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Japan has long been popular for its futuristic high-tech cities and ancient cities with exquisite gardens and temples, but its fantastic winter resorts have been a well kept secret. There are huge amounts of fresh powder snow every day and there’s no need for a helicopter to get to it – all you need is a lift ticket. Over 70% of Japan's land area is composed of mountains and the winters are governed by the Siberian air mass, the coldest air mass in the world. As a result at least four months every year the mountains in the central highlands and northern regions of Japan are blanketed with snow, making Japan's ski grounds among the best and most reliable in the world. Japan was the first Asian country to host Winter Olympics in 1972 and then again in 1998. Yet despite the country's brilliant winter sports conditions and facilities few international skiers and snowboarders have ventured to Japan to experience its amazing powder snow, exciting cities such as Tokyo and Osaka and Japan’s beautiful ancient capitals Nara and Kyoto. However, this is now all set to change. Many tour operators now offer great value packages for skiing and snowboarding in Japan so why don’t you try Japan for your next winter holiday?
The strong yen and weak pound mean that skiing in Japan is more expensive than it was a couple of years ago. However, it does still compare favourably with resorts in Europe and the USA. Skiing and snowboarding are particularly popular with young people in Japan so resorts have been careful to keep their costs low. A full-day lift ticket at a major resort in Japan will cost around 4,500 yen (approx. £33/€36). All large resorts offer various accommodation options. Rates per person per night range from 6,500 yen (approx. £47/€52) including two meals at a minshuku (reasonable Japanese inns) or skiers lodges to 20,000 yen (approx. £145/€161) and up at first class hotels without meals.