GUIDE Skiing in Japan Japan is world-famous for its powder snow

Japan ranks consistently as one of the top destinations in the world for skiing and snowboarding. Thanks to the cold winds that blow over the Sea of Japanthe country receives some of the highest amounts of snow in the world.

With the country's variety of ski resortsfrom the largestNiseko in Hokkaidoto smaller resorts in hot-spring villagesJapan is an ideal destination for beginnersexpertsfamilies with young childrenand couples looking for adventureculture and great skiing and boarding opportunities.

Come for the skiing and snowboardingstay for the hospitalitycuisinehot springs and culture.

The ski season in Japan generally begins in December and lasts until April but the actual dates depend on each resort and their location. Hokkaidodue to its location in the northand the mountains of Naganolocated in higher altitudestend to get more snow earlier in the season than other places.

The peak season is in January and Februarythe months that get the most consistent snowfall. There can also be significant dumps of snow in Marchthough the weather begins to be more unpredictable with a higher chance of warm spells. The Christmas and New Year's holidaysas well early Februarydraw the highest number of crowds on the slopes.

Recommended places to ski and snowboard in Japan are in Hokkaido the northernmost island of the Japanese archipelagoand the main island of Honshu. Niseko is the largestmost developedand popular of all the ski resorts in Japanand Hakubalocated in the Japan Alps in Nagano Prefecture attracts winter sports lovers for its accessibility from Tokyovariety of resorts and terrain.

There also plenty of skiing and snowboarding destinations to choose from throughout the country; Tohoku in northeastern Japan offers family-friendly resorts with beginner and intermediate terrainwhile central Honshu—in particularNiigataNagano and Gunma—offer many great optionswith some close enough to Tokyo to make a day trip.

It's sometimes a difficult choice between these two areas if you have limited time in Japan. Both areas get a lot of snow in winter and you won't be disappointed by the expansive terrain or views.

Nisekoa mountain village in western Hokkaidois rated as a popular destination. It's beginner friendly and has the most options for English speakers in Japannot to mention the views of Mt. Yotei.

Hakuba in Nagano was host to the 1998 Winter Olympics and has a total of 10 resorts combinedproviding a variety of terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. Most of the resorts are not connected to each other and are more spread out compared to Nisekobut Hakuba does offer an array of accommodation options for the more budget conscious.

You can also find good deals on lift passes and accommodation at lesser-known resorts throughout Japan which still have great quality skiing and fewer crowds.

Niseko is a renowned ski resort in Hokkaidobut it's not the only one. There are several other resorts on the island that get high volumes of snow every season—and they are often less crowded than Niseko.

Rusutsu located next to Nisekois known for its excellent tree runslarge amount of snowfalland great lift infrastructure. Get away from the crowds at the family-friendly Furano resort east of Sapporowhere you can also enjoy snowmobilingice fishing and a number of activities for childrenincluding English-language lessons.

There is also Sapporo Teine less than an hour from Sapporo Cityas well as Tomamua resort known for its high standard amenitiesfamily-friendly facilitiesand off-piste skiing and boarding opportunities.

The Japanese Alpsthe “Roof of Japan” as they are often referred toare a group of high mountainsthe tallest reaching above 3,100 meters. They extend across central Honshu from Toyama Prefecture bordering the Sea of Japan to the Southern Alps in Shizuoka Prefecturebordering the Pacific Ocean. These mountains are a good place to ski and snowboard. The ski resorts in Hakuba are located in the Northern Alpsalong with Nozawa Onsen and Shiga Kogen. A day trip to see the snow monkeys in Yudanaka Onsen makes a great rest day while skiing in the Japan Alps.

Zao Onsen Ski Resort on the border of Yamagata and Miyagiand Appi Kogen in Iwate are the stars of Tohoku. Zao Onsenfamous for its slopes lined with “juhyo” or so-called snow monsters is filled with Japanese charm and natural hot springsperfect for relaxing after a long day carving up the runs. The mountain is accessible by bullet train and then local bus from Yamagata Station. Appi Kogen Ski Resort is a stellar resort in the Hachimantai area of Iwate Prefecture. It features high-end ski-inski-out accommodationexcellent foodplenty of intermediate slopes for younger children and beginnersas well as group ski and snowboard lessons in English. In particularAppi Kogen has well-groomed slopes.

Luckily the mountains aren't too far from Tokyo and there are some excellent ski and snowboarding options close enough to make a day trip if you are pressed for time but want a taste of skiing in Japan. Visit Gala Yuzawa in Niigata for the convenience—there is a gondola connected to the train station—or head just a bit further south in Niigata to Kagura Ski Resort where the heights give you access to powder snow and long runs. It's also a good place for beginner and intermediate skiers. Access the area by shinkansen to Jomo Kogen Station.

Japan is a dream for snowboarders—thanks to the many resorts with wide runsungroomed slopes and a huge amount of powder snow that falls in winter. Snowboarding is particularly popular in Japanat least compared to North America and Europe. Almost all resorts allow snowboarders on the slopes and have facilities for boardersbut make sure to check in advance if there are certain “off-limits” areas.

