Japan Ski Accommodation Specialists
Japan Ski Experience is an independent booking platform for ski accommodation in Japan, helping skiers from around the world find and book the right place to stay in Niseko, Hakuba, Rusutsu and Furano. Founded in 2007, we work directly with a wide range of hotels, apartments and chalets to offer one of the largest selections of ski accommodation in the country.
Browse and book online, or get personalised recommendations from our team based on your dates, group size and preferences.
- Widest range of Japan ski accommodation on one platform
- Resort-based teams who know each property first-hand
- Browse and book online, or ask our team
- Best Price Guarantee with no booking fees
- Multi-award winning service
Japan Ski Experience Team
Our team lives and works in the resorts they represent. With decades of combined experience across Niseko, Hakuba, Rusutsu and Furano, every member brings real, on-the-ground knowledge to every booking.

Lindsay Colbert
Managing Director
An avid skier, Lindsay spent 5 fantastic seasons skiing resorts across Japan, both on the mainland and in Hokkaido, before founding Japan Ski Experience in 2007. Lindsay’s main focus is improving client experiences year on year to take JSE from strength to strength.

Ben Thorpe
Director / Hokkaido Area Manager
Following 19 winters in Japan, starting in Niigata and with the most recent 14 years spent in Niseko where he has become a local family man, few can rival Ben’s knowledge of the area. Ben manages Niseko bookings and wider Hokkaido operations.

Justine Anbeek
Director / Business Manager
Justine moved to Niigata in 2004 and joined the JSE team in 2011. As Japan Ski Experience’s business manager Justine’s client focused approach ensures all accommodation bookings translate into seamless stays.

Sarah Mulholland
Hakuba Area Manager
Having spent 21 winters skiing in Hakuba, Sarah is passionate about deep powder and Japanese culture. With vast local knowledge and experience of Hakuba accommodation, Sarah joined JSE in 2012 and manages Hakuba accommodation bookings.

Duncan Manser
Hokkaido Manager
Based in Niseko since 2013, Duncan brings local knowledge and a love of Japanese culture to the team. Duncan offers first hand knowledge of why skiing in Niseko is the best there is and his detailed knowledge of Niseko accommodation is unsurpassed.

Tarsha Autio
Hakuba Accommodation Consultant & Coordinator
Based in Falls Creek Australia and spending winters in Hakuba since 2014, Tarsha supports many of JSE’s Australian guests with local Japan ski accommodation expertise and personalised service. She assists with all aspects of planning and accommodation booking.

Oliver Sparks
Niseko Accommodation Consultant
A Hokkaido veteran, Oliver spent his first Japan winter season in Rusutsu in 2004 before settling in Niseko. Having gained vast experience in Niseko accommodation management, he is now committed to delivering exceptional JSE guest experiences.

Thao Nguyen
Hakuba Manager
Thao has been in Japan since 2015 and has spent 4 seasons in Hokkaido before moving to Hakuba. She shares her passion for snowboarding, appreciation of Japanese culture and love of Hakuba with JSE guests. She takes great satisfaction matching people with their ideal stay.

James Bridgens
Niseko Accommodation Consultant
A keen traveller, James worked seasons in Niseko and Hakuba before joining the JSE team as a Niseko Accommodation Consultant. James combines extensive customer service experience with his passion for Niseko to create meticulous stays for our guests.

Yuka Nabeshima
Senior Administrative Manager
Yuka was born in Sapporo and grew up skiing Hokkaido’s World famous powder snow. She loves to travel and has lived in Australia and Canada. Yuka’s outstanding attention to detail ensures all Niseko stays run according to plan.

Chie Ohno
Coordinator
Among the friendliest and most helpful of people, Chie has spent much of her life living and working in Japanese ski resorts. A native speaker of both English and Japanese, Chie has a thorough and professional approach, ensuring the ultimate JSE guest experiences.

Bruna Suguimoto
Management Accountant
London based chartered accountant and Niseko enthusiast, Bruna, has acted as Japan Ski Experience’s lead accountant since 2013. Cracking the whip to keep the team in shape and crunching numbers until after midnight are among Bruna’s greatest talents.

