At The Snow Concierge, the only thing we want you to have to think about is which chairlift to ride and what time to stop for lunch.

From the moment you arrive in Nozawa Onsen and wander the snow-covered streets, you will see what the hype is about. The village, with its narrow lanes and traditional wooden buildings, feels like a page from a history book. But this magical setting is only the backdrop to what is to come.

If you want a quintessential Japanese ski hotel experience somewhere off the radar, with great snow and infrastructure, and with relatively few Westerners then Appi is ideal.

The Snow Concierge was one of the first international visitors to realise Hakuba’s huge potential while working for a US television network during the Nagano Winter Olympic games, and it has been a fast favourite ever since. 

Planning a Japan ski trip? Niseko's world-famous snow is legendary and we all know someone who has been there and heard all about it. But what is it really like?

What’s The Snow Concierge doing in Japan in Summer you may ask? Well one of the ‘toughest’ parts of our job is making sure we’ve tried and tested all the places in Japan that our clients want to visit, not just the ski resorts.

Want to experience a Japan snow holiday but want to ease into the cultural side slowly? Or perhaps you don’t want to have to make too many decisions while on holiday?

Great news for Japan bound travellers with Qantas today announcing a doubling of flights from Australia to Tokyo.

The Aldi ski sale is a great opportunity to get new ski gear for a reasonable price. Perfect for replacing items your kids might have outgrown. But is it worth it?

Most ski visitors to Japan head to Niseko, Hakuba, Shiga, and Nozawa. But there are hundreds more to explore if you are a little adventurous. Here are a few suggestions.

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 stacks up as a great option for your next ski vacation.

Today marks the start of Golden Week in Japan, basically a week where several public holidays align. Sounds pretty awesome, right!?

Whether it’s a serviced apartment with all the mod cons, a fab but unheard-of hotel or a luxury ryokan, we’ve got you covered as far as your Tokyo accommodation needs go.

Your kids will be relieved to hear it doesn’t have to be all shrines and tea ceremonies (although we think they can be pretty cool too). There is a lot of fun stuff to captivate the most high-energy of families - both the kids and the kids at heart. And we’re yet to meet a kid who didn’t love Japan.

Ok, we might be a teensy bit biased, but we think there’s no such thing as a ‘bad time’ to visit Japan…that said, if you’re after some of that incredible powder that Japan is famous for, then there are definitely times when the winter months are more likely to deliver optimal conditions.

Here’s a breakdown of what we love about the five most popular resorts on the Japanese mainland of Honshu

Hakuba is perfect for families, with heaps of skiable terrain and no end of things to keep you occupied on rest days.

The Snow Concierge team was lucky enough to spend a few days in Singapore last week at the FCTG Independent Conference which brings together leading independent travel agents from all over Australia.

If you’ve travelled anywhere in Japan by train, then you’ve probably noticed the difference between locals and tourists when it comes to how much luggage they have with them. In most cases, it’s likely the Japanese aren’t travelling with luggage at all.

If you’re looking for the perfect winter getaway, it’s hard to go past Japan. It’s an awesome opportunity to experience a country steeped in culture, while also enjoying some of the finest skiing and snowboarding in the world. It’s a fantastic destination for a snow holiday - whether you’re a first timer or an experienced pro.