Powderhounds Awards for the Best Japan Ski Resorts

The Powderhounds offer awards for the best skiing in Japan in case you can't decide on where to go. Here are our picks for the top ski resorts in Japan (and you can also check out the best Japan ski resorts as rated by the readers of Powderhounds.com):


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.

Top Rated Japan Ski Resorts for Powder Hounds Based on advanced/expert terrain + snow quality & quantity + lack of people riding off-piste

Be mindful that some of the Japan ski resorts that are amazing for powder hounds are not necessarily “resorts”, and may include some lift accessed backcountry and full BC that requires expert riding ability, route-finding skills and backcountry proficiency (and/or a guide).

Other resorts that we've rated highly for powder hounds are Geto Kogen, Ani, Hakkaisan, Piyashiri, Charmant Hiuchi, Tazawako, and Aomori Spring. However the best way to go powder hunting is to think more in terms of the best Japan ski regions, not individual ski areas, because many are too small to capture the attention of a powder hound for long. On a multi-resort guided Japan ski tour or a DIY skiing in Japan road trip, a greedy powder hound can sample many of the best Japan ski resorts. See the Japan powder skiing regions page for more information.

Best Overall Ski Resorts Based on all elements inc. overall terrain, snow & services

Other top overall rated resorts include Rusutsu, Tsugaike Hakuba, Myoko Kogen, Aomori Spring, Kiroro, Tomamu, Appi and Madarao.

Other Powderhounds.com Awards for the Best Skiing in Japan

Skiing and Snowboarding

• Best overall terrain: Niseko, Nozawa Onsen, Furano, Sapporo Teine
• Best beginner terrain: Hakuba Tsugaike, Aomori Spring, Kagura, Sahoro
• Best intermediate terrain: Shiga Kogen, Zao Onsen, Happo One, Niseko
• Advanced piste terrain: Nozawa Onsen, Madarao, Shiga Kogen, Kandatsu Kogen
• Off-piste terrain: Kurodake, Rusutsu, Niseko, Furano, Arai, Hakuba Cortina, Oze Iwakura
• Uncrowded slopes: Ani, Charmant Hiuchi, Niyama Kogen, Tenjindaira, Piyashiri, Amihari Onsen
• Best expert terrain: Kurodake, Tenjindaira, Hakkaisan, Tengendai, Teine, Cortina
• Best extreme terrain: Tenjindaira, Kurodake, Tengendai
• Best slackcountry (lift accessed backcountry): Niseko, Tenjindaira, Hakkaisan, Tsugaike, Teine, Ani
• Best backcountry (may be partly lift assisted): Tenjindaira, Tokachidake, Niseko, Hakkoda, Asahidake, Aomori Spring
• Best tree skiing Japan: Oze Iwakura, Rusutsu, Cortina, Aomori Spring, Kurodake, Minowa, Tsugaike
• Best lift infrastructure: Kiroro, Rusutsu
• Best terrain park: Aomori Spring, Naeba, Alts Bandai, Hakuba 47
• Best cat skiing: see the best Japan cat skiing page

Japan Snow

• Best Japan powder: Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro, Asahidake, Kurodake, Piyashiri
• Highest likelihood of freshies: Oze Iwakura, Tazawako, Piyashiri, Minowa, Tenjindaira

Lots of Japanese ski resorts score full marks for the snow quality/quantity and likelihood of scoring fresh tracks. See the Japanese ski resort ratings for more information.

Best Japan ski resort for first-timers and beginners:  Kagura has excellent beginner terrain, but it doesn't cater particularly well to international visitors whilst Aomori Spring only has private lessons available. Niseko is an excellent ski resort for beginners who don't speak Japanese because there are group or private ski/snowboard lessons in English, and the staff at the equipment rental shops speak English. Sahoro is also ideal for beginners if you stay at Club Med Sahoro where lessons are included (and same for Club Med Tomamu).

Other Awards for the Best Japanese Ski Resorts & Towns

• Best luxury ski resort in Japan: Lotte Arai Resort
• Japan ski areas with very few gaijin: Oze Iwakura, any of the Tohoku ski resorts, Yuzawa ski resorts
• Destination resorts without many westerners: Zao Onsen, Shiga Kogen
• Best traditional Japanese experience: Shibu Onsen, Zao Onsen, Nozawa Onsen
• Top resorts that cater to international guests: Niseko, Hakuba
• Best family resort / top Japan ski resort for kids: Tomamu, Sahoro, Appi Kogen, Nozawa Onsen, Niseko, Lotte Arai 
• Best shopping for ski & board equipment & clothing: Niseko, Hakuba 
• Best Japanese cultural experience: Zao Onsen, Asahikawa 
• Best quality facilities & services: Appi Kogen, Lotte Arai, Kiroro
• Top Japan ski accommodation: see the best Japan ski hotels page
• Ski resort/town with best onsens: Nozawa Onsen, Zao Onsen, Lotte Arai
• Best onsen: Takaragawa Onsen (near Tenjindaira and Houdaigi), YukiChichibu Onsen (Chisenupuri Onsen), Sukayu near Hakkoda
• Best onsen at a hotel: see the best Japan ski hotels page

Best Japan ski resorts for kids:  Naeba and Joetsu Kokusai are very family friendly, but these ski resorts don't cater particularly well to international visitors. See our top family ski resorts in Japan page for information on resorts for children that don’t speak Japanese, where there are group ski/snowboard lessons, good beginner slopes, child care and plenty of kids' activities.

Nightlife

• Best après: Niseko Hirafu, Hakuba
• Best nightlife: Niseko Hirafu, Hakuba
• Best restaurants/dining: Niseko, Nozawa Onsen, Yuzawa

Tours and Activities

• Best range of non-skiing activities: Niseko, Furano, Kiroro, Tomamu, Rusutsu
• Best sightseeing activity: Snow monkey onsen near Shiga Kogen and other Nagano resorts

Cost & Value for Money

• Best value for money destination ski resort: Madarao, Aomori Spring, Hakuba, Myoko Kogen
• Best place to stay on a budget: Madarao, Yudanaka, Asahikawa, Amihari Onsen
• Most expensive ski resorts: Kiroro, Niseko, Rusutsu, Lotte Arai

See our ski resorts in Japan ratings to see how Japanese ski resorts compare on various factors including the terrain, powder, apres and family-friendliness.