When you very first visualize Japan, illustrations or photos of snow-protected ski slopes could not be the to start with to pop into your head, but any slope-loving skier will be glad to come across out that Japan offers some of the very best powder for skiing, at an cost-effective value! And it ought to appear as no shock that the mountainous countryside helps make for some good skiing. The most well-known locations to hit the slopes are positioned on Japan’s two northern islands: Hokkaido and Honshu. Test out some of these common ski resorts:
Hokkaido: Becoming the northernmost island, and the internet site of the 1972 Winter Olympics, Hokkaido has innumerable ski resorts known for their deep powder.
Niseko Mt. Resort Grand Hirafu
Self-proclaimed “snowiest ski resort in the earth” (with a begrudging concession to Mt. Baker’s recent freakish snowfall), this well-known Hokkaido vacation resort is a couple of hrs from Sapporo by educate.
Entire Day Grownup Elevate Ticket: 4,800
Kamui One-way links Ski Location
This Hokkaido resort is simple on your wallet. It really is an hour absent from Sapporo by educate. Even though Kamui’s runs usually are not as extensive and quite a few as some of the much more well-liked resorts, it still gives wonderful operates for every level, without the need of the overcrowded touristy-ness you may possibly undergo somewhere else.
Entire Working day Grownup Lift Ticket: 3,000
Honshu: If you want something a minor additional accessible from Tokyo, Honshu presents a lot of skiing opportunities. The best snowfall is in the Tohuku location, while the most obtainable are in the Nagano location.
Hakkoda Ski Resort
For the intermediate to advanced skier, this Tohuku vacation resort has it all. Terrific snow, smaller crowds (primarily on weekdays), and excellent operates. The most straightforward way to get there is to fly into Aomori, but you can also get there by a 3 ½ hour bullet practice to Aomori-Shin and a 1-hour drive from there to the foundation of the mountain.
5-Trip Raise Ticket: 4,900 (There is a next firm’s chairlift that provides a 1-Day ticket for 3,000)
Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort
This Nagano Ski Resort is much more than just a excellent skiing encounter. It’s cultural city provides excellent onsens (no surprise there), classic lodging, terrific food stuff and a renowned fireplace competition. A shinkansen journey to Nagano from Tokyo is a minimal much less than 2 several hours. Then having from Nagano to Nozawa is just about an hour by bus or train.
Entire Working day Adult Lift Ticket: 4,600
If these options really don’t suit your invoice or vacation designs, there are lots of other resorts (about 500!) to decide on from all about Japan.
Soon after you chill out for a working day in the snow, make guaranteed to thaw out in an “onsen” (sizzling springs) as the locals do to get the uniquely Japanese snowboarding encounter – It is the only way to conclude a working day on the slopes on this volcanically-designed island nation.