Official Tourism Guide for Japan Travel



	Going All the Way to Japan Just to Ski? Access to Japan from the United States is frequent year around: Daily non-stop service to Narita International Airport of Tokyo is available from seven cities of the mainland United States by major US and Japanese airlines. Tokyo, the country's capital, is also the public transportation hub, where bullet trains and many other trains depart to ski areas. On the way to the ski resort is unique experience through the mixture of old and new Japanese culture and technology. more... Located on volcanic Pacific Rim, Japan has many mountainous regions that receive perfect winter climate for winter sports. Chilly winds from Siberia generate excellent quality of snow in northern parts of Japan such as Hokkaido, Toyoku, Joetsu and Shin'etsu areas throughout the season. Japan hosted two Winter Olympic Games, and raised global attention and interest as ski vacation destination in recent decades. Another gift of ski resorts in Japan is hot springs (Onsen). Enjoy rich natural hot springs for après-ski to recharge for skiing for the following day. In this small country, the access from the international airport to the ski area is only within a few hours. Enjoy the world-class ski resorts as well as unique après-ski with the Japanese hospitality. [close]
	Hokkaido Hokkaido is located north most among four main islands of Japan. Unlike other regions of Japan, Hokkaido's open and spacious geography cherishes beautiful natural sceneries and world-class ski resorts with top quality of snow. After the Winter Olympics in 1972 in Sapporo, Hokkaido became a globally known ski resort and developed for skiers from all over the world. Hokkaido is acclaimed elite ski runs and frequently holds International Ski Federation's events. more... Hokkaido has two major ski cities; Furano and Niseko. Located at just south of Siberian Peninsula, both cities have excellent quality of snow. The local culture has been cultivated upon warmth of both Japanese hospitality and the life in the cold weather. Hokkaido is the best destination where you experience phenomenal winter sports and unforgettable relaxation at volcanic hot springs in the country with unique mixture of traditional culture and cutting-edge technology. [close]
	Nagano Nagano, the 1998 Winter Olympic venue, is located nearly at the center of Japan. Just within two hours on the world famous bullet train from Tokyo Station, the city of Nagano was developed upon a 1,400-year-old Buddhist temple Zenko-ji, one of the largest Buddhist temples in Japan. As the central city in the midst of Japan's most mountainous region, Nagano is the gateway to many ski areas in Honshu, the Main Island of the country. Nagano also has very rich natural environment nurtured by fresh pure water from the deep mountain snow. more... Nagano has been one of the oldest summer resort and winter sports region in Japan: Just a few-hour bullet train trip from central Tokyo, Hakuba and Shiga-Kogen are among the most popular destinations for summer and winter for their locations in the midst of Japan's mountain range over 9,842 feet altitude, which is known as Japan Alps. Hakuba was opened as a mining town at the turn of the century.It was not until 1926 when the first skier visited the village and instructed skiing to the young villagers. Since 1932 when part of the village's mountain area was registered as a national park, they started the ski resort installment and founded a highly-developed resort that the current emperor and empress spent summer in 1964.In 1998, Nagano Prefecture hosted the 18th Winter Olympics, and Hakuba's Happo-Oné ski area became the Alpine ski event venue. Among several ski resorts in Japan, Happo-Oné is the largest ski ground with one of the toughest ski ground for Alpine skiing, and the magnificent view of the Northern Japan Alps is a must-see in your life. Hakuba village also attracts many summer vacationers for hiking, trekking and camping. Hakuba's Happo-Oné locates at the perfect location with full of nature such as distinctive vegetation and wildlife. The village of Hakuba is where people have been cohabiting with the nature and welcome guests with long-embraced hospitality. [close]
	Tohoku The Tohoku region located in the northern part of Honshu receives heavy snowfalls and has many resorts scattered across its six prefectures. Tohoku is also rich with a variety of traditional festivals and onsen (hotsprings).
	Skiing in Japan "Skiing in Japan" [PDF] A practical guide with map and directions Skiing in Hokkaido
	Snow Japan The independent guide & online community dedicated to winter sports in Japan