Where to Ski in Japan: from Hakuba to Niseko
ski japan guide: resorts, tips, and vibes
how to make the most of your snow day in japan if you’re traveling or a local
Hi! If you’re looking for a guide to ski and snowboarding in Japan, where to ski near Tokyo, spots for beginners, or info about Niseko Ski Village - this is the post for you. Japan is known to have some of the best powder in the world, and despite the country’s infamous language barrier, most ski reosrts are great for non-Japanese speakers. You can also always go with a trusted Japan ski package.
You can find a ton of great Japan ski guides online that share similar information - below are some personal tips & recs from a Japanese-Taiwanese American who enjoys a mix of traditional and social travel. Japan has a few very famous, must-visit resorts. There are also smaller, low key resorts to pop in if you don’t want to dedicate multiple days to skiing. Either way, one of the perks about snow life in Japan is that you have options.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
You can ship your gear straight from the airport to your lodging. Depending on the location, it should get there in less than 24 hours. Trust me - you do not want to lug all your gear with you on a rush hour train!
Take advantage of the onsen hot springs! If you can, book a hotel that has their own onsen. It’s lifechanging taking a dip in hot springs after a long day on the mountain
Bring shoes with good traction, especially if you plan on walking around the town
Make sure you know how to ride in powder - this was a huge surprise for me, but it took me a sec to transition from East Coast ice to Japan’s many-ft-deep powder. Boards go up!
Most ski resorts are accessible via a combination of shinkansen + bus from Tokyo
Niseko’s 4 famous resorts are included in the IKON Pass
If you are backcountry skiing, consider hiring a guide. The higher you go, the less English-speaking workers there are. You don’t want to be stuck in the pow with no knowledge of your surroundings!
Niseko/Hokkaido have a HUGE Australian population during ski season!
Japow (Japan powder) is some of the best snow in the world because of how cold the surrounding water is - making the snowflakes much lighter and have more air (wow!!)
hakuba, nagano
Biggest Resort close to Tokyo
Hakuba, Nagano. An extremely well-known spot not too far from Tokyo and is most famous for hosting the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. Located in Japan’s Northern Alps, Hakuba is a favorite amongst locals and tourists who don’t want to travel to far from Tokyo. There’s a cute town to hang out around at night with shopping and good food.
Hakuba is a classic ski resort with a large tourist population, and is a pretty safe option for all levels. A good option for families and children. Their peaks are more spread apart compared to other resorts, but are accessible via shuttle or car. There are a fair amount of English-speaking lodges and restaurants, so foreigners should have little issue. This is a solid resort if you want a balance of being on the slopes and hanging out at night.
Perfect if you: want the biggest (?) resort close to Tokyo, are a large group with varying levels, and are sightseeing Tokyo before/after
Distance from Tokyo: 3.5hrs ~, ¥6,500 - ¥15,000 depending on mode of transport. Shinkansen (bullet train) and bus are available.
Key points: all levels, Winter Olympics, conveniently located
Resources:
Hotel Hakuba Tokyu
Chalet Big Bear Hakuba
📷: powderquest, ultimatetouringaus, yuimelon, hakubawhitefox,
Nozawa onsen, nagano
Onsen Resort close to Tokyo
Nozawa Onsen, Nagano. The little sister to Hakuba, Nozawa Onsen is super quaint, traditional, and classically Japanese. There are small, winding streets with twinkling lights that feel like you’re in a Polar Express-meets-Ghibli village. It’s definitely gained popularity in the last couple years, but you still won’t have your band of Australians and intense snow-bunnies like you get in Hokkaido. Nozawa Onsen, at its core, is an onsen village. There are 10+ public onsens (hot springs) available with a wide range of mineral waters that are said to heal ailments. Perfect for after the slopes.
If you decide on Nozawa, I highly recommend dedicating a day for the hot springs. There are a ton of smaller onsens (6-7 people) at varying temperatures. Certain baths have minerals that smoothe your skin and clear acne - but mort importantly - make you feel great. It’s an experience unlike anywhere else, especially if you’re coming from the Western part of the world.
Perfect if you: are visiting Japan for the first time + want a mix of culture and skiing, are looking for a more local experience, are traveling with a smaller group
Distance from Tokyo: 3.5hrs ~, ¥6,500 - ¥15,000 depending on mode of transport. Shinkansen (bullet train) and bus are available.
