Ski and Snow In Japan
Niseko Ski Resorts (Hokkaido)
Hokkaido is known for its snow, but the Niseko area, southwest of Sapporo, is one of the famous ski area in Japan. It is extremely popular with overseas visitors for its powdery snow and welcoming attitude. Niseko is accessible from Sapporo or New Chitose International Airport by car, train or bus.
Appi Kogen Ski Resort ( Iwate prefecture)
Situated way up north in Iwate Prefecture, Appi Kogen Ski Resort offers skiers and snowboarders major league powder on 21 slopes. Snowmobiling, sledding and snowshoeing can also be enjoyed here. Appi's Snow Park offers a family park with sleds, snow tubes and mini courses for children. If you take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Morioka Station from Tokyo and then a direct bus from there to Appi Kogen , it will take you about 50 minutes to reach here.
Zao Ski Resort ( Yamagata prefecture)
While the Zao Ski Resort has many small scale hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops, it has managed to retain its small, hot spring village charm. Located in the Yamagata Prefecture, this place is famous for its ‘snow monsters’ or the shapes that emerge when snow is accumulated and ice freezes on the trees. Zao Ski Resort offers 26 ski slopes as well as courses for all levels of skiers. It takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach here via a bullet train from Tokyo.
Naeba Ski Resort (Niigata prefecture)
Host of the 2020 Alpine Skiing World Cup, the Naeba Ski Resort in Niigata prefecture is ranked one of the top ski resorts in Japan. It hosts a good mix of runs suitable for all levels of skiers and has 12 lifts and more than 20 different courses to choose from. The Naeba Ski Resort is easily accessible by Shinkansen from urban centers such as Tokyo. Take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Echigo Yuzawa Station, followed by a 50 minute shuttle bus to Naeba .
Karuizawa Ski Resort ( Nagano prefecture)
Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture, located about an hour and a half from Tokyo at the foot of Mount Asama in east part of Nagano Prefecture, has long been a popular ski resort. It is a short walk from Karuizawa Station to the ski resort. Snow and ski boards can be rented on the slopes. You can also sign up for ski lessons. In addition to snow sports, one can also enjoy a variety of shopping options.
Hakuba Valley (Nagano prefecture)
Stretching nearly 30 kilometers along the base of the Hakuba Range in Nagano prefecture’s Northern Alps, Hakuba Valley is home to some of Japan’s best snow and also one of the country’s biggest ski resort. The area has 101 lifts & over 143 runs spread across 10 resorts, which receive more than 10 meters of average annual snowfall of annual snowfall. The area has a good variety of terrain and excellent powder. With skiing and snowboarding instruction available in English at resorts throughout the valley, Hakuba Valley attracts winter sports enthusiasts from across the globe. To get here from Tokyo, just take the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line to Nagano & switch to an express bus.
