Abashiri is located at 44 degrees north latitude where the ocean freezes in winter. A drift ice cruise or walking tour on the drift ice offers you a one-of-a-kind experience. Not only will you be impressed by the spectacle landscape, but also be amazed by hidden world under the ice. Drift ice cruise operates only in the first quarter of the year. Winter in Abashiri offers you a lot more activities. Visitors can also enjoy smelt fishing on the frozen lake surface and cook the freshly caught fish on the spot.
Utoro ski resort is compact ski resort in Utoro city located on the Shiretoko Peninsula.
It offers 1 lift and 1 ski trail, which is most suitable for beginners and family with small children to have fun with snow. If you are lucky enough, you can see the drift ice covering the vast surface on the Okhotsk sea across the ski resort from January to March while skiing.
Nayoro Piyashiri Ski Resort is located in Nayoro city, a northern region of Hokkaido. It claims to have the best snow in Hokkaido, similar to Niseko Resort in snow conditions. There are 4 ski lifts with 9 runs for every and single level of skiers. Moreover, Nayoro Onsen is close to the ski resort where you can soak in after skiing to relieve your tired muscles.
The Appi Kogen Ski Resort is located at latitude 40 degrees north in Hachimantai, Iwate Prefecture on the Tohoku region.
It is known as one of the best ski resorts in the Tohoku region with its powdery snow. There are a lot of facilities at this resort - from beginner slopes to steep and deep, as well as kid-friendly activities.
Towada-Hachimantai National Park is located in the northern Tohoku Region, extending across the three prefectures, Aomori, Akita and Iwate.The national park is made up with two separate areas. One is the northern area around Lake Towada and the other is the southern area near Hachimantai. The park can be enjoyed throughout the year: climbing and hiking in the fresh green forests from spring to summer and skiing in winter. The park boasts one of the Japan’s best spots for autumn foliage from end of September to middle of October as well as lakes, hot springs and streams.
Mount Zao is a volcanic mountain lies between Yamagata and Miyagi Prefectures. Zao is only a few places in Japan that you can see the trees glazed with ice and snow creating giant “snow monsters”(frozen trees). Also, it is one of the most famous and traditional skiing and snowboarding resorts in Japan as well as a hot spring, Zao Onsen, which contains high amount of acidic thermal waters.
Zao Quasi-National Park is a Quasi-National Park that extends in the Ou Mountains situated between Miyagi and Yamagata Prefectures.
Symbol of the park is the Crater Lake with a circumference of 1,000m and a depth of 27m. The colors of the water surface changes depending on the intensity of sunlight. Visitors can enjoy hiking through alpine trees in summer and have fun with snow such as skiing and meeting famous snow monsters, threes glazed with snow and ice in winter.
Hanagasa Kogen is a compact ski hill located to the south east of central Obanazawa city in the northeastern of Yamagata Prefecture.
Obanazawa city is among Japan's top three snowiest cities as it is surrounded by mountains.
Hanagasaki Kogen Ski Resort offers 1 lift and 3 ski trails for skiers from beginners to intermediate.
Urabandai is the highland in the northern part of Fukushima Prefecture, situated at the altitude of 800 meters. Urabandai offers numerous winter activities: snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, sledding, skiing and snowboarding. There are 3 slopes available for beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers, along with the gentle slopes for sledding and playing in the snow. A panoramic view from the lift can be also enjoyed.
Urabandai is blessed with hot spring that flow continuously where you can enjoy onsen day trips.
Naeba is located at the border of Niigata and Nagano prefectures in central Honshu.
Naeba Ski Resort is one of the most popular destinations among winter sports enthusiasts in Japan, as well as for the easy access from Tokyo. It consists of 4 ski zones and there are variety of activities for children and family to have fun with snow.
From and To
Nagano / Matsumoto / Karuizawa / Hakuba / Kamikochi
Hakuba
Hakuba located in the Northern Alps of Nagano Prefecture, is one of Japan’s largest and most famous ski resorts, offering powdery snow where Winter Olympic Games were hold in 1998. Hakuba consists of 10 separate ski resorts, and it has all types of ski terrains from beginners to advanced .
Karuizawa is an upscale highland resort on the foot of Mount Asami in Nagano Prefecture. Karuizawa is known as a summer resort where provides a respite at an altitude of roughly 1000 meters from the heat from bustle big cities.
Surrounded by forests and mountain peaks, Karuizawa offers various outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, golfing in summer and skiing and ice skating in winter, as well as ample shopping opportunities.
From and To
Izu Peninsula / Hamamatsu / Shizuoka / Gotemba Premium Outlets
Snow Park Yeti
Snow Park Yeti is a ski resort located in Shizuoka Prefecture where you can ski and snow board against the backdrop of the Mt. Fuji on a clear day. Though Yeti is a compact-sized ski resort, it opens in October, making it the very first ski resort to open in Japan.
It is easily accessible from the Kanto region, only 2 hours away from Ichigao in Yokohama city.
Snow Park Yeti offers 3 lifts and 4 runs with gentle slopes at an elevation of 1450m, catering for beginners.
