Whether it’s in Hokkaido, Nagano, Niigata or Tohoku, Japan has slopes for all skill levels and resorts that provide the perfect base to recharge.
Japan is only 10 hours north of Australia and 2 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time, meaning you can find yourself on the slopes in no time, whether cruising the slopes with family members, or off-piste on some of the best back-country skiing in the world.
Ski Hokkaido
Hokkaido is the powder capital of Japan, the country’s northernmost island and the home to some of its best snow. The region plays host to over 1200 festivals and events including February’s Sapporo Snow Festival, where hundreds of snow and ice sculptures of a grand scale line the streets.
Niseko’s four main resorts, Niseko Grand Hirafu, Hanazono, Niseko Village,and Annupuri meet at 1300metres above sea level on the beautiful Mount Niseko Annupuri.
Amazing scenery, light snow perfectly suited for skiing, great weather condition. It’s all there in Furano.
Situated 79km west of Sapporo, Rusutsu offers a full scale resort experience set amidst some of the most spectacular scenery located in this region of Japan
Tomamu Ski Resort is a modern, high class ski resort in central Hokkaido, about 90 minutes by train south of Sapporo.
Nestling among the mountains in the delightful village of Akaigawa in Hokkaido, the Kiroro Resort is less than a 90-minute drive from New Chitose International Airport and an hour from Sapporo
Nagano and Niigata
On the main island of Honshu and accessible from Tokyo in under two hours by bullet train, Nagano, and nearby Niigata is the home of the 1998 Winter Olympics, with some of the highest-snowfall areas in Japan.
Hakuba Ski Resort
Since hosting the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, the Hakuba Valley has been an increasingly popular travel destination for people from all over the world.
Madarao Kogen Ski Resort
Here you’ll find a variety of slopes (25 in all) to fit the needs of any skier or boarder.
Myoko Kogen Ski Resort
Myoko Kogen, the first international ski resort running from the 1930s, is located in Niigata prefecture.
Nozawa Ski Resort
Nozawa Onsen ski resort is located in the northern part of Nagano prefecture, Nozawa Onsen boasts a number of natural onsen (hot springs) and large ski areas.
Shiga Kogen Ski Resort
Shiga Kogen is a collection of 21 ski resorts strung out along the Shiga Plateau- making it one of Japan’s largest ski areas.
Ski Gunma
With easy access from Tokyo, Gunma Prefecture is located in the northwestern part of Kanto on the main island of Honshu. The prefecture shares borders—and easy access—with Niigata to the north and Nagano to the west, opening up a range of ski and snowboard opportunities both inside and outside the prefecture.
Oze Iwakura
White World Oze-Iwakura is an excellent medium-size ski resort still virtually unknown to western visitors.
Minakami Ski Resort
Minakami is a ski area only 70 minutes bullet train ride away from the Metropolitan area, located in Gunma prefecture.
Manza Onsen Ski Resort
Manza ski resort is known as ‘Powder Snow Manza’ which is the place to enjoy one of the finest powder snow in the country.
Elsewhere in Japan
Appi Ski Resort
On its large-scaled 282 hectare land, APPI Resort offers 21 different terrains for all levels of skiers.
Hakkoda Ski Resort
Hakkoda is a renowned backcountry powder ski and snowboard mecca, located in northern Japan, just south of Aomori City in Aomori Prefecture.
Zao Onsen Ski Resort
The town has hot springs bubbling everywhere, and the ski resort offers a unique experience of skiing amongst the famous Zao Snow Monsters – juhyo.
Naeba Ski Resort
Alts & Nekoma Resort
Ski Jam Katsuyama (Fukui)
Ski Jam Katsuyama has been operating since 1993 and is one of the larger and more popular resorts in Fukui Prefecture, Western Japan.
Shizukuishi Prince Hotel is ski-in, ski-out accommodation at the bottom of Shizukuishi Ski Area.