I’m not a skier. I by no means realized as a baby; 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 sort of snow—whose title is an amalgam of “Japan” and “powder”—is so liked amongst skiers that even individuals with no expertise for or curiosity in snowboarding know of its magic. Furthermore, it’s straight accountable for the magical high quality of Japanese winter landscapes, whether or not you see them on a pair of skis or by yourself two ft.
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 occasions—makes me want I had the abilities to hit the slopes.
Clearly, japow is the #1 cause Japan tops so many skiers’ bucket lists. The snow is directly dense and thick, and on the similar 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 basic deserves as a journey vacation spot extra broadly.
So far as further elements that separate Japan from the opposite hottest snowboarding locations on the planet, comparable to these in Europe and North America? Properly, given what a bodily sport snowboarding is, Japan’s repute for security and nice medical care provides ski fanatics nice peace of thoughts. Furthermore, the omotenashi hospitality that governs Japan’s therapy of holiday makers solely heightens the additional you go up the ski raise.
Prime Japan Ski Locations
Niseko
For sure, Niseko is thought to have the very best japow in all of Japan. It’s additionally recognized, nonetheless, to have the costliest resorts (despite additionally being essentially the most luxurious, for what it’s price). 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 personal switch, excessive curler).
Hakuba
People who find themselves looking for the place to ski in Japan however don’t wish to get on a airplane typically head to Nagano prefecture, which is positioned lower than two hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen bullet prepare. The most well-liked Nagano ski resort might be Hakuba, whose resorts provide 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. Not like Hakuba, nonetheless, Nozawa is a small mountain village, the place you actually really feel the magic of rural Japan if you’re not up on the ski slopes. If I had been a skier, Nozawa would in all probability be my alternative because of this alone: You’ll be able to 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, positioned 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 title given to the mountain timber once they change into so coated with snow they hunch over like, nicely, monsters.
Hachimantai
Cut up between Akita and Iwate prefectures, Mt. Hachimantai is considerably much less crowded than any of the opposite locations on this checklist. Even higher? As soon as you’re completed snowboarding at Hachimantai, this a part of Japan—the northern Tohoku area—presents many different fascinating locations, together with Kakunodate Samurai village and Tsuru-no-yu, an onsen with milky, blue waters which are stated to have as soon as healed a legendary crane.
The Finest Time to Ski in Japan
As a basic rule, the month of February is prime ski time in Japan. It’ll have been chilly for not less than a pair months (not less than), which ensures thick layers of base snow beneath the fresh-fallen japow. Against this, if you happen to are available in 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 an alternative of Hokkaido.
On the flip-side, ready till March or April could imply that a number of the greatest 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 truth is how busy Japan will get over the past week of March and the primary week of April. Whereas sakura received’t be blooming at any ski locations round this time, your journey from Tokyo to the resort of your alternative 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’ll be able to 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 known 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 embrace Nagano prefecture and the Tohoku area, which occupies the “prime” of Honshu island between Tokyo and Hokkaido.
Is Hakuba or Niseko higher?
When you’ve got the cash to remain in certainly one of 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 can in all probability be your first alternative for snowboarding in Japan. However, Hakuba occupies a bigger land space and has a a lot wider number of ski slopes and lodging varieties, which additionally occur to occupy a much less extreme value level than these in Niseko.
