JNTO ski pamphlet
  • ski pamphlet.pdf (4,344KB)


    • More information on Skiing/Boarding in Japan, please visit:
    Snow Japan
    Board The World

    *Some images courtesy of Hokkaido Tourist Association
    		 

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