Alister Buckingham
Marketing Manager
Based in Niseko since 2009, Alister is a marketing expert with extensive knowledge of the industry and a strategic approach shaped by years of experience and a Masters Degree in Marketing. Alister is also an award winning photographer with a passion for snowboarding.

Stu Buckland
Content Creator
Originally from the UK, Stu has called Japan home for many years. A passionate snowboarder, he loves riding the resorts of Hokkaido and exploring mountains and nature across Japan. Stu brings his marketing expertise to the JSE team as content creator.

Vicky Madew
Financial Administrator & Content Creator
An expert administrator, Vicky has worked in a variety of capacities for Japan Ski Experience since 2012. Being Lindsay’s sister she has maintained an interest in JSE since it was founded, and we are delighted to have Vicky as a permanent team member!

Andreas Spilgies
Business Development Executive
With his extensive background in marketing and business development Andreas has been an integral part of Japan Ski Experience’s journey since 2008. Having lived in Hakuba, his love for travel, snow monkeys and skiing in Japan have only increased his passion and expertise in the industry.
The Japan Ski Experience team are super stars! We have used them for 5+ Japan ski trips and all have been awesome. Pricing is competitive, accomodation quality is excellent and the service from the team is amazing. I ran into a few issues last year and they couldn’t help me enough. Thanks so much and can’t wait till next year!
The team at JSE are always great to deal with and go above and beyond to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Tarsha and team were very responsive and helpful throughout the preparation for the trip. I had a million questions but they patiently responded to everything they could, or gave me pointers for where to get answers when needed. Thank you for making this a great first skiing holiday for the family!
An excellent and efficient service with great advice included. Great response to any query from the team. The Japan side service was very smooth. Also Mountainside was a great property.
The thought of booking our first family ski holiday in Japan felt hugely overwhelming but once I discovered Japan Ski Experience all the stress was taken away. Sarah and the team were so helpful in helping us find a chalet to suit our needs and budget and advised on everything from lessons (group & private),transfers, restaurants, ski hire, lift passes and everything in between. The whole trip could not have run more smoothly thanks to their organization and we will definitely be booking again next year!
They took care of every detail for our trip, making the entire experience stress-free and enjoyable. Their team was friendly, responsive, and highly professional. I couldn’t have asked for a smoother vacation—definitely recommended!
I would like to express my gratitude to the team at Japan Ski Experience, once again they have made our holiday one to remember, the team provided great accommodation, transfers and other services that met all our requirements, the accommodations were of the highest standard for a great price, transfers were conducted efficiently and on time, during our stay we required extra assistance with reservations and transportation that the team were able to assist with that made our stay that extra special. I would and have recommend Japan Ski Experience to many and will continue to do so. Once again thanks for making my family holidays so special.
It was so easy to deal with Japan Ski Experience Team. From the very first email, they were so helpful and made the whole booking experience very easy.
We have booked with Japan Ski Experience for 3 seasons now and have had seamless end-to-end service every time. Super responsive and helpful team.
Many thanks Ben and the rest of the crew!
Japan Ski Experience were the ultimate professionals and i highly recommend them and would use their services again. We booked our accomodation, private transfers, premium ski and boot hire, lift passes and ski school through Japan Ski Experience and everything was organised perfectly. Our driver was waiting at the gate at Sapporo, lift passes in our room, the unit was available with early check in and location of our unit in Niseko was excellent.
Multiple times throughout our stay i had a question or issue and they very quickly responded and were always willing to assist. Thankyou so much to Duncan, Oliver and the team at Japan Ski Experience.
Great communication with booking team, helpful advice, organised private transport, seamless checkin and checkout, fabulous accommodation and easy process for returning ski equipment. Couldn’t fault anything. Well done and sincere thanks for making such a wonderful holiday.
I inundated the team with questions, and no matter how trivial or silly, I got all my questions answered. The response time was quick, the guys went above and beyond to give me suggestions outside of scope as I was asking for things not within the bookings. I also felt I got a good deal with accomodation and that was the highlight for us. On arrival, I got a concierge (a nice surprise) and then when my pick up was late, I got through to the team with just a phone call! Super reliable !
