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Skiing and winter sports adventures in Japan
Thanks to the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano and several occasions of the Winter Asian Games, Japan's top mountain resorts boast excellent infrastructure, buzzing nightlife and comprehensive tourist facilities. Not only this, but its snowfall is amongst the most reliable in the world, so although bad years do happen, you're unlikely to be left fretting over that all-important weather forecast before your holiday.
Japan in the winter is also a wonderful place for sightseeing, and as the crowds die back you'll have spectacular locations almost to yourself. Then, to cap it all off, the après-ski is gloriously Japanese: sit back in an outdoor hot spring bath surrounded by snow, with a cup of sake to ease away any aches and pains.
Recommended Winter Travel Experiences
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Sapporo snow festival
Magical winter festival surrounding huge snow sculptures several stories high.
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Foot baths
Still not convinced about getting naked? Foot baths are a great way to feel the benefits of natural hot springs.
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Igloo building
Take a break from the Niseko slopes and learn how to build your very own igloo.
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Snowmobiling
Give your legs a rest and let the snowmobile do all the work, providing full throttle fun through Niseko backcountry and woodlands.
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Winter Travel itineraries
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Niseko Winter Sports (Essential)
An amazing week at perhaps Japan's top winter sports resort. Fantastic snow conditions and a vibrant international atmosphere.
Winter Travel accommodation across Japan
Keio Plaza Hotel Sapporo (Sapporo)
The Keio Plaza is a superior-grade hotel in the centre of Hokkaido's capital city, just five minutes' walk from Sapporo Station.
Morino Lodge (Hakuba)
Morino Lodge ticks all the boxes: great location, friendly and laid-back atmosphere, knowledgeable staff, and comfortable, well-equipped rooms.
La Neige Higashi-kan (Hakuba)
Old-fashioned and faded yet endlessly charming, La Neige Higashi-kan offers some of the resort's cosiest ski accommodation.
Hakuba Springs (Hakuba)
The Hakuba Springs is a comfortable hotel in a very central location in Hakuba, just 5 minutes' walk from the Happo lifts.
Green Leaf (Niseko)
The Green Leaf Niseko Village is a beautifully crafted hotel at the base of Mount Annupuri, offering ski-in, ski-out convenience, hot spring baths and spa treatments, fantastic food and great customer service.
Alpen Hotel (Niseko)
The Alpen Hotel is the premier hotel in the Niseko Hirafu ski area and features its own indoor swimming pool, hot spring baths (indoor and outdoor) and a true ski-in/ski-out location at the bottom of the main piste.
Keio Plaza Hotel Sapporo (Sapporo)
The Keio Plaza is a superior-grade hotel in the centre of Hokkaido's capital city, just five minutes' walk from Sapporo Station.
The hotel has a range of room styles to choose from, including family rooms, triples, and suites. Amongst the services available to guests are a room service food menu, car park, laundry service, in-room massages, and a range of extra service for families – including childrens' nightwear, cots, and bed guards.
There is an in-house gym, a large swimming pool, a sauna, and a spa. There is an extra fee to use the facilities, but if you're an early bird the gym is free to use between 5am and 9am. The hotel's excellent city-centre location means that you'll be spoilt for choice in terms of restaurants, bars and shops – but if you'd like to eat in, there are eight different cafés, restaurants and bars inside the hotel itself, including a patisserie and a Cantonese restaurant.Morino Lodge (Hakuba)
Morino Lodge ticks all the boxes: great location, friendly and laid-back atmosphere, knowledgeable staff, and comfortable, well-equipped rooms.
With Happo's main gondola less than a five-minute walk away and one of the main shuttle bus hubs right outside the front door, you've got easy access to all the resorts in the Hakuba valley! There are also plenty of restaurants, bars and all-important onsen (hot spring baths) nearby.
The dining room serves a continental breakfast every morning (included in price). You can help yourselves to cereal, toast, muffins, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, juice, etc. Guests also have access to the kitchen if you want a snack or don't feel like going out to one of the nearby restaurants. The lodge has a drying room to store and dry your ski gear, free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities (washing machine and airer), waxing and repair room, and they can help you arrange rentals, lessons and tours (or we can pre-book these).
Most importantly of all, however, with over 14 years of combined experience in Hakuba, the staff at Morino Lodge can offer you a wealth of information on anything you like – from the best spots on the slopes to their favourite local onsen.La Neige Higashi-kan (Hakuba)
Old-fashioned and faded yet endlessly charming, La Neige Higashi-kan offers some of the resort's cosiest ski accommodation.
