For possibly the best powder skiing in the world, ski Japan. The snow that falls in Japan is infamous, and many ski resorts in the country get an average of somewhere between 10 and 18 meters of snow each year. Skiing in Japan should be on anyone’s bucket list that is a current or aspiring “powder-hound”.

The biggest misconception about Japan is that it’s an expensive country to visit, but compared to the USA, Europe, Australia and Canada – Japan is inexpensive to visit. Tickets for ski lifts there tend to be less expensive, meals are cheaper and most resorts have decent budget accommodations. You can use your JR Pass to get to many of the ski locations in Japan.

Niseko, Hokkaido:

Niseko receives much attention from overseas, and it is ever-popular with residents who hail from Australia. Most likely the most visited out of all Japanese snowboard and ski resorts by foreign travelers, you will find Niseko to be English friendly. This is a popular destination because of their great views of Mt. Yotei and near-guaranteed powder snow.

Hakuba Valley:

This is a great ski location found in the Northern Japanese Alps, and is best to visit from the months of December until March. Hakuba Valley gained fame in 1998 during the Nagano Winter Olympics because they hosted several ski competitions, which included ski jumping, cross country, downhill and Super G races. They not only offer guests with world-famous slopes that feature peaks reaching 3,000-meters high and 30-kilometers long, but it is also a great place to snowboard.

Shiga Kogen:

Located just a short hour and a half from Nagano, Shiga Kogen is found on the main land of Honshu. This is one of Japan’s largest as they have 21 separate resorts connected and accessed via one, single lift ticket. The most modern of the resorts are Yakebitaiyama and their neighbor, the village Ichinose. Both of these resorts offer ski-in and ski-out accommodations, fast lifts, great snow and extensive facilities. The local area is home to the camera-friendly and popular Japanese snow monkeys; you will find them at the Jigokudani hot springs.

Nozawa:

The town that claims they are the home of Japanese skiing; this small village is full of culture, festivals, history and gorgeous old streets that feature an old-type Japanese aura. However, perhaps the thing that makes Nozawa so famous is the fact that they offer over 30 hot springs for public use.

Mt Madarao:

Mt Madarao is quickly gaining popularity thanks to the high quality powder snow and the most official tree ski runs of any Japanese ski resort. The higher slopes on the mountain are steep for advanced riders, and the lower slopes flatten out – perfect for beginners. Madarao offers a dual mountain ‘Powder Pass’ to access Madarao Mountain Resort & Tangram Ski Circus on one lift pass. The mountain has recently been voted ‘best advanced terrain’ and ‘best value for money ski resort’.

The village in Madarao retains a peaceful, authentic Japanese atmosphere to relax and enjoy quality dining after a big day on the slopes. The mountain is easily accessible in about two hours from Tokyo Station to the ski slopes via the Shinkansen to Iiyama Station. Kuma Lodge is popular with visitors to Madarao thanks to the ski-in, ski-out access to the slopes.

Myoko Kogen:

This large resort features a number of runs, great snow, a fast lift and a gondola system. This village is connected to three other resorts: Akakura, Ikenotaira and Suginohara. The main area with the most entertainment and hotels is Akukura. In addition, there are many naturally-occurring hot springs nearby.

The truth is that there are many great places to ski in Japan. As much as we wish we could list them all, that is impossible. Therefore, we chose some of the most well-known and popular of all the ski resorts around Japan. These are not only well-known by both tourists and locals, but you can guarantee you will have a good time!