The 6 Best Ski Resorts in Japan

1. Hakuba Valley

Situated on the western coast of Japan’s largest island, Honshu, the Hakuba Valley has been attracting hardcore skiers for decades. Home to many of the venues of the 1998 Nagano Olympic Games, plus a Freeride World Tour stop, the valley features 10 different ski resorts (some of which are interconnected), plus access to Japan’s biggest and baddest backcountry terrain, with peaks and runs that can rival those in Alaska or the Alps. It’s gnarly, it’s steep and it’s no wonder that the FWT hosted events here for many years.

Our favorites are Hakuba Happo-One for its backcountry access, Hakuba 47 and Goryu for endless groomers and terrain parks, and Hakuba Cortina and neighboring Norikura Onsen for their deep powder and endless options for treeskiing.

Hakuba Valley resorts are all accessible with an Epic Pass.

2. Myoko

East of the Hakuba Valley, still on the main island of Honshu, the mountains seemingly go on forever—tucked somewhere in there is Mount Myoko, a large volcano that’s home to Arai Snow Resort and a handful of smaller independent ski areas like Matarao, Myoko Kogen, Myoko Ski Resort, and Seki Onsen. This zone offers a much more traditional Japanese vibe, with small villages, upwards of 800 inches of annual snowfall and classic Japan-style off-piste treeskiing.

The Myoko area is easily accessible from Tokyo via train, and the Arai Snow Resort is accessible with an Ikon Pass, making this one of the easiest destinations to reach for skiing in Japan.

3. Shiga Kogen

Still on the main island, but perhaps less popular for North American skiers since it’s not on a mega pass, Shiga Kogen offers some of the best intermediate terrain and lower-angle powder skiing in the country. Shiga Kogen is Japan’s highest-elevation resort, meaning deep and cold snow. There’s not much in terms of a base village and amenities, making this a great place to immerse yourself in a more traditional Japanese mountain experience.

4. Niseko United

Compared to the many ski resorts on Honshu, Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido offers much deeper snow and is where you’re much more likely to find that truly bottomless Japanese powder skiing experience.

The largest and most popular ski resort is Niseko United, which is actually four resorts (Grand Hirafu, Hanazono, Niseko Village and An’nupuri) combined. With views of the legendary Mount Yotei and endless playful powder skiing terrain, Niseko averages over 50 feet of snow a year. Bring your fattest skis, perhaps a snorkel, and a healthy appetite for nightlife.

Niseko is accessible via the Ikon Pass.

5. Kiroro Resort

Just north of Niseko lies another gem. Kiroro Resort is one of the best destinations for families in Japan, with excellent lift infrastructure, plenty of English-speaking instruction and staffing, and terrain for everyone, including those looking for a real deep-snow adventure. Drop the kids off at ski school and head into the trees for a few bottomless laps before meeting up again for delicious ramen at lunch.

6. Furano

Located further inland than the Niseko-area resorts, Furano offers a much less resort-ified experience, generally better weather, and excellent inbounds skiing. There’s plenty of backcountry terrain accessible from this part of the island, but the resort itself has less on offer when it comes to off-piste skiing, instead focusing on maximizing the experience inbounds. It’s also comparatively less expensive than most other resorts in the area, so it's well worth a day or two’s trip to visit!