10 Best Ski Resorts in Japan

Hakuba Valley is home to 11 ski resorts boasting slopes with superb snow quality and spectacular views of the mountains of the Northern Alps. In fact, this was the venue of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. The facilities built for that event, such as the Hakuba Jump Stadium, are still maintained in great shape today. As well as skiing you can also try snowshoeing, snow rafting and other activities, plus there's a kids' park designed for small children too. And at the end of the day you can warm your bones in a hot spring. There are 6 hot springs, including inns such as Hakuba Happo Onsen, Hakuba Shio no Michi Onsen, and Hakuba Himekawa Onsen.

The slopes of Appi Kogen, a plain that stretches across Hachimantai, Iwate Prefecture, are on a huge scale and attract skiers from all over the world. The 21 courses have a total running distance in excess of 45 kilometres. There are 13 lifts, too, making this a convenient winter sports destination for everyone from beginners to advanced skiers. There are plenty of kids' schools as well, and at Snow Play Land there's an area for sledging and tubing, so it's not all about skiing and snowboarding. Accommodation options include hotels with hot springs and guest-houses, and there's plenty of after-ski entertainment in the shape of food and shopping.

This pioneer of Japanese ski resorts opened in 1961. It was the driving force behind the huge rise in popularity of skiing during Japan's economic bubble period, and it's also famous as the venue for Yumi Matsutoya's live performances and the Fuji Rock Festival. In addition to 22 wide-ranging courses, there are also 2 snow parks, and the park for beginners is also open for night skiing. This resort is packed with activities that are fun for the young and the young at heart. There's also a dedicated area for running bikes and snowmobiles.

A full-scale ski resort with 37 courses spread across 3 peaks, Rusutsu Resort makes the most of Hokkaido's spectactular environment. The powder snow that you can enjoy in fine weather is exceptional. There's helicopter access to the summit of Mt. Shiribetsu near Rusutsu Resort, and you can ski up to 6 times a day with a guide from this point. There are also 2 parks for advanced skiers where you can ski freely and use jumps, rails and other features. For children, there are plenty of playgrounds and schools with the theme of Crayon Shin-chan. After spending time on the slopes, you can enjoy hot springs and great food. The resort also has accommodations that make the most of the magnificent scenery.

Located near the hot spring inn town of Nozawa Onsenkyo in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture, this attractive location offers both historic hot springs and winter sports in one closely knit package. Courses range from steep slopes with a maximum angle of 39 degrees for advanced skiers to enjoy, to beginner courses that can be accessed by gondola, and at the summit you can take in views of the Sea of Japan. Many snowboarders gather at the snow park and halfpipes on the Uenohira slope. When you return to the inn in the hot spring town, let's enjoy Nozawana pickles and hot spring buns while enjoying the famous outdoor hot spring tour.

Niseko's ski resort stands at the foot of Mt. Yotei, also known as Ezo Fuji, and is known for its amazing snow quality that attracts skiers and snowboarders from all over the world. This is arguably Japan's most international ski resort, with countless luxury hotels and condominiums designed for inbound tourists located close to hot springs. But it's the exception powder snow at the 4 resorts in Niseko that keeps people coming back. There are also shuttle buses connecting the resorts, so it's easy to move between them and try their unique features. And it's not all skiing and snowboarding - there are plenty of other snow activities to try too, so get ready to experience something new.

Situated on the prefectural border between Yamagata and Miyagi, the Zao mountain range is known for its spectacular scenery of frost-covered trees known as "snow monsters" and is the site of 8 ski resorts. Zao Onsen Ski Resort, one of the largest ski resorts in Tohoku, is especially popular, and many tourists come here to enjoy sightseeing in the historic Zao Onsenkyo. The excellent powder snow and fantastic views from the cable cars are the icing on the cake. And at night, the illuminations give the site a completely different look.

Furano is known in Japan as the setting for the TV drama "Kita no Kuni Kara". But it's also an increasingly popular ski resort where you can enjoy winter sports at the smae time as visiting famous locations and sightseeing in the town. There are various offers for cheap use of the lift at Furano Ski Resort, and it's free for elementary school students and younger children. After a day on the slopes, head to the hot springs of Furano Onsen to rest and relax. Furano is so much more than a summer destination.

Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort is widely known in Japan for being the setting of the classic 1980s film "Take Me Out to the Snowland." Even now, fans pour in to visit the film's locations at Yakebitaiyama Ski Resort. The 18 other ski resorts here, which together are the size of 90 Tokyo Domes, attract skiers with magnificent scenery and powder snow of the highest quality thanks to the site's high altitude. There are also 8 hot springs in the area. At Jigokudani Yaen-Koen you can even see monkeys enjoying their own hot springs.

Easy to get to from the city by train or car, Karuizawa is a beginner-friendly ski resort that's ideal for a quick getaway. Karuizawa and the nearby Sugadaira area are typically used for children and students to make their debut on the slopes. But there's plenty of variation in the courses, so really anyone will be able to find a slope that matches their level. Having one of the highest altitudes of any ski resort in Japan, Karuizawa is renowned for its consistently excellent powder snow lasting many months. For the après-ski experience you can head into the city of Karuizawa, where there are many accommodations that have hot springs.