13 Best Ski Resorts In Japan: Holiday Fun For Everyone

Hokkaido

1. Niseko Ski Resort

Just two-and-a-half-hours from Chitose Airport, Niseko Ski Resort is easily accessible and is a very popular winter holiday spot. This huge zone is actually comprised of four interlinking resorts, Niseko Village, Grand Hirafu, An’nupuri and Hanazono. Across the four zones, there are many fantastic runs for all levels. Skiiers and snowboarders are both welcome but, in addition, in the Niseko area, Snowscoot and Snowmotos are permitted. Overall, 30 percent of the runs are beginner, 40 percent intermediate level and 30 percent advanced. The Niseko All Mountain Pass provides access to all zones

Niseko Ski Resort

Address: Niseko, Abuta District, Hokkaido

Website: Niseko Ski Resort

Opening hours: 8.30am - 8:30pm (daily)

Price: 51 USD (single day)

2. Furano Ski Resort

There are two areas included in Furano Ski Resort, namely Furano and Kitanomine. In total there are 23 trails to complete, we’re sure that will keep you entertained for a few hours. This site is mainly focussed on beginner and intermediate levels, with 40 percent of runs dedicated to beginners. In total, 20 percent are for advanced guests. For children who may be nervous about the lifts, in key areas, the magic carpet moving escalators can be accessed.

Furano Ski Resort

Address: Nakagoryo, Furano, Hokkaido 076-8511

Website: Furano Ski Resort

Opening hours: 8:30am - 7:30pm (daily)

Price: 55 USD (single day)

3. Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU

There are 29 courses and so this resort is ideal for all levels. It is worth noting that the longest route, at 2.61 mi (4.2 km) is actually a beginner course. This long-run means that beginners will have plenty of opportunities to practice a variety of techniques until they feel comfortable. For advanced guests, there is an ‘Experts Only Powder Area’ where you can ski outside of the courses, but you’ll need to complete some paperwork to access it. Onsite there is one gondola station and five lifts. Night skiing takes place from four in the evening and seven courses are available.

Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU

Address: Nakatomamu, Shimukappu, Yufutsu District, Hokkaido 079-2204

Website: Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU

Opening hours: 9am - 6pm (daily)

Price: 54 USD

4. Kiroro Resort

With one of the highest snowfall counts, Kiroro is a fantastic base for a winter holiday. There are a number of fun beginner trails for those of you who are taking your first intrepid steps onto the slopes. The intermediate levels are long and exist across a number of different terrains, and there are also a few advanced routes. Alongside the slopes, there are also plenty of other fun activities, particularly if you’re planning a family holiday.

Kiroro Resort

Address: 128-1 Tokiwa Akaigawa-mura, Yoichi-gun, Hokkaido,PC 046-0593

Website: Kiroro Resort

Opening hours: 9am - 7:30pm (daily)

Price: 41 USD (single day)

5. Rusutsu Ski Resort

Covering three mountains, this is a great option for anyone looking for a variety of runs. Isola Mountain has a peak of 994 meters (3261 km), East Mountain is 868 meters (2847 km) and the West Mountain is 715 meters (3261.2 feet). This is a good option for advanced guests as 30 percent of the runs are advanced. There are three different chair lift styles, gondolas, pair lifts, and quad lifts.

Rusutsu Ski Resort

Address: 13, Izumikawa, Rusutsu, Abuta, Hokkaido 048-1711

Website: Rusutsu Ski Resort

Opening hours: 9am - 8pm (daily)

Price: 56 USD (single day)

Honshu - Main Island

6. Hakuba Ski Resort

With 10 ski resorts combined, Hakuba has everything you need for a great winter holiday. It is worth noting that out of these, Jigatake Snow Resort does not have any slopes for advanced users. The website has full details of the run divides for beginners, intermediate, and advanced users. You can purchase a mountain area pass, also known as the Hakuba Valley Ticket which will give you access to all the mountain runs.

Hakuba Ski Resort

Address: 6329-1 Hokujo,Hakuba,Kitaazumi,Nagano, 399-9301 Japan

Website: Hakuba Ski Resort

Opening hours: 7am - 5pm (daily)

Price: 55 USD

7. Shiga Kogen Ski Resort

This huge skiing area with 21 resorts, 51 lifts and 5 gondolas with access to numerous runs for all levels. There are five different areas to explore and night skiing is available. We love the magical feeling of skiing or snowboarding at night, so be sure to try it in one of the eight night-ski areas. Shiga Kogen Ski Resort is the second-highest resort in Japan and is an extremely popular holiday destination in Japan. The resorts are easy to ski between but it is worth noting that at night, the terrain can become difficult. In addition, off-piste activity is strictly banned.

Shiga Kogen Ski Resort

Address: 7148 Hirao, Yamanochi, Shimotakai District, Nagano 381-0401

Website: Shiga Kogen Ski Resort

Opening hours: 8am - 8:30pm (daily)

Price: 50 USD

8. Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort

With a total size of 297 hectares (734 acres) and high snowfall, this site can usually be enjoyed up until early May. That gives you plenty of time to book your winter holiday. With an equal split, advanced and intermediate runs equate for 60 percent, with the remainder being perfect for beginners. If you are advanced, be sure to try the Challenge Wall with a 39-degree gradient. There are 18 regular ski lifts, 2 gondolas and, for beginners, 1 magic carpet (moving walkway). You’ll find the longest run is 6 mi (9 km) and combines, from the Mount Kenashi Summit the Yamabiko Slope, Uenotaira Slope, Paradise Slope, and forest courses.

Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort

Address: Nagano Prefecture Shimotakai-gun Nozawaonsen-mura Toyosato 7653

Website: Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort

Opening hours: 8:30am - 8pm (daily)

Price: 51 USD

9. Myoko Kogen Ski Resort

This spot is mainly famous for its deep snow. You can expect to find several long and winding routes, perfect for enjoying the scenery. There are also bump runs for those of you looking to test out your skills. As with many of the other listings, this area covers a few resorts, so you can reap the benefits of 32 different courses. This location is also home to an excellent boarding park, perfect for those of you that prefer to snowboard than ski. Want to tackle Japan’s longest route? At 5.3 miles (8.5 km) long, we’re sure you’ll need a mini rest after that.

Myoko Kogen Ski Resort

Address: Taguchi, Myoko, Niigata 949-2106

Website: Myoko Kogen Ski Resort

Opening hours: 9am - 6pm (daily)

Price: 42 USD (single day)

10. Madarao Mountain Resort

We love that unlike many other sites in Japan the Madarao Mountain resort leaves 60 percent of its routes ungroomed. Meaning that you can enjoy skiing or snowboarding on some of the finest and fluffiest powder. In total, there are 31 different routes for you to try out alongside extra fun wave courses, snow park, and tree-run courses. There are 13 different tree-run courses so you can really revel in the scenery as you whizz by. Uniquely, this site also has a bowl-shaped area for skiers.

Madarao Mountain Resort

Address: Madaraokogen, Iiyama 389-2257, Nagano Prefecture

Website: Madarao Mountain Resort

Opening hours: 8:30am - 5pm (daily)

Price: 50 USD

11. Zao Onsen Ski Resort

With 12 courses for all levels to enjoy this is a great option for families. It’s not so big that you’ll lose each other, but also not so small that you’ll be bored. It’s worth noting that 40 percent of the courses are geared towards beginners, 40 percent for intermediate levels and 20 percent for advanced users. We like that there are lots of different lift options to the various areas throughout the resort. There is also a fun snow slide where you can ride a rubber doughnut ring down the slope; it’s a must-try for all ages.

Zao Onsen Ski Resort

Address: Zaoonsen, Yamagata, 990-2301

Website: Zao Onsen Ski Resort

Opening hours: 8:30am - 9pm (daily)

Price: 27 USD

12. Naeba Ski Resort

Connecting to Kagura Ski Resort by Japan’s longest gondola, you can enjoy the four main ski areas of Mt. Naeba. This is a popular destination for both locals and tourists alike. There is a grand total of 22 trails to complete and the maximum pitch is 32 degrees. We love that from the summit of the mountain there is both an advanced route and an intermediate route, meaning that you can enjoy the beautiful views. If you plan to take the children, be sure to show them the Snow Land where they can ride rubber doughnuts down the slopes. There is also a dedicated designer park which has a lot of apparatus so you can practice your tricks.

Naeba Ski Resort

Address: 202 Mikuni, Yuzawa, Minamiuonuma District, Niigata 949-6212

Website: Naeba Ski Resort

Opening hours: 8am - 5pm (daily)

Price: 54 USD

13. Appi Kogen Ski Resort

Known to have officially been recorded as the place with the most snow on Earth, you do not want to miss a visit to the Appi Kogen Ski Resort. There are 21 runs on-site, and the longest one comes in at 3.4 mi (5.4 km). There are some excellent advanced routes, which equate for 30 percent of the total runs, at the site. There is also an advanced branch run which is set-aside from the other trails so, if you’re an advanced user, you can really let your hair down and enjoy the slopes! There are even a few Ski Association of Japan Official Runs, so you can tackle the slopes like a true professional. The intermediate slopes cover 40 percent of the runs and beginners can enjoy learning on 30 percent. In terms of lifts, there is one gondola, three quad lifts, and six double chair lifts so you can easily traverse the site. We nearly forgot to mention that you can also advance your trick-skills at Salomon Snowpark which includes rails, boxes, and a half-pipe.

Appi Kogen Ski Resort

Address: 117-1 Appikogen, Hachimantai, Iwate 028-7306

Website: Appi Kogen Ski Resort

Opening hours: 8:30am - 8pm (daily)

Price: 35 USD

Let's get ready to hit the slopes

Whether you plan to come from the start of the season, middle or end, you are sure to enjoy the slopes at these best ski resorts in Japan. With both local and international acclaim, you can choose to tackle yourself in the trick snow parks, master the advanced level runs, take on the challenge of the longest run in Japan or simply kick-back and enjoy the view. However you decide to spend your time, we’re sure that you’ll have the best winter holiday to date. So, what are you waiting for? Book your winter holiday to one of these best ski or snowboarding resorts in Japan today. We’ll see you on the slopes.