If you need to relax after an exhilarating day on the slopes, it’s well worth donning your birthday suit and taking a soak in a natural hot spring onsen. Aside from the fact they’re perfect for soothing your tired muscles, natural hot springs also offer a host of health benefits. Be sure to read our guide to onsen etiquette before you go.

Services at most of the resorts are now well catered to Western skiers and boarders (some more so than others). Most (but not all) resorts offer a decent selection of shops where you can buy and rent ski gear. And the ski schools should have at least a couple of English-speaking instructors. (Although if you are choosing a small, lesser-known resort it may be worth checking if English language ski lessons are available, if this is what you require). There are now a plethora of ski guides ready to take you into the backcountry. We highly reccomend spending the money on a day or two with a guide (if you want to ski side or backcountry) as it will most definitely elevate your ski experience. They can be added as part of a Scout Japan Ski Package.

What it Costs to Ski in Japan

Skiing in Japan can be relatively cheap if you pick the right resort and right hotel or pension. In recent years accommodation prices in popular resorts, particularly Niseko, have significantly increased and when cominbined with a falling dollar (particularly the AUD) rates can easily go above those in North America, while moderately priced accommodation has become incredibly scarce. Lift tickets are usually around ¥5-6,000 per day (approx USD$50-60 and AUD$65-80) while a daily rental package is around the same price. On-mountain meals can be great value (anywhere between ¥600-¥1,500 (USD$6-10/AUD$8-17) and you can also stock up on filling Japanese snacks at a 7-11 for a few dollars. The cost of dining out in resorts varies wildly starting at around ¥1,000 ($10) for a steaming bowl of delicious ramen. Some of the more traditional hotels include amazing multi-course Japanese dinners as part of a package while many large resorts include ginormous buffets that generally cost around ¥4-5,000. 

To get the best deals travel in non-holiday and non-peak periods (such as the second half of February), and choose smaller, less popular resorts and local accomodation. If you want better prices and fewer crowds it is best to avoid NYE and Chinese NYE. Booking your ski vacation early each year gives you the advantage of having more lodging options to choose from, plus save on your ski package. Many early bird deals of savings up to 30% on lodging expire as early as April. Read our Top 5 Reasons to Book Your Ski Vacation Early, and contact Scout to help find the best deals as part of a Japan Ski Package. 

Getting There and Around

Tokyo has hundreds of direct international flights. There are two main international airports, Narita and Haneda. Narita is the biggest. Both airports have direct domestic flights to Hokkaido (including Sapporo's New Chitose airport and more) and both have direct shuttles to the Nagano Ski Resorts. It is about an hour by train (the Narita Express) to Tokyo. 

To get to any of the resorts in Honshu (the main island) from Narita or Haneda you can opt for using the highly efficient train system and Shinkansen High Speed trains (expensive but fast and fun!), with connecting buses to the resorts. These all leave from central Tokyo, and purchasing a JR Rail Pass can be good value if you plan on visiting several resorts and/or adding side trips to places like Tokyo or Kyoto. Or if going direct from Narita to the Nagano area resorts you can take a Nagano Snow Shuttle (approx 6 hours) or a Chuo Taxi (shared mini-buses that leave based on your arrival time, also about 6 hours). Scout can include these transfers as part of a Japan Ski Package.

There are some international flights that go direct to New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido (including from Honolulu, Hong Kong, Seoul, Beijing, Bangkok and Sydney) as well as many domestic flights from Narita, Haneda and Osaka (for Kyoto). From New Chitose Airport the easiest way to get to your resort is via a shuttle bus (which can be booked as part of a Scout Package). You can also catch a train very close to many resorts. Adding a stopover in one of these cities is a fantastic way to add a little culture to your ski vacation. Read our guide to Tokyo's Top 5 Districts to Eat, Stay and Play. 

If you want to have some freedom to do a bit of travelling around and explore smaller, off-the beaten-path resorts, Hokkaido and the Nagano area are great places to rent a car. However given the huge amounts of snow they get you will want to be experienced in driving in poor conditions and have a flexible schedule in case you get stuck (or want to chase some powder!). Make sure you have an international drivers license, and a wifi device so you can use Google maps on your smartphone (believe us, this is far easier than using the supplied GPSs, even if they do offer them in English).

Weather & When to Go

Skiing in Japan can be bitterly cold and sometimes it will snow for days on end, particularly in January and February. Bring plenty of warm layers!

Some of the more popular resorts with Westerners (particularly Niseko, Hakuba, Myoko and Nozawa Onsen) can be very crowded with Australian families over Christmas and in January. Lift lines can be long, accommodation prices are higher and can be booked out more than six months in advance. Other times to avoid are weekends and the days around Chinese New Year (date varies each year) which can also be crowded and expensive.

The last week of January and the first 3 weeks of February (outside of CNY dates) are our picks for the most reliable snow, consistent powder dumps and fewer crowds. If you are looking to do side/backcountry February is best as there has usually been sufficient snowfall to form an amazing base.

The beginning of December and March can be less crowded with a still decent chance of powder dumps. These months are also a little warmer and accommodation is cheaper, however the snow is becoming less reliable each year for these dates.

Other Tips for Skiing and Travelling in Japan

• We recommend that you withdraw a decent amount of yen at the airport or in a major city before you head to your resort, because credit cards aren’t readily accepted and ATMs that accept international cards can sometimes be hard to come by. 
• Rent a wifi device from Tokyo or Sapporo airports. Not only will you be able to use your smartphone/iPad or computer, but many older Japanese style hotels do not have wifi in bedrooms. You can then use apps to stay in touch with home or make local calls. There are several booths at those airports that rent wifi devices or you can order them online and have one delivered to your first hotel.
• Most hotels (apart from those very specifically targeting Westerners) do not have English Lanugage TV in rooms. Another reason to get a wifi device or bring a few good books!
• If you're taking your own skis/boards or have a lot luggage use one of the amazing courier services in Japan to ship your luggage, especially if you plan on having a stop over in one ofthe cities. It's cheap, easy and means you don't have to deal with it on crowded trains. They have agents situated right in the arrival halls of Narita and Haneda airport and they speak enough English to get it working.
• Respect the culture and you will love it! Learn some of the language, read up on Onsen Etiquette and know the difference between bathroom slippers and hotel slippers by reading our guide to staying in a Japanese hotel. 

More insider tips, with contact details, are in our Scout resort Field Guides - free with any booking of a major resort via Scout.