Niseko - Premier Hokkaido Ski Resort
Niseko - Premier Hokkaido Ski Resort
Kiroro Snow World - perfect for families and cheeky powder hounds
Kiroro Snow World - perfect for families and cheeky powder hounds
Rusutsu: Best Skiing in Japan for Powder Hounds
Rusutsu: Best Skiing in Japan for Powder Hounds
Hakkoda is Honshu's Backcountry Mecca
Hakkoda is Honshu's Backcountry Mecca
Hakuba - huge ski area perfect for piste ski fanatics
Hakuba - huge ski area perfect for piste ski fanatics
Asahidake is a backcountry mecca in Hokkaido
Asahidake is a backcountry mecca in Hokkaido
Furano: Best Skiing in Japan for Intermediates
Furano: Best Skiing in Japan for Intermediates
Appi Kogen is ideal for families particularly with littlies
Appi Kogen is ideal for families particularly with littlies
Sapporo Kokusai - best Japan ski resort award for side-country
Sapporo Kokusai - best Japan ski resort award for side-country
Best Japan Ski Resort Terrain Park: Naeba
Best Japan Ski Resort Terrain Park: Naeba
Kagura is a great side trip when visiting Naeba (they link by lift)
Kagura is a great side trip when visiting Naeba (they link by lift)
Kurodake Ski Area Hokkaido - serious backcountry for advanced skiers & boarders
Kurodake Ski Area Hokkaido - serious backcountry for advanced skiers & boarders
Chisenupuri (only 30 mins from Niseko): Best Ski Resort Japan for Uncrowded Slopes
Chisenupuri (only 30 mins from Niseko): Best Ski Resort Japan for Uncrowded Slopes
Moiwa (connected to Niseko) is also uncrowded
Moiwa (connected to Niseko) is also uncrowded
Nozawa Onsen - highly rated Japanese ski resort
Nozawa Onsen - highly rated Japanese ski resort
Shiga Kogen: one of the best ski resorts in Japan for intermediates
Shiga Kogen: one of the best ski resorts in Japan for intermediates
Myoko Kogen has nice stashes of POW
Myoko Kogen has nice stashes of POW
Madarao - a great day trip from Nozawa Onsen
Madarao - a great day trip from Nozawa Onsen
Zao Onsen ski resort - a great traditional Japanese experience
Zao Onsen ski resort - a great traditional Japanese experience
Sapporo Teine: best skiing in Japan award for the steeps
Sapporo Teine: best skiing in Japan award for the steeps

Best Ski Resorts

Powderhounds Awards for the Best Ski Resorts in JapanThe Powderhounds offer awards for the best skiing in Japan in case you can't decide on where to go skiing in Japan? Here are our picks for the top ski resorts in Japan:

Top Rated Japan Ski Resorts for Powder Hounds
Based on advanced/expert terrain + snow quality & quantity
+ lack of people riding off-piste
 Top rated resort for Powderhounds in Japan: Rusutsu Hokkaido  Top rated resort for Powderhounds in Japan: Hakkoda Honshu  Top rated resort for Powderhounds in Japan: Kiroro Hokkaido

Other highly rated resorts for Powderhounds are Asahidake, Moiwa & Chisenupuri.

Best Overall Ski Resorts
Based on infrastructure & services, terrain, snow & cost
 It can get busy but you can beat it for its size and 15m annual snowfall.  Rated #2 for best overall ski resort Japan by Powderhouds.com  Number 3 Top rated overall Japan resort Rusutsu

Other top overall rated resorts include Appi Kogen, Nozawa Onsen & Myoko Kogen.

Other Powderhounds.com Awards for the Best Skiing in Japan
Skiing and Snowboarding
Japan Snow
Best ski resort in Japan for first-timers and beginners: 
Kagura has the best beginner terrain, but this ski resort doesn't cater particularly well to international visitors. Niseko is the best ski resort for beginners who don't speak Japanese. The novice terrain at Niseko is very good, there are group or private ski/snowboard lessons in English, and the staff at the equipment rental shops speak English. 

Other


Best ski resort in Japan for kids: 
Appi Kogen and Naeba are very family friendly, but these ski resorts don't cater particularly well to international visitors. Niseko is the best ski resort for children who don't speak Japanese. Niseko has child care and ski lessons with English speaking staff, and there are various kids' activities on offer. See our where to ski in Japan page for more information on family friendly ski resorts in Japan for English speaking visitors.

Nightlife
Tours and Activities
Cost & Value for Money
See our Japan ski resorts ratings to see how Japanese ski resorts compare on various factors including the terrain, powder, apres and family-friendliness.

Best Skiing in Japan - Readers' Reviews
These awards for the "best ski resorts in Japan" are based on the public reviews on Powderhounds.com. Come and have your say on the best skiing in Japan by reviewing and rating a ski area. Navigate to the Japan ski resort you want to review and click on the "add review" link in the left-hand-column. Put your vote in!

Best overall ski resort 1: SahoroNozawa Onsen, Kiroro
Best Japan ski resort for powderhounds 2: Asahidake, Moiwa, Kiroro
Best snow: KiroroAsahidake
Most uncrowded: Asahidake, Moiwa
Best lifts: Rusutsu, Kiroro
Piste trails: Appi KogenNozawa Onsen
Off-piste: Asahidake, Rusutsu
Child friendly: Tomamu , Sahoro, Appi Kogen
Value for money: KaguraKamui Links, Asahidake
Nightlife: Niseko, Hakuba

NB only ski resorts with a minimum of 2 reviews were considered in the awards. Where there are equal scores, the Japan ski resort with more reviews is selected as the best.
1 The best Japan ski resort is based on an average of the other above factors.
2 The best ski resort in Japan for powderhounds is the average of the scores for snow, uncrowded and off-piste.

Japan Multi-Resort Ski Tours 
Ski Japan Hokkaido Multi Resort Tours - 2 days+ 
If you have a hunger for powder and want to avoid the crowds, a Black Diamond Tours package could be just the ticket! Join a group tour or fully customize your own tour..
Japan Ski Tours Central Hokkaido & Niseko - 7/10/12 Nights 
Whiteroom Tours offer a Niseko-based and Furano-based tour where you head out to different locations as well as a 12 night ski safari to Hokkaido's best powder destinations..

Ski Tours in Honshu
Myoko Kogen Tour Packages Powder Recon - Myoko Powder Tours - 2 days + 
Powder Recon offer full-service hosted & guided tours to Myoko Kogen and up to 20 other nearby ski areas including Madarao/Tangram, Togakushi, Ikenotaira & more. Transfers, accommodation, lifts, guiding & more..

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