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Japan Ski Holidays!
Despite the relatively small size of the country, the options to ski Japan are boundless, whether you're spending all your time on the slopes, or simply taking a few days out of your normal tourist activities. Many of the resorts across the country have patrols to make sure skiers stay on course, some even employing CCTV to watch them but like most places, it varies as to how hard they enforce those rules.
Niigata region is the premier destination for anyone wanting to ski Japan and accessible by bus and train from Tokyo. Despite a reputation for crowded slopes in some of the resorts, the reality is that mid-week during the day there's plenty of room with lots of powder stashes to yourself and with many of the resorts such as the famous Naeba offering floodlit slopes for night skiing. The main town of Niigata is packed full of hot springs too.
Nagano was host to the 1998 Winter Olympics and is often been referred to as the 'Japanese Alps'. Again to ski Japan, journeys are quick and easy from Tokyo with a two-hour train trip leaving two to three times every hour.
Happo-one was the main Olympic venue and a great spot for beginners wanting to ski Japan and experience a typical Japanese resort with steep runs and plenty of moguls. Boarders are just becoming welcome too. Goryu 47 is a great resort for both boarders and skiers with a decent amount of steeper slopes but really lacks anything for the beginners. The main town houses a number of famous temples and a great sake brewery.
Of Japan's four main islands, the northernmost is Hokkaido and an overnight journey out of Tokyo, but many of those visiting Hokkaido to ski Japan describe some of the resorts as better than Europe and North America. Rusutsu resort is steeped in powder, trail skiing through off-course wooded areas and plenty of lifts with very short lines. Purpose-built Niseko is the most westernised resort, but you can still experience the food, baths and culture of "real" Japan nearby.
Finally, another option to ski Japan is Fukushima. If you can stop giggling at the name for long enough, you can head to Alts Bandai for wide long runs – probably best to avoid for snowboarders as there are some long flats at the end of the slopes. The town also has a number of hot springs, the famous Five Colored Lakes and Iwaya-Kannon, with sixty Buddhas carved into the side of a mountain.
The huge choice of destinations to ski Japan makes this a must-visit for skiers of all levels.
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Niseko, Ski 7 Nights
from $875*
- 7 nights accommodation at Niseko Green Leaf hotel in twin share accommodation.
- 6 day lift pass.
- BONUS Reduced rates, SAVE 20%*.
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Hakuba Powder Pack, 7 Nights - Hakuba Gondola Lodge
from $995*
- 7 nights accommodation at the Hakuba Gondola Lodge.
- Breakfast daily and 1 x group dinner.
- 5 Day Hakuba 9 Mountain Lift Pass.
- Entry and sightseeing at Matsumoto Castle.
- Shuttle bus to all Ski Resorts.
- Airport meet and greet.
- Return Transfers from Narita Airport*.
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Niseko, Ski 7 Nights
from $1,155*
- 7 nights accommodation at Hakuunso Lodge in twin share accommodation.
- Breakfast daily.
- 6 day lift pass.
- Return Sapporo Airport transfers.
-
Hakuba Powder Pack, 7 Nights - Hakuba Gondola Hotel
from $1,225*
- 7 nights accommodation at the Hakuba Gondola Hotel.
- Breakfast daily and 1 x group dinner.
- 5 Day Hakuba 9 Mountain Lift Pass.
- Entry and sightseeing at Matsumoto Castle.
- Shuttle bus to all Ski Resorts.
- Airport meet and greet.
- Return Transfers from Narita Airport*.
