It’s been a whirlwind of activity over the past few weeks as we’ve been inundated with enquiries from people starting to plan their ski trip to Japan’s pristine powder.

Depending on the type of traveller you are, it might surprise you to learn that not everyone locked in their flights & accommodation six to 12 months ago! Or perhaps it won’t surprise you at all. In either case, we think you'll find the following information very compelling...

If you have been holding off booking a snow trip to Japan, now is a good time to lock it in.

Reason #1 - Skiing in Japan Could Slow Down Aging

Some very interesting Research from Edith Cowan University has proved what we have all known for a long time – travel is good for you!

In fact, ECU's researchers have found that travel could be one of the best ways to slow down premature aging. The study suggests that travel can impact the process of aging with positive experiences mitigating aging & enhancing health.

Positive travel experiences could enhance individuals' physical & mental wellness through exposure to novel environments, engagement in physical activities and social interaction, & the fostering of positive emotions.

One can only imagine how beneficial a ski trip to Japan would be as – floating down a hill in knee-deep powder must be one of the most positive experiences you can have. Then add in the novelty of travelling in Japan & you are looking at some serious anti-ageing treatment.

That sounds like a perfect reason to book that trip!

Reason #2 - Amazing Flight Options

Google Flights will tell you that the best time to have booked your flights to Japan was about 5 months ago, which is not very helpful if you haven’t booked your flights yet!

The great news is, we are currently seeing best fares we've seen in months. Of course, there are no hard & fast rules & flight prices change on a daily (if not hourly) basis. We all know that Oasis reunion concert ticket prices have nothing on airlines when it comes to dynamic pricing (!!) – so consider the following as directional advice.

Singapore Airlines 2025 Early Bird Discounts

Singapore Airlines has just released Early Bird Discounts from Australia to 90 worldwide destinations. The fares cover Economy Class, Premium Economy Class & Business Class for travel from January to September 2025. They have further sweetened the deal with 30% bonus KrisFlyer miles and exclusive Pelago perks including $1 global roaming eSIMs.

The even better news is that these fares include flights to Tokyo. Depending on your dates, you could secure an Economy return flight to Narita for $893 (AUD). And if you’re looking for a bit more luxury, a Premium Economy flight on the same dates would cost $2,462 (AUD), which is the usual price of an Economy ticket.

All flights are via Singapore, which means you could even break up the journey with a couple of days lounging around the world's best infinity pool at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

The sale ends on 25 September so don’t hang around on this one.

ANA – Premium Economy

If you prefer a direct flight to Japan, we’re seeing some fantastic deals for Premium Economy flights to Tokyo from Japan’s second-largest airline, ANA. These prices are particularly attractive if you’re planning to travel after 20 January.

 A return flight from Sydney to Tokyo (Haneda) in Premium Economy would cost around $2,900, compared to $3,800 with Japan Airlines for a two-week trip.

 These are exceptional prices and likely won’t last long, so if you’re after a more comfortable flight to Japan, don’t miss out on this opportunity.

 JAL – Premium Economy from Melbourne

Speaking of Premium Economy, we have some great news for our friends from Burn City. JAL will be offering Premium Economy on their Melbourne-Narita route for the Japanese winter (or ski season as we prefer to think of it!)

From 31 October 2024 to 29 March 2025 services on JAL's Melbourne-Narita route will also increase from 4 flights per week to 6 flights per week.

Fiji Airways – Tokyo via Fiji

Not all stopovers are created equal. The prospect of flying to Tokyo via Fiji is very appealing as you get the best of both worlds - a tropical beach holiday & snow adventure in the same trip. It seems you can have it all!

The flight time from Sydney to Nadi is around 5 hours followed by a comfortable 9 hours up to Tokyo. Fiji Airways is a great option & the Economy flight cost of this doubleheader is comparable with other carriers, while business class pricing looks very attractive compared to Qantas.

This is an excellent option for families after a winter & summer holiday in one or simply looking to break up their journey.

Reach out to us today if you'd like to take advantage of any of these offers.

Reason #3 - New Properties Available

Regular readers will know we have seen unprecedented demand for snow accommodation this season & that some of the more popular resort properties have been sold out for months.

The good news is that, as autumn has officially arrived in Japan, we're seeing some very interesting properties being released onto the market.

This means that there are now accommodations available to book that weren't previously available. These properties are often locally owned or have recently undergone renovations and weren't previously marketed.

The key takeaway is that there are still excellent accommodation options available, especially if you're open to exploring beyond the mainstream resorts. Shoot us a note if you'd like to know more.

Reason #4 - Exchange Rate

It’s been a wild couple of weeks for the Yen. Moves by the Japanese Reserve Bank have sent the Japanese currency on a rollercoaster ride, helping it to regain some of the losses seen in early August.

These fluctuations have seen the Yen strengthen slightly, but it remains remarkable value. As frequent visitors to Japan over the past couple of decades, we can certainly attest to this. The real impact of the weaker Yen becomes apparent once you’re in Japan, particularly when paying for things like food, shopping & lift passes.

While we might be biased, if you're considering a quick ski trip to Japan, now is an excellent time to book. There are some fantastic flight options, a range of excellent accommodations available, and the Yen continues to offer incredible value.

Reason #5 - La Niña

We know we have mentioned this before, but it’s kind of a big deal!

If La Niña does make an appearance this season (& it looks like she will - touchwood!), then all things snow-related go from awesome to incredibly freaking awesome. Having experienced her bountiful blessings in the past, we can categorically say – you do not want to miss this.

So there you have it, there is no reason at all not to lock in a cheeky little powder run this summer or winter (depending on which part of the world you're in). As you can tell we are getting very excited about this season & hope you are too.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you want to hear more about any of these offers.

Wishing you peace, love and powder days

The Snow Concierge