How a ski holiday in Japan is different

Thinking about a Japan snow trip but not sure what to expect? In this article, we delve into some of the differences when skiing in Japan compared to places like the States, Europe or Australia.

The Japanese Ski Experience: What to expect?

Amazing powder snow

The first difference is the snow, which probably isn’t a surprise to anyone given Japan is globally recognised as having some of the best snow conditions in the world. This alone is as good a reason as any to consider a ski or snowboard trip to Japan.

Surprisingly, this incredible snow comes without the usual drawbacks of epic conditions found elsewhere…

Uncrowded slopes

Things that you would expect to encounter in other places when it is dumping snow might include crowds – this is generally not an issue in Japan - the slopes are incredibly quiet compared to pretty much everywhere else in the world & this goes for powder days too.

Japanese locals typically ski or snowboard on weekends. This means fewer crowds, especially on weekdays. If you time your visit right, you may well enjoy the glory of untouched powder fields.

Caveat – this isn’t true of all resorts, factors like the popularity of the resort with tourists & the time of year might mean you will need to share but nothing like you may have experienced back home. We’ve been lucky enough have the mountain pretty much to ourselves on numerous powder days in Japan & it’s about as good as life gets!

Amazing conditions

Then there is the weather. In many winter destinations (like Australia’s ski fields), a cold weather front is required to deliver snow. This often means high winds, white outs & freezing conditions. Generally speaking, this is not the case in Japan. The lake effect means that it mostly snows without the arrival of any cold weather systems meaning great viz & comfortable conditions on the mountain.

Affordable lift passes

Inflation has finally arrived in Japan after 30 plus years of stagflation & prices are starting to creep up a bit. This means some of the more popular & well-known resorts are getting more expensive in terms of lift passes. That said, Japan still has the cheapest lift tickets in the world. As a guide, you can expect to get a 5-day pass for about the same amount as a 1-day pass at your local mountain in the States (yes, you read that right!) Add in the ability to use either an Epic or Ikon pass at some resorts, & it goes from cheap to free.

Incredible food

We all have a favourite Japanese dish (The Snow Concierge team are pretty partial to sushi & ramen!) & Japanese food is one of the reasons why people love visiting Japan. The classic comfort foods of Japanese curry & ramen are staples on the hill at Japan’s ski resorts. Depending on the resort, options can extend to sushi & other delights. The best bit? These dishes will typically only set you back about $10.

Resorts are smaller

There are approximately 450 ski resorts in Japan. About 20 of those have five or more chairs & these tend to be the more well-known resorts. Many resorts in Japan tend to be smaller & more local than in other places – think New Zealand as opposed to Whistler. This may take a little getting used to if you are used to the vast European or North American resorts but when there’s powder to be had, even the smallest of resorts can deliver in spades.  

Japanese resorts cater for Japanese visitors

Except for a couple of high-profile areas (Niseko for example) – which have seen a huge influx of international investment & ownership – most resorts & surrounding areas were developed in the late 90s for Japanese visitors.

As a result, many resorts don’t offer a Western ski experience. Après ski isn’t really a thing (unless you count karaoke!) The Japanese prefer an onsen & meal followed by a few beers at their hotel or ryokan after a hard day of carving.

If you are after a more European experience, then there are only a handful of resorts & villages that offer these amenities. These resorts are the bigger, more popular & well-known resorts such as Niseko, Hakuba & Nozawa Onsen (as well as a few others), but these are more the exception than the norm.

Believe us, a more Japanese version of Après can be huge fun & once you’ve had an onsen after a day on the mountain, you’ll struggle to go back to western resorts!

Accommodation Types

Historically you had three options (ryokans, pensions or hotels) when staying in the Japanese ski fields. These days there is much more choice in the bigger resorts, particularly in self-catering & Western-style accommodation, which has been driven by international demand.

This may be a consideration when deciding where to visit. Not all areas offer modern, Western-style accommodations (which also tend to be more expensive than the Japanese accommodation on offer).

Not everyone speaks English

It may seem a bit obvious to say this about visiting a foreign country, but it is easy to assume that most people who work in ski fields can speak English. Or that there will be English-speaking ski instructors & guides available at your resort. This isn’t always the case & while Google Translate will get you through most situations – just don’t be surprised if you need a little help to communicate.

Not all signs are in English either, again it depends on the resort, but some smaller resorts don’t have a lot of English signage, so make sure you grab an English trail map before heading out.

Hidden Gems

The best resorts we have been to in Japan are ones most people haven’t heard of. With the majority of visitors gravitating to the big-name resorts, this leaves a huge number of options if you are prepared to consider something outside of the standard Western ski experience.

There are too many to list here (& besides they wouldn’t be hidden gems if we told everyone about them!) If you are interested in hearing more, drop us a line & we can talk you through the respective pros & cons.

Conclusion: Why Japan is a Must-Visit Ski Destination for Any Skier or Snowboarder

Like everything in Japan, skiing & snowboarding are a little different. There are obvious similarities to western ski resorts but, like everything in life, it’s the details that matter.

We believe that it’s these differences that make Japan such an incredible place to visit & we can’t wait to get back there as soon as those first champagne powder flakes start falling.

In the meantime, if you found this helpful be sure to sign up for our newsletter to make sure you don’t miss out on more articles about the pleasures of skiing and snowboarding in Japan.

There’s no better way to experience the beauty of Japan than on skis or a snowboard!

Wishing you Peace, Love & Powder Days! ❄️