Nagano/Niigata
Situated on the west coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu and nestled in the spectacular Japanese Alps, the Nagano/Niigata ski region is home to some of the best ski and snowboard resorts in Japan.
Only 1.5 hours from Tokyo, Nagano – home of the 1998 Winter Olympics is a great place to start your snow holiday adventures. Further north, the mountainous Niigata prefecture also offers a great range of ski experiences.
There are hundreds of ski resorts to choose from in this region however the world-class resorts of Hakuba and Shiga Kogen are among the largest resorts in Japan and featured heavily in the 1998 Winter Olympics program.
For a more quaint experience, the Nozawa Onsen and Myoko Kogen ski resorts offer some of Japan’s longest and steepest runs and an authentic Japanese experience with charming ski village atmosphere.
If you are looking for a break from the ski slopes, the Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park offers a unique local experience where wild monkey’s can be seen bathing in the natural hot springs.
Make sure you also leave some time to sample the region’s local cuisine. The delicious soba noodles and oyaki dumplings are famous to the region while a glass of their famous rice wine, known as Sake, will help you fully experience the Japanese culture.
At the end of the day, a visit to one of the regions traditional outdoor onsens will help you relax, unwind and start planning your next Japanese ski adventure!
