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Corinne's Guide to Skiing Japan

Corinne's Guide to Skiing Japan

I find a stunning joy in traveling to ski. My dreamiest destination? Japan. It is an incredible place to ski and explore with hundreds of ski areas. I pulled together some of my favorite places to ski and ride in different parts of Japan so you can join me in dreaming about your next trip to the powder paradise!

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Popularized by fluffy pillows of powder, steamy onsen baths, and novelty seafood, Japan has stood out as a global ski and snowboard destination since hosting their first Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Hokkaido in 1972. The event led to the skiing boom of the 1980s, which saw more ski areas in the country than ever (over 700!). Get this: today, Japan hosts more ski areas than North America!

The unique geographic positioning of Japan provides the perfect balance of moisture and temperature to create its signature powder pillows and mind-boggling snowfall. Continue reading to get a peek at six of my favorite places to visit in Japan – I saved the best for last!

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📍 Nozawaonsen

📍NOZAWAONSEN

"Step off the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo and go back in time in the mountain village of Nozawaonsen, known for it's long, ridge-line slopes and many, many hot springs."

Fuel up on streetside steamed buns on your way to the lift!

Catch a glimpse of the many Nagano-area mountains and ski resorts from the Base Gondola.

I loved the bits of steep terrain in the back bowls. We saw lots of wildlife back here: snow hares and kamoshika. You'll want avalanche gear to explore back here.

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📍 Niseko Area

The Niseko area southeast of Sapporo is the most popular destination in Hokkaido and is home to several popular (and some lesser-known) resorts with incredible snowfall.

Spending 1-2 weeks in this area can be a way to stay in one lodging location while visiting several different ski resorts such as: Niseko/Grand Hirafu, Kiroro, Rusutsu, or touring up Mount Yotei on a clear day. You'll want a rental car for this strategy. @tomgirlphoto

The unique layout of Mt. Annapuri, an inactive volcano, allows for 360-degrees of lift-access powder skiing above and below treeline across a handful of resorts. @tomgirlphoto

The Ikon Pass can get you on the lifts, but you'll be vouching for a spot in line with hundreds of other international skiers, which can be part of the fun! @tomgirlphoto

How to escape the crowds in Niseko...

Bringing a touring set up to Hokkaido is also a great choice as there are several mountains and side-country access areas to explore.

Explore at your own risk, or take this opportunity to hire a local guide if you're looking for untouched stashes of powder.

On a rare clear winter day, local skier and 4FRNT athlete, Taiyo, showed us some of his favorite spots in the Kiroro backcountry.

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📍 Furano

📍FURANO SKI RESORT

"Escape the crowds by spending time in Furano, a rural area punctualized by a world-class ski resort with a hike-able bowl and other small nearby resorts with neat side-country access."

MIX IT UP IN FURANO...

For more variety, drive an hour to Tomamu, a remote ski area with a state of the art lodge, boasting 5 different types of cuisine.

The snow and terrain to explore was plenty, yet never a lift line.

With a guide, we accessed the side country for deeper stashes of untouched snow.

Our guide was a powder specialist from 9 Vallees Ski Safari.

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📍 Asahidake

Climbing the tallest mountain in Hokkaidō via @asahidakeropeway

Ally taking a walk to the snow-covered crater, an active strato-volcano that billows steam from its hot core.

📍 ASAHIDAKE ROPEWAY

"One long singular tram line takes you near the top of an active volcanic mountain top covered in snow. There's nothing like it."

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📍 Aomori City + Northern Tohoku

Enjoying the view of a nearby ski area on Mount Iwate.

The powder was deep at the small local ski area called Owani.

📍 TOHOKU PREFECTURE

"Aomori City sits on the northernmost bay of Honshu, the main island of Japan. When off the hill, we visited Aomori, known for it's fresh seafood, arts & culture museums, as well as a modern indoor market showcase the region's commercialization of apple farming & cider mills (who knew?!)."

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📍 Zao Onsen + Yonezawa

Another remarkable ropeway to bring you to the top of Mount Zaō.

Snow Monsters are the main attraction at Zaō Onsen, whether you ski or travel to the summit to have a look around. The backside of this ridge is an expansive crater with lots of terrain to explore.

The locals are fun, friendly, and were glad to show us around!

📍 YONEZAWA CITY

"While off-the-beaten-path for global winter tourism, this region is rich with authentic Japanese culture, food, and art. I found this area to be an exciting way to visit local ski areas and also experience 'off-snow' things like silk-dying textiles, wagyu beef, and sake."

1 comment

Dawn

February 20, 2024 at 12:10 pm

Hokkaido is amazing. And there is a great dome nearby with a 1m diameter Brashear Telescope 🔭 ⭐️

Hokkaido is amazing. And there is a great dome nearby with a 1m diameter Brashear Telescope 🔭 ⭐️

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