Reasons To Choose Japan For Your Next Ski Vacation
The fact that we LOVE Japan probably doesn’t come as surprise to anyone reading this. Japan is a fantastic destination and for that reason is already on a lot of people’s bucket lists.
You’ve probably heard about the amazing culture, the delicious food, and the incredible sights which are reason enough to visit Japan. When you add in the abundance and quality of the snow, amazing infrastructure, and excellent and varied accommodation options, Japan really starts to stack up as a great option for your next ski vacation.
We’ve all heard about Niseko’s blow powder but a lesser-known feature of Japan’s winters is the influence of the ‘lake effect’ on the snowfall on the main island of Honshu. This amazing phenomenon sees freezing winds from Siberia blow across the warmer waters of the Sea of Japan, depositing huge snowfalls in the mountains of Honshu.
This means incredible snowfalls even when there’s no cold weather front. The best bit? These snowfalls are very seldom accompanied by winds or poor visibility associated with snowstorms.
This is why resorts in Niigata (like Myoko and Madarao) as well as those in Nagano (such as Hakuba, Shiga Kogen and Nozawa Onsen) get such great conditions.
Amazing snow and incredible conditions? That’s a giant tick from us!
Let’s talk about infrastructure and getting around. Everyone knows that Japan boasts one of the most advanced rail networks in the world. Bullet trains (aka shinkansen) are an absolute blessing when it comes to getting to and from the ski resorts.
Most major ski areas are connected to Tokyo via the shinkansen and remove the need for hiring a car to get around. Of course, if you want to go off the beaten path then hiring a car is a great idea, a bonus for Aussies being that the Japanese also drive on the left-hand side of the road.
One of our absolute favourite things about skiing and snowboarding in Japan is the relative lack of crowds and lift lines. If you’ve skied in Europe, the USA or Australia, you’re probably used to waiting in line at the bottom of the hill for your turn to head back up. This isn’t an issue at most Japanese ski resorts, and if having a quad chair to yourself sounds appealing, there are Japanese ski resorts out there that deliver!
Then there is the food… Ski resort food outside of Japan generally gets a bad rap, as it’s often overpriced and not very good. We are happy to report that this is absolutely not the case in Japan.
Food on the mountain in Japan is generous, varied, and well-priced. You will be spoilt for choice with Japanese winter classics like ramen, udon, and katsu curry. You’ll also find western options at most resorts if you’d had your fill of Japanese food for the day.
As far as where to stay, Japanese ski resorts offer a wide range of accommodation types, to suit all budgets and travel styles. You can choose from traditional Japanese inns (ryokan) for groups or families looking for a cultural experience. Ryokan often offer great value and most are family owned meaning you contribute directly to the local community – which has to be a good thing.
There’s also abundant self-catering accommodation, boutique hotels and of course luxury international players like the ANA Intercontinental in Appi, or the Ritz-Carlton and Park Hyatt in Niseko. Whichever one of these you’re after, we’ve got you covered as far as your Japan ski accommodation needs go.
Japan is an incredible place to visit at any time of year. But winter is our favourite time as Japan offers a truly unique and unforgettable ski experience! We love it and have no doubt that you will too.
Please drop us a line if you want our help in planning an unforgettable Japan ski holiday for you and your crew.