If you are looking for sleek, modern design and state-of-the-art technology, you won't find it at La Neige Higashi-kan. Instead, expect large, comfortable rooms, a welcoming atmosphere, and eclectic décor that ranges in its inspiration from “farmhouse in Provence” to Art Deco. In addition to its Deluxe, Superior and Standard rooms, La Neige Higashi-kan has two Finnish-style log cottages set apart from the main building in the surrounding woodland.
The owners were inspired by the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, and the hotel has been designed to make the most of its natural forest setting. In the lobby, a heterogeneous assortment of sofas (mostly sourced from Europe) cluster around a roaring fire, adding to the cosy and convivial atmosphere.
Breakfast is included and there is an in-house restaurant, which is known for its excellent wine list and the high quality of its French cuisine. The service throughout is impeccable, and the staff speak some English. It is a five-minute walk to the foot of the nearest ski slope, or the staff will be happy to drive you there on request.Hakuba Springs (Hakuba)
The Hakuba Springs is a comfortable hotel in a very central location in Hakuba, just 5 minutes' walk from the Happo lifts.
Although it's not ski-in/ski-out, the hotel's position at the heart of Happo Village means that you'll be amply compensated for the slight inconvenience. Amongst its many advantages, there is a minimart and ski hire shop right by the hotel, plus a huge array of bar and restaurant options within walking distance.
The hotel has its own bistro, and owns the nearby Jacks Sports Bar – with live sport on HD screens, a resident DJ, and delicious food. There are also great communal hot spring baths, a mist sauna, and a Jacuzzi; perfect for a relaxing soak after a long day on the slopes. There is also a common room where you can hang out in the evenings and meet fellow skiers and boarders, and a range of books and games for you to use.Green Leaf (Niseko)
The Green Leaf Niseko Village is a beautifully crafted hotel at the base of Mount Annupuri, offering ski-in, ski-out convenience, hot spring baths and spa treatments, fantastic food and great customer service.
Newly renovated in 2010, guest rooms are modern, well-sized, and very comfortable. Most have very pleasant views, whether they look out over the slopes on one side or Mount Yotei on the other, and there is free Wi-Fi available throughout the hotel. Ski and snowboard lessons, equipment hire, local tours and experiences such as snow rafting and snow shoe tours can all be easily arranged from the front desk, and for après-ski we recommend a cocktail at the convivial lounge bar. A great base from which to enjoy Japan's best winter sports in style!
The location of this hotel is perfect for those who have come for the snow and want to spend every possible moment on the slopes. There is a chairlift practically on the doorstep (the “Banzai”), and from the top of this it's a short ski down to the Niseko Gondola. Meanwhile, a free shuttle bus service links the hotel with all the other local ski areas.
The hotel's outdoor hot spring bath should be a highlight of your stay, giving you a chance to rest those muscles after a long day on the slopes. Be aware that the hotel is in a very quiet area with regard to restaurants and bars, so to access Niseko's nightlife you'll have to walk 20 minutes into town.Alpen Hotel (Niseko)
The Alpen Hotel is the premier hotel in the Niseko Hirafu ski area and features its own indoor swimming pool, hot spring baths (indoor and outdoor) and a true ski-in/ski-out location at the bottom of the main piste.
While the hotel is pretty seventies-looking from the outside, the guest rooms are smart, modern and relatively spacious. The hotel itself is not going to be the most memorable you've ever stayed in, but if you're serious about your skiing (or boarding), you won't find a better location. The nearest chairlifts are less than a minute from the doorstep, and the train station is a 15-minute taxi ride.
Each guest room has its own (very spacious) locker in the hotel dry room, and there is a convenience store on the ground floor. Breakfast includes a wide range of Japanese and Western-style foods, and there is an in-house restaurant – although with the Niseko Village shops and restaurants just a short walk away, you may wish to explore further afield instead. The hotel's hot spring baths are another highlight, offering both indoor and outdoor baths included in the price of your stay.
Winter Travel destinations across Japan
Shiga Kogen
Love to ski or snowboard? Want endless new runs & terrain? Come to Shiga Kogen, Japan's mega resort
Nozawa Onsen
Mountain onsen resort which played a key role in the history of skiing in Japan
Niseko
A fantastic skiing destination in winter and an amazing location for outdoor exploration in summer.
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