Top 5 Ski Resorts in Japan

What are your thoughts on Iwanai Resort in Hokkaido? I know it's smaller, but the skiiers who like it seem to love it. Cat skiing!

have you been to shiga kogen? if yes' thoughts?

Japan is blessed with snow and resorts

Wow! Your video made me want to do more snowboarding. (We just did last weekend!)
My partner and I will be going to Japan on December. We are snowboarders that can do s turns on wide green runs. We have 20 days to explore the golden triangle and add in 4 days to snowboard. Our australian tour guide told us to try Madarao, but what is your take on this? I was shocked it wasnt even recommended in your list so I want to know where should we actually go.
Would appreciate your input! ❤

Great video and list. Thank you! We were torn between Nozawa and Zao for our family. We decided on Zao because it's a bit quieter mid-week and there's less Aussies (like us)! I sure hope the weather plays nice!

Thank god you have not been to the best in Japan. It's seem you only did the most popular.

Awesome video ! Very informative 😊

When you go to Japan for snow for the first time, go through the effort to bring your gear and ferry all the way to Hokkaido and go "nah i'm too tired and poor to check out Niseko or Rusutsu" and this comes up in your recommendations. I did get to Kagura and Hakuba though.

Thank you for the wonderful video. Greetings from Serbia🌍 We also like the ski resort Zao❄

Hey, I’m looking for a mountain for advanced skiing, I’m also looking for mogul runs.

I plan on going to Japan in the winter so this definitely helps since I plan to go snowboarding. Hopefully rentals are available and aren't too expensive

You missed Shiga Kogen. It is way better than all of these.

Iwanai till I die !!

I know and got to niseko and rusutsu.

How does Shiga Kogen not make this list. Lots of variety, biggest ski area in Japan and most importantly, not over run by young Australians who are a gross embarrassment in terms of their loud mouthed behaviour. I shudder to imagine what the Japanese think of them at Niseko.

Headed to Japan for 2 weeks March 23- mid April. Do you think snow activities still a chance and where? I've read different things re the season...but of course, who can really predict the weather?

My favorite in Nozawa, Zao, and Niseko!

Wher u from. ?

いいね

Nice list! Totally agree about Kagura and Rusutsu. I've skied Kagura I don't know how many times and have been to Rusutsu twice. Niseko is cool, but I liked Rusutsu way better.

Great video! 意義深い動画ありがとう　楽しみました /// all my respect and best wishes!
参考になりました　Love & Create!　 Zaou蔵王温泉も最高！

Thank you for good information. I hope to visit Japan for ski someday.

Having skied a number of resorts in Japan, my favorite so far is Kiroro in Hokkaido. It's close to Otaru and Sapporo, and a fairly direct drive from Chitose Airport. I like Kiroro because it is not crowded, has a variety of slopes from snow bunny to black, and has some of the best powder you'll find anywhere in the world. Hotel options are limited right now to Club Med (no young children allowed) and Yu Kiroro. There isn't much night life around, but the hotels have good lounges and restaurants, and if you prioritize skiing and great snow over the pubs in town, Kiroro is a great place.

I totally agree with your rating. I used to go to Rusutsu and Niseko every winter when I was in elementary, junior high and high school. And my conclusion is Rusutsu is the best.

Lol just detail the largest resorts in Japan. Missing so many quality small resorts. O well best keep japan’s secrets - a secret

Never ski in Japan before, could you tell us when is the best time to ski there from January to April?

Visited dozens of snow resorts in Japan, and can tell the TOP is decent (only have not been in Rusutsu but now it is on my list-to-go).

Zao onsen ski resort is higher in my list than Kagura, because of the tremendous snow monster trees and Yamagata mountain landscapes. The onsen village is also one of the best in Japan.
Myoko area (Niigata) is also highly recommended for deep and heavy powder snow (one of the snowiest places in Japan). Akakan and Arai Lotte resorts are remarkable.

Hi great infos. I just want to know if we can go there without skiing? Just want to experience the snow with the kids. We are planning to go there at around april 2023.

