Whilst cities such as Tokyo and Kyoto offer dazzling
sights and experiences, only a short distance away
lies over 600 ski resorts with some of the world’s best
champagne powder snow.
Now Japan’s sprawling ski resorts find themselves
well-serviced but uncrowded, offering Australian
skiers endless runs on largely untracked snow.
Japan comprises four main islands, with the
northernmost island of Hokkaido already famous in
Australia for its three standout ski resorts of Niseko,
Rusutsu and Furano.
The main island of Honshu, however, has three ski
destinations of comparative quality.
Shiga Kogen and Hakuba resorts in Nagano hosted
events for the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics and
remain of world-class standard. These resorts are only
a couple of hours by train or bus from Tokyo and all
three are within easy reach of each other. Shiga Kogen
is one of the world’s largest ski resorts, whilst Hakuba
offers Japan’s steepest skiing.
From Australia
Japan is only one hour behind the east coast of Australia, which
makes it a favourite overseas ski destination for Aussies with no
jet lag or major time difference. Japan Airlines and Qantas fly from
most capital cities to Sapporo, Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. Flight
times vary but average is around 8-9 hours from Australia to Japan.
Transport
From the airport to ski resorts there are a range of options.
Hokkaido offers great bus services to all resorts, whilst the
Honshu resorts are accessible by both bus and Shinkansen
(bullet train) from Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. Transport in Japan
is easy to use with lots of English signage, punctual services and
modern standards.
Season and Temperature
With champagne powder snow falling regularly throughout the
season of December to March, the temperature ranges between
-5°C to -8°C at most resorts. We recommend you bring warmer ski
gear than you would wear at an Australian resort.
Rental Gear, Schools & Equipment Facilities
Rental gear is usually new in Japan and costs are similar to
Australia. As Japanese feet are mostly smaller than ours you may
need to rent gear in Australia if you have a larger boot size. Ski and
boarding schools are located at all resorts featured in this brochure.
Luggage Service
Japan has a well-established luggage courier service, delivering
anywhere in Japan, usually overnight. Courier companies operate
out of airports, so you can send your luggage once through
customs, to your destination.
Accommodation
Most ski resorts offer mainly Western style ski-in/ski-out hotels or
lodge style accommodation. Being Japan, everything is well-planned
and resort infrastructure is of a high standard with a modern, fast lift
network.
Language
Whilst Japanese is the spoken language across Japan, all Japanese
people must study English during their school years. As a result,
many Japanese you come across may not be able to speak fluent
English but almost everyone can understand basic English.
Currency and Costs
Japan's currency has weakened against the Australian dollar in recent
years, making Japan more affordable than ever. As a rough guide,
lunch at a ski-in/ski-out cafe can cost as little as AUD$10-, and ski lift
passes are around AUD$65- per day. Traveller's cheque and credit
cards are not always accepted, please ensure you acquire enough
Japanese Yen. Electronic cash tellers are not readily available in small
towns, however are located in most Post Offices.
National Holiday in Japan
January 1 |
New Year's Day |
2 nd Monday in January |
Coming of Age Day |
February 11 |
National Foundation Day |
March 21 (or 20) |
Vernal Equinox Day |
April 29 |
Greenery Day |
May 3 |
Constitution Memorial Day |
May 4 |
Adjoining Holiday |
May 5 |
Children's Day |
3rd Monday in July |
Maritime Day |
3rd Monday in September |
Respect for the Aged Day |
September 23 (or 24) |
Autumnal Equinox Day |
2rd Monday in October |
Health Sports Day |
November 3 |
Culture Day |
November 23 |
Labour Thanksgiving Day |
December 23 |
The Emperor's Birthday |
* When a national holiday falls in Sunday, the following Monday becomes a holiday. |
