Skiing in Japan
Ski Japan for some of the best powder skiing in the world. The Japan snow is world renowned and most of the Japan ski resorts get dumped with an average of 10 to 20 metres of snow per season! If you are a bit of a powder hound or wanna-be powderhound, skiing in Japan should absolutely be up there on your bucket list.
The Famous Japan Snow
Skiing or snowboarding in Japan provides for some amazing snow conditions! The weather systems that move across the Sea of Japan from Siberia are responsible for the massive amounts of snowfall. In addition to quantity, Japan snow also rates highly in the quality stakes.
Hokkaido skiing is particularly well known for the cold, dry, fluffy powder! You can check out some of our
Japan powder skiing videos to get an idea of what everyone is raving about.
Japan Ski Resorts
There are hundreds of ski resorts in Japan on the north island of
Hokkaido and the main island of
Honshu. Many of them fly under the radar of international skiers and riders (see
powder gem examples here), but here are several well known Japan ski resorts.
Hokkaido - North Island
Niseko is a very popular Japanese ski resort and is famous for the big dumps of powder, the tree skiing, the vibrant nightlife, and the family friendliness. If you’re a little nervous about travelling in a foreign land where English isn’t spoken, Niseko may be a good choice.
Furano is another large destination ski resort that is well known for the long groomed runs, the off-piste riding, and its family friendliness. It also makes a great base to visit other nearby ski areas.
Tomamu has plenty going for it including off-piste skiing, lots of family oriented activities, and good value considering the high quality accommodation and amenities.
Other popular Japan snow holiday destination resorts in Hokkaido include
Rusutsu,
Sahoro and
Kiroro.
Honshu - Main Island
Trendy Japan ski holiday destinations in Honshu are mostly centred around Nagano.
Shiga Kogen and
Hakuba are sizeable and great for on-piste skiing and snowboarding for beginners through to advanced riders. Hakuba also has a decent nightlife caters well to English speaking visitors, and has a broad range of accommodation for different budgets.
Nozawa Onsen offers some delightful Japanese culture. The town is authentic and endearing, and there are lots of onsens (hot springs) to soak in after a hard day on the slopes. The skiing and snowboarding is also very impressive.
Myoko Kogen is a group of ski areas near Nagano. The main village,
Akakura Onsen, has retained much of its “Japanese-ness” but it also caters well to English speaking guests with child care and group ski and snowboard lessons in English.
Madarao is growing in popularity as the “it” spot to ski Japan, and in addition to providing good value, it makes a great base to explore other nearby Nagano and Niigata ski resorts.
Lotte Arai Resort is a newly opened resort providing luxurious accommodation, exceptional facilities and amenities, plenty of kosher off-piste riding, and an abundance of snow. Not for ski bums, but rather the discerning powder hound (or those who just need some R&R in the onsens).
Zao Onsen is very slowly growing in popularity with the westerners yet it still provides lots of opportunities for cultural and onsen (hot spring) immersion! It’s particularly ideal for intermediates, and other pros include the famous snow monsters.
Appi Kogen is another well known Japan ski holiday resort which caters well to English speaking guests, yet it’s less busy than other resorts further south.
Or if you want ease of access from Tokyo, check out the
Yuzawa ski resorts.
Other Skiing/Snowboarding in Japan
There are hundreds of other Japan ski resorts, so for powder hounds who want to get off the beaten track to get away from the crowds, be assured of fresh tracks, experience the real Japan, or save some yen, there are many
other options. There are lots of non-destination resorts (ie ideal for a day trip only) where you can get your Japan powder skiing fix, but you’ll need to rent a car to do a DIY road trip or go on a guided multi-resort
Japan skiing tour.
Japan skiing can be typically categorised as deep not steep, but if you’re looking to ride steep pitches, there are some lift serviced backcountry-type ski areas that fit the bill. Examples include
Tenjindaira and
Kurodake. And there are many great spots for backcountry skiing in Japan (check out the
Japan backcountry ski tours).
Still Can’t Decide Where to Ski in Japan?
The Powderhounds have compiled various resources for more info on the differences between the Japan ski resorts:
Why Go On a Japan Ski Holiday?
Some of the major benefits of skiing in Japan aren’t even related to the skiing and snowboarding. The people are friendly and hospitable, the food is fabulous, and many of the resorts have great facilities and accommodation. When you go on a Japan ski holiday, you have the chance to immerse yourself in the wonderfully interesting Japanese culture.
However the best thing about Japan skiing or snowboarding is the dry dry powder. It’s ichiban!