No Zao or happo-one

This list is on point! Kagura is nice especially when Tashiro is open.

Awesome, definetly on my to-do list to go to Japan in january to ride Japow.
Is there still a vaccine & mask mandate to enter/go around Japan? Will that disapear next year, you think?

Thanks for the video :). Concise and straight to the point, packed with helpful infos.

I have skied in Japan 10 times now. Started in Niseko in 2006, 4 trips, good snow but since, way to busy and too expensive. Bad behaviour by Aussies made me never go back. Have skied 4 of the 5 mentioned, except Kagura (maybe try it next year). I have been to Myoko Kogen, Madaro and Shiga Kogen as well. My experience was different, depending on how much snow was there, not much fun in rain. Always gone in February. We were in Myoko Kogen in 2020, big snow but could'nt get to it as the roads were closed!

Haha many ski resort have it in Japan !!! But Nisseki ?? It’s not Japan at all !!! If u want to feel Japan , it’s nothing at all Japan Atmosphere!!!if I were u I stay More local , Yamagata Tengendai at old fashion ryokan NishiYa , Higashiya , Nakaya !!! Very old hot bath , soo nice place !!! Ski too

Hiking the peak in Niseko and hitting the East or Nth face is my No 1.

In which month/dates did you visit niseko?

Mt.Zao ski resort kown as sow monsters and natural hotspring in Yamagata prefecture is also very good.Ther Yamagata beef,ramen,Imoni potato
soup tastes really good.

Among hundreds of ski resorts in Japan, my recommendations are,
Hokkaido:
Niseko, Rusutsu, Furano, Kamui, Tomamu, Kiroro, Teine.
Furano is the venue of FIS World Cup and Teine is of the Olympics in 1972. Kamui is great and loved the local Japanese.

Northeast Region (Tohoku) :
Appi, Zao, Hakkoda, Bandai & Nekoma, Geto, Shizukuishi.
Appi is also known for FIS World Cup and Bandai & Nekoma is quite popular among the snowboarders from Europe. If you wanna see famous Snow Monsters, then Zao or Hakkoda is the must.

Central Mountainous Area (Chubu Sangaku) :
Hakuba, Shiga Kogen, Nozawa, Arai & Myoko, Kagura, Naeba, Joetsu International, Maiko, Manza.
Hakuba Happo and Shiga Kogen Yakebitai is the venues of the Olympics in 1998.
Naeba is the most popular resorts among Japanese during the babble economy go-go days. At some courses in Shiga Kogen, you can ski until June!
If you want to enjoy onsen as well, Zao, Manza, and Nozawa would be the best choice.

Awesome video!! I'm wanting to go on a trip soon, what months is best for the winter season?

May I ask - which resort has a bettere choice of affordable ski instructors? We're a group of friends planning to stay 3 nights so we'd be interested in looking at other activities as well, ie. eateries, onsens, bars and drinks. We also sensed that less-crowded and "powdery" snow attracts more experienced skiers, so less ski instructors are in the area? Nevertheless, a great informative video!

Hi in feb 2023 still can go skiing ?

hi, just wondering which are the other resorts you went to in compiling this list?

I did 7 seasons in Niseko. This year swapped for Rusutsu season pass and I was blown. Even 2 days after powder you can still get amazing freshies. Great carving runs as well and this Xmas at peak, there was either no or tiny amount of wait at lifts.

Niseko gets more snowfall but gets tracked out quick. At Xmas I normally give up and avoid.
Downside the Rusutsu day tickets are this year expensive but there is a well priced 30h pass!

I have a KWP season pass that allows access to Rusutsu, Teinei, Sohoro and Nakayama Toge resorts in Hokkaido

Niseko has gotten way more crowded each year but this was pre-Covid. I don't know about now. That crowd puts me off, eating places are all booked out and so was accommodations.

Great video, thanks for putting a time to create it, really appreciate the effort . Which one would you recommend for best backcountry experience?!

bucket list!!!!!!

What's the best for a combination of good powder and good nightlift?

Hello from Russia 👍👍👍👍

Thank you for your content, Peter from Australia.