If you're coming to Japan with childrenmany resorts offer mixed-level terrain for family members at different levelsalong with day carekids lessons and English-language lessons. Shiga Kogen resort is a safe bet for familieswith its varied slopes. Nozawa Onsen had a kids' ski school. Tsugaike Kogen in Hakuba has gentle slopes for beginnersand there are several ski schools in the Hakuba area that have both group and private lessons for children. Most resorts also have a kids' play area where you can play in the snow and go sledding. Paid childcare is also available at many of the resortsalthough the majority of places offer it only in Japanese. In Nisekosome accommodations offer childcare services. Self-contained accommodations like apartments and houses are also popular among families who want to cook their own food.

There are many different transportation options to the ski resorts around Japan. It usually consists of a combination of bullet train or plane plus local bus transport to the resorts. Some hotels and chalets offer free shuttle services from local train stations.

You can get to Niseko by taking a 90-minute flight from Tokyo to the New Chitose Airport in Hokkaidothen a 3-hour direct bus to Niseko which makes several stops in the three main areas of HirafuNiseko Village and Annupuri. There are also direct flights to New Chitose from Australia and other Asian countries.

If you want to go directly to Hakuba after arriving on your international flightChuo Taxi runs long-distance transfer services from Narita and Haneda airportswhich take around 4-5 hours.

Cost at a glance

Lift Pass 3,500 yen - 5,000 yen

Rentals from 3,300 yen / set

Accommodation from 5,000 yen / night

Every ski resort in Japan has rental outletsusually located at the base of the mountain near the main lifts and gondolasor in the villages surrounding the slopes. Most outlets offer a range of rentals—high quality and branded gear is available at a premiumand older versions of skis and snowboards can be rented at lower cost. It's usually more economical to rent ski and snowboard setswhich include the skis or snowboardboots and poles. Some places also rent helmetsmasksglovesjackets and pants. You don't normally need to book in advancebut if you have large feet or require large sizesit's best to inquire in advance to check if the rental outlet has your size available.

If you've decided to bring your own gear with you and skiing in Japan is part of a larger itinerarybaggage and delivery services can transport your gear to your hotel at the ski resortor onward to other cities in Japan you will be visiting. The service is inexpensive and is available in airports and convenience storesand your accommodation can help you arrange this service and many hotels have the delivery forms readily available.

Compared to Europe and the U.S.Japan remains underdeveloped in terms of apres ski options. If you're looking for great restaurants and barsNiseko is the place to go for the range of fooddrinkand nightlife catering to international travelers. Hakuba comes in secondwith a number of izakayacraft beer bars and restaurants located in Hakuba Village. Other areas of Japan are relatively quiet at nightbut offer traditional hot springs and Japanese- pubs run by localsaffording travelers a uniquely Japanese experience. Sip a hot beveragedrink warm sake or dip in a natural hot spring after a day out on the mountain.

For beginnersmany of the popular ski resorts offer both kids and adult lessonshalf-day or full-day. If you would like to guarantee an English-speaking instructorit is recommended to book lessons in advance during the peak season—availability of instructors can be limited and they get booked quickly during the high season.

Some ski resorts in Japan have strict rules about going off pisteand an attempt at this will get your lift pass confiscated by the ski patrol; Shiga Kogen is one of these resortsalthough it is a very family-friendly ski resort.

Other areas are more relaxed about skiers and boarders going off-pistebut be aware that this is at your own risk; if you become injured or strandedthe cost of being evacuated is not covered by the resort and you will be charged for it.

Nozawa Onsen in Nagano and Myoko Kogen get a lot of fresh powder and are excellent places to try off-piste and backcountry touring. Niseko also has excellent off-piste and backcountry opportunities. To get first trackspowderhounds hike to the top of Mt. Niseko Annupuri (1,308 meters) from the top of the highest liftheading down to the Hirafu and Hanazono areas.

If you're going off piste or backcountryit's best to hire a professional guide. Heli-skiing is very limited in Japanand one of the places to do true heli-skiing is on Mt. Shiribetsunorth of Rusutsu resort. Book a package with local outfitters in Hokkaido—reserved for high-level intermediates and experts only. Cat skiing is available at Niseko and Tomamu resorts in Hokkaido along with some smaller resorts in Honshu.

The range of accommodation at Japan's ski resorts spans from budget to luxuryand includes guesthousesWestern- hotelsJapanese innschaletsserviced apartmentsrental houses and five star luxury accommodations. Find the right accommodation for your budget and travel with some help from these reservation sites .

While you enjoy the thrill of skiing or snowboarding with family and friendstake some time to explore Japan's cultural side. During the winterthere are also many snow festivals featuring elaborate ice sculpturesiglooslanterns and illuminations at night. Make the most of your holiday trip to Japan at these funfestive events.

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