From Niseko to Zao, here’s where to ski in Japan.
Along with amazing skiing opportunities, there’s great food, natural hot springs, and cultural attractions.
Its rare to see sunshine in the wintertime, but that means we have really good snow conditions.
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All four resorts are located on one mountain, Niseko Annupuri.
The 28 lifts and 60 runs are roughly equally divided between beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses.
Iwata, a snowboarder, likes a run called Superstition.
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He says that for the adventurous, the whole backside of the resort is available for backcountry riders.
With 29 runs and five lifts, the courses are evenly divided into three difficulty levels.
Tomamu is perfect for families, with a lot of resort activities and amenities.
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The area has 28 runs and a vertical drop of 2,752 feet.
Explorers can use the town as a base for visiting neighboring resorts book abackcountry tourfor some fresh tracks.
Other activities here include a fantasy snow village, snow rafting, snowmobiles, and races.
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And with 45 feet of snow each winter, Myoko is proof of that.
One of the resorts, Suginohara, has one of the longest runs in Japan at 5 miles.
Myoko yoga instructor andAirbnb hostNanaco says Myoko has a good mix of terrain.
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However, Nanaco advises hiring a qualified guide for exploration.
A good thing about Myoko is that its quiet, she says.
But quiet means if youre in trouble, youre kind of on your own.
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She also recommends visiting the family-runSeki Onsen, a small resort that’s popular with advanced skiers and riders.
Hakuba
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Hakuba Valley is one of mainland Japan’s most popular international ski areas.
One of Hakuba’s most popular resorts is Happo-one, the site of several events from 1998 Winter Olympics.
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As for apres-ski and lively nightlife, head to Echoland.
Visit Sarugaku, an izakaya with sashimi and other small plates, as well as locally made sake.
Most of the resorts are connected, and all of the lifts can be accessed using a single ticket.
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The 1998 Nagano Olympics were held here in part, and the resort is popular domestically.
Nekoma
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Nekoma Mountain is an off-the-beaten-path ski resort, especially for international visitors.
Zao
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Zao is one of the largest ski resorts in Japan’s Tohoku region.
Courtesy of Hoshino Resorts
It’s well-known for its fluffy powder, which visitors can experience through 25 different courses.
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