I’m not a skier. I by no means realized as a toddler; my experiences as an grownup have been humiliating, to place it mildly. But despite this, the phrase “japow” is firmly in my vocabulary—I do know precisely what it means.
That’s as a result of this well-known kind of snow—whose identify is an amalgam of “Japan” and “powder”—is so beloved amongst skiers that even folks with no expertise for or curiosity in snowboarding know of its magic. Furthermore, it’s immediately chargeable for the magical high quality of Japanese winter landscapes, whether or not you see them on a pair of skis or by yourself two toes.
Certainly, whereas I can’t declare from private snowboarding expertise that what follows are the very best locations to ski in Japan, I can say that the magic of those locations—I’ve been to all of them many instances—makes me want I had the talents to hit the slopes.
Clearly, japow is the #1 cause Japan tops so many skiers’ bucket lists. The snow is without delay dense and thick, and on the identical time mild and impossibly fluffy. Most individuals I do know who’re superior and even skilled skiers say there’s actually no higher snow on the planet for snowboarding. That is to say nothing of how wonderful Japanese ski resorts are, in addition to Japan’s normal deserves as a journey vacation spot extra broadly.
So far as extra components that separate Japan from the opposite hottest snowboarding locations on the planet, comparable to these in Europe and North America? Effectively, given what a bodily sport snowboarding is, Japan’s fame for security and nice medical care offers ski fanatics nice peace of thoughts. Furthermore, the omotenashi hospitality that governs Japan’s remedy of holiday makers solely heightens the additional you go up the ski elevate.
High Japan Ski Locations
Niseko
Unquestionably, Niseko is understood to have the very best japow in all of Japan. It’s additionally identified, nonetheless, to have the costliest resorts (despite additionally being essentially the most luxurious, for what it’s value). To achieve Niseko, fly to Sapporo’s New Chitose Worldwide Airport, from which direct limousine buses to Niseko run (assuming you haven’t booked a non-public switch, excessive curler).
Hakuba
People who find themselves trying to find the place to ski in Japan however don’t wish to get on a aircraft typically head to Nagano prefecture, which is situated lower than two hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen bullet practice. The preferred Nagano ski resort might be Hakuba, whose resorts supply the same ambiance to these in Niseko, albeit with fewer crowds and a a lot cheaper price level.
Nozawa
Like Hakuba, Nozawa Onsen is in Nagano prefecture. In contrast to Hakuba, nonetheless, Nozawa is a small mountain village, the place you actually really feel the magic of rural Japan whenever you’re not up on the ski slopes. If I had been a skier, Nozawa would in all probability be my selection because of this alone: You may spend the day on the slopes like a VIP, and luxuriate in evenings warming your physique, consuming oden and soaking in onsen among the many locals.
Zao
One other spot you would possibly select for a Japan ski journey is Zao Onsen, situated in Yamagata prefecture about an hour by bus from Yamagata Station. Zao Onsen, along with its benefit as a ski vacation spot, can be the very best place in Japan to identify the “snow monsters,” which is the identify given to the mountain timber once they turn out to be so lined with snow they hunch over like, effectively, monsters.
Hachimantai
Break up between Akita and Iwate prefectures, Mt. Hachimantai is considerably much less crowded than any of the opposite locations on this record. Even higher? As soon as you’re completed snowboarding at Hachimantai, this a part of Japan—the northern Tohoku area—affords many different fascinating locations, together with Kakunodate Samurai village and Tsuru-no-yu, an onsen with milky, blue waters which might be stated to have as soon as healed a legendary crane.
The Greatest Time to Ski in Japan
As a normal rule, the month of February is prime ski time in Japan. It’ll have been chilly for no less than a pair months (no less than), which ensures thick layers of base snow beneath the fresh-fallen japow. Against this, if you happen to are available December and even early January, you threat the slopes being partially barren, significantly if you happen to determine to ski in Nagano or the Tohoku area as a substitute of Hokkaido.
On the flip-side, ready till March or April might imply that a number of the finest locations to ski in Japan have began to thaw out a bit an excessive amount of to benefit from the full winter ambiance. Compounding this reality is how busy Japan will get over the past week of March and the primary week of April. Whereas sakura gained’t be blooming at any ski locations round this time, your journey from Tokyo to the resort of your selection could also be too crowded for consolation.
The place do most individuals ski in Japan?
Whereas Hokkaido’s Niseko is unquestionably the highest ski vacation spot in Japan, it’s not the one place you possibly can go. Nagano ski resorts like Nozawa and Hakuba are well-known for his or her proximity to Tokyo, whereas spots within the Tohoku area like Yamagata’s Zao Onsen and Hachimantai (which straddles each Akita and Iwate prefectures) are good as a result of they’re merely much less busy.
hat metropolis or area is legendary for snowboarding in Japan?
Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, might be essentially the most well-known ski vacation spot in Japan, significantly the Niseko resort not removed from Sapporo and New Chitose Worldwide Airport. Different well-known ski areas in Japan embody Nagano prefecture and the Tohoku area, which occupies the “high” of Honshu island between Tokyo and Hokkaido.
Is Hakuba or Niseko higher?
You probably have the cash to remain in one in all Niseko’s nicest resorts and don’t thoughts the crowds (and even like them—many individuals ski in Niseko to see and be seen), then this may in all probability be your first selection for snowboarding in Japan. Then again, Hakuba occupies a bigger land space and has a a lot wider number of ski slopes and lodging sorts, which additionally occur to occupy a much less extreme worth level than these in Niseko.
