> Deep powder resort with a vast slope area > Grand samurai-era bathhouses and inns > Traditional hot spring healing destination Nozawa Onsen has depth as a snow holiday destination in more ways than one. The first things that come to mind for skiers and snowboarders are its avera… Read More
> Prime location for enormous powder dumps > Filled with traditional snow country charm > Just 77 minutes from Tokyo on the bullet train Echigo-Yuzawa inspired the Nobel Prize-winning novel Snow Country, and has created a dream-like legacy of romance in the white winters of the no… Read More
QUALITY AND QUANTITY Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort redefines the meaning of 'powder dump'. Fine, dry powder cascades down on the resort during a long season from December to May, and the snow pack reaches depths of over five metres around its 1,650-metre summit, Mt Kenashi. There are ungroomed burns … Read More
UTOPIAN POWDER RESORT Madarao Mountain Resort is loved by many, thanks to its amazing variety of 'Madapow'-laden slopes. A 1,382-metre mountain accessible in under 2.5 hours from Tokyo via bullet train to Iiyama Station and shuttle bus, it features 30 separate courses. Some 60% of these are … Read More
> Two interconnected resorts famous for deep 'Madapow' > Amazing tree runs, natural bowls, jumps and half-pipe > Ski-in, ski-out accommodation with delicious local dining Madarao Kogen is an all-season alpine resort in the far north of Nagano Prefecture, with m… Read More
ONE-STOP POWDER SHOP Tangram Madarao Tokyu Resort has refined every element required for a great holiday for guests of all ages, and with two hotels right next to the ski fields, it’s the ultimate one-stop powder shop. Tangram Ski Circus, the north-facing ski field at the resort, is covered … Read More
GREAT COURSE VARIETY Okushiga Kogen Ski Resort has nine courses with a good spread of terrain for all riders, a High Cascade terrain park and a kids park - as well as acres upon acres of backcountry skiing. The resort was exclusive to skiers until recently; now both skiers and boarders can e… Read More
> Olympic-quality powder and terrain > Dedicated English snow school > Quality gourmet attractions and hot springs A powder sanctuary hidden in the northernmost reaches of Shiga Kogen, Okushiga Kogen is a rewarding trip for all riders. The resort's terrain park is design… Read More
Welcome to the ‘little Kyoto' of Japan's snow country THE city of Iiyama lies at the northernmost tip of Nagano, one of Japan’s snowiest prefectures. The Iiyama Valley is at its centre, and the gorgeous landscapes of Madarao Kogen and the heart-shaped Hokuryuko Lake surround the city. Often… Read More
> Japan's biggest resort area > Hot spring heaven > Snow Monkeys AND Snow Monsters It's become common knowledge that Japan has a number of impressive powder resorts, all vying for attention with their huge snowfalls, relaxing hot springs, and exceptionally good local cuisine. Ther… Read More
SHIGA KOGEN'S BIGGEST Yakebitaiyama Ski Resort is the largest of the interconnected resorts in the Shiga Kogen area, and was the stage of the first ever Olympic snowboarding race at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. This very race track is now its Olympic Course - a 650-metre speed run wit… Read More
QUALITY FROM THE TOP DOWN From the summit of the Higashi Tateyama Ski Resort, the Northern Japanese Alps dominate the horizon. The scale of this view is as breathtaking as the runs that fly down the mountain, and it's an absolute must-try for skiers and snowboarders in the Shiga Kogen resort… Read More
POWDER AT THE FRONT DOOR Tsugaike Kogen transforms from a highland oasis of colour in the off-season to a powder paradise in winter. One of the Hakuba Valley's biggest resorts, the ten courses within its 196 hectares are connected by 20 lifts, and there is a good variety of convenient slope-… Read More
History flows through this Snow Monkey town near AN idyllic hot spring inn town some 30 kilometres from Nagano City, Yudanaka Onsen is a popular base for visitors to the nearby Zenkō-ji Temple, Jigokudani Monkey Park, Hokusaikan Museum, and Shiga Kogen resort area. The town is the final stop o… Read More
Imagine a steep, snowy alpine slope of forty-five degrees or more, dotted with cliff faces, rocks, trees and natural features. This type off-piste terrain is a freerider’s dream, and this past January 2017, Hakuba Village played host to the first ever Freeride World Tour in Asia. For those w… Read More
‘I went to Nozawa Onsen not sure what to expect,’ recounts Chris of his experience visiting this traditional hot spring village in winter. He was soon won over by the the friendliness of the locals, and the fantastic hospitality at the ryokan inn he stayed in. The show-stopper of Chris's visit w… Read More
> More than ten metres a season of the best powder you've never seen > Amazing backcountry, hot springs and local dining and drinking > International resort night life with great English tours and lessons Ten powder-rich resorts. One pass. And in 2016… Read More
WORLD CLASS Niseko Grand Hirafu is the biggest resort in Niseko, with the lion's share of terrain on the 1,308-metre Mount Niseko Annupuri. It has 30 diverse courses, including 9 of more than a kilometre, and a 5.6-kilometre long cruiser. Tree runs, fresh powder and panoramic views… Read More
BUILT TO SATISFY Secluded amidst the rugged mountains in the north of the Hakuba Valley lies Hakuba Norikura Onsen Ski Resort. Known as Hakuba Norikura, this resort is popular for its wide variety of courses, excellent powder and relaxed local atmosphere. With a range of facilities, accommodatio… Read More
The neighbouring town to the snow monkey park, full of charm and tradition SHIBU Onsen is a quaint hot spring town in Nagano Prefecture that opens up behind a curtain of steam, revealing traditions and architecture of years passed, still standing tall and proud. The town's original spring-head w… Read More
