Skiing in Japan
Ski Japan for some of the best powder skiing in the world. The Japan snow is world renowned and many 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 powder hound, skiing in Japan should absolutely be up there on your bucket list.
NB The Japan borders are currently not fully open to all tourists. See the Japan travel update for information on the current state of play.
The Famous Japan Snow
Snowboarding or skiing in Japan often 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 why everyone is raving about skiing in Japan.
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), 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 that are ideal for powder hounds.
You can ski Japan in style at
Kiroro, which is an upscale resort with great lifts, lovely hotels, and lots of kids’ activities. It also happens to score the most snow of the Japan ski resorts.
Tomamu has plenty going for it including off-piste skiing, lots of family oriented activities, and high quality accommodation and amenities.
Other popular Japan snow holiday destination resorts in Hokkaido include
Rusutsu and
Sahoro.
Honshu - Main Island
Trendy Japan ski holiday destinations in Honshu are mostly centred around Nagano.
Hakuba is probably the second most well-known Japan ski destination behind Niseko. The Hakuba Valley has multiple ski areas with great on-piste skiing and snowboarding for beginners through to advanced riders, and some phenomenal backcountry skiing. Hakuba also has a decent nightlife, caters well to English speaking visitors, and has a broad range of accommodation for different budgets.
The 3rd most popular destination for skiing in Japan is
Nozawa Onsen. It is very unique and has a town at the base which offers plenty of charm. There are lots of onsen (hot springs) to soak in after a hard day on the slopes. Nozawa offers some delightful Japanese culture, especially if you stay in a ryokan or other traditional Japanese lodging.
Myoko Kogen is a group of ski areas near Nagano City. The main village,
Akakura Onsen, has retained some of its “Japanese-ness” but it also caters well to English speaking guests and has child care and group ski and snowboard lessons in English.
Madarao has gained popularity as a great spot to ski Japan, and in addition to providing good value, it makes an ideal base to explore other nearby Nagano and Niigata ski resorts.
To ski Japan with luxury,
Lotte Arai Resort provides upscale accommodation, exceptional facilities, plenty of kosher off-piste riding, and an abundance of snow. This Japan ski resort is not for ski bums, but rather the discerning powder hound.
Shiga Kogen is probably the largest ski resort in Japan, and with negligible foreign ownership, it provides a classic Japan ski resort experience.
Appi Kogen up in Iwate Prefecture is another popular Japan ski holiday resort which caters well to Chinese and 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 one of the guided multi-resort
Japan ski tours.
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 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!