Key points: onsens, cozy, local
Resources:
📷: mountainwatch, tokyofoodgram, alex.coppo.photo
naeba, niigata
friendly taste of japan’s snow
Naeba, Niigata. Naeba ski resort is another solid option close to Tokyo. Also famous for hosting Japan’s annual Fuji Rock music festival in the summertime, Naeba is conveniently located only 2 hours from Tokyo. Probably the closest, well known resort. It’s definitely not Japan’s biggest ski resort, but offers a good range of runs for varying levels. Another good option for families and children.
Naeba houses the famous Dragondola, Japan’s longest gondola that links Naeba to neighboring ski area Kagura. Kagura and Naeba are essentially two sides of the same mountain - both belonging to the Prince Snow. I’m pretty sure most life tickets include both Naeba and Kagura.. but double check. The two slopes are connected at the top and are super easy to go back and fourth between.
*For lodging, Naeba’s famous Prince Hotel lodge is at the base of the mountain and is essentially a ski in ski out. From what I know, it used to be the top-tier lodge in the 90’s, but has fallen quite far since then. I stayed at a small BnB nearby that had its own private shuttle - that was a great cozy option!
Perfect if you: are visiting Japan for the first time + want to sneak in a quick overnight/day trip on the slopes, or beginner/intermediate level
Distance from Tokyo: 2 hrs~, ¥3,500 - ¥85,000 depending on mode of transport. Shinkansen (bullet train) and bus are available
Key points: beginner friendly, closest to Tokyo, Dragondola
Resources:
Naeba Official Site (Prince Hotel)
📷: sakudoyaro, 1onetrip, nationalpark_japan
niseko, hokkaido
ultimate resort in japan
Niseko, Hokkaido. Arguably the most famous ski spot in Japan, Niseko is home to 4 resorts: Annapuri, Hanazono, Grand Hirafu, and Niseko Village. Each resort has its own personality, and they’re all accessible under IKON pass (or, alternatively United Niseko Lift Pass). Niseko is a great option if you’re dedicating a majority of your Japan trip to the snow. It’s located in Hokkaido, Japan’s most northern island. Most people fly into Tokyo, then fly into Hokkaido. I do not recommend a different route between Tokyo <> Hokkaido.
Culturally, Niseko is notorious for the insane amount of Australian tourists that visit Japan during ski season (their excruciating summer time). Considering the short flight, it makes sense. There are a ton of Australians that work in restaurants and bars in exchange for lodging throughout the season, so English-only speakers need not worry! Apparently there are shops that carry Vegemite and Milo - and have heard rumors that it’s the only place in Japan you’ll see shopkeepers put out tip jars.
The 4 resorts breakdown:
Hirafu is known to be the most lively with bars, restuarants, and nightlife within walking distance. The largest tourist population.
Niseko Village is more thank Hirafu, but is a solid option with eateries and bars around.
Annupuri has a couple famous ryokans (Japanese hotels with onsens) and the most “traditional”.
Hanazono is the newest resort - also has a good amount of restaurants and shopping.
There are a ton of other awesome resorts in Hokkaido - Niseko is just the most popular and generally recommended for first-time Japan skiiers. I’ve heard lots of controversy over how over-populated with Australians it is, and the fact that you lose a lot of Japanese culture. Some good alternatives include Furano Ski Resorts or Westin Rusutsu - both of which are reputable spots with less of a crowd.
Perfect if you: are visiting Japan for the pow, are intermediate/advanced, backcountry, want a true ski-trip getaway
Distance from Tokyo: 1.5 hr~ plane to Sapporo (CTS), 2 hr~ drive to resort, ¥25,000+ usually
Key points: full ski trip, foreigner friendly, are ready to live in Japan snow
Resources:
Hotel Setsu Niseko
Hotel W in Niseko
📷: ___a.xx18, timeouttokyo_, architecturalreality, rinbow00_
Hope you enjoy this writeup! There are a ton of great resources online to learn about other resorts, but here are a couple safe options for the first-time traveler. Snow in Japan is unlike any other.
Below are a few famous resorts that I haven’t stayed at, but are talked about often:
Happy traveling! <3
- Emilia Liu, Champloo