Amazing service from the team at Japan Ski Experience. They gave us a lot of advice and help when planning a family ski holiday to Niseko. Extremely helpful information that helped us plan our holiday, and found perfect accommodation for us. Would highly recommend.
Incredible service and support organising all elements of our trip to Japan. They helped find the best accommodation to suit our family’s needs. Really quick response to all my questions. Extremely helpful team, even down to restaurant recommendations. Everything from our transportation service to check in at our accommodation which was late at night was smooth and made it an amazing experience, will definitely use Japan Ski experience again, thanks for making our trip amazing
Why Book With an Accommodation Specialist
Japan Ski Experience has been booking ski accommodation in Japan since 2007, with teams based in each of our four resorts: Niseko, Hakuba, Furano and Rusutsu. Our booking platform offers one of the largest dedicated selections of ski accommodation in Japan with 5800+ stays across 430+ properties, ranging from ski-in ski-out hotels and ryokan to chalets and apartments for families and groups. Browse and book online from our full range, or get personalised recommendations from our team based on your dates, group size and preferences. Every booking comes with our Best Price Guarantee and no booking fees.
Browse Accommodation5800+ stays across 430+ properties in Niseko, Hakuba, Furano and Rusutsu
First-hand resort expertise & knowledge since 2007
Best Price Guarantee on all properties, with no booking fees
Award-winning service trusted by 30,000+ guests with more than 1,000 verified reviews
Industry Awards and Recognition
Japan Ski Experience is a multi-award winning accommodation specialist, with recognition from numerous, well-respected awards programs.
Japan Ski Experience received global recognition at the 2025 World Ski Awards, highlighting our role as one of the leading ski accommodation specialists operating in Japan. The World Ski Awards are widely regarded as one of the most prestigious and internationally respected awards programmes in the ski industry.
Japan Ski Experience was recognised at the 2025 Little Steps Asia Awards for its work supporting family travel to Japan and finding the right accommodation for families. Many families require larger apartments, interconnecting rooms, ski-in ski-out access or properties close to ski schools. Our team specialises in matching families with accommodation that genuinely works for their needs, so we were so pleased to be recognised by Little Steps Asia.
Japan Ski Experience was awarded at the Ski Asia Awards in both 2024 and 2025. The recognition reflects what guests value most: access to a great range of ski accommodation at Japan’s top ski resorts, independent resort advice, and bookings handled by people who live and work in the regions they represent.
Japan Ski Experience was recognised at the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2025 for its contribution to ski travel in Japan. We were so pleased to receive this award for our year-round presence in Niseko, Hakuba, Furano and Rusutsu, combined with direct relationships with accommodation providers. We are honoured to be recognised for our ability to deliver reliable, accommodation-focused bookings at resort level.
Industry Memberships
Japan Ski Experience is an official member of Niseko Tourism and the Kutchan Tourism Association; a reflection of our long-standing presence within Japan’s ski resorts. We also contribute regularly to the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO), sharing insights from our years of experience at Japan’s ski resorts.
How Japan Ski Experience Works
Japan Ski Experience is a booking platform for ski accommodation in Japan, backed by our award-winning team of in-resort accommodation specialists. Browse and book online from one of the largest selections of stays across Niseko, Hakuba, Rusutsu and Furano, all at the best available price. Our resort-based team is on hand if you’d like personalised recommendations or support, with dedicated Australian-based assistance for guests travelling from Australia.
Browse AccommodationBrowse accommodation
Search and filter accommodation across Niseko, Hakuba, Rusutsu and Furano by area, property type, and features.
Compare options
View photos, descriptions, amenities and verified guest reviews, or ask our in-resort specialists for personalised recommendations.
Book online
Confirm your booking directly on our platform at the best available price with our Best Price Guarantee.
Add resort services
Optionally add transfers, lift passes, ski hire, lessons and more to complete your stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Japan Ski Experience?
Japan Ski Experience is an independent, multi-award-winning specialist in ski accommodation in Japan. Founded in 2007, we help guests find and book the right place to stay in resorts including Niseko, Hakuba, Furano and Rusutsu, supported by resort-based teams, a wide accommodation portfolio, and a best price guarantee.
Which resorts does Japan Ski Experience specialise in?
Japan Ski Experience specialises in accommodation in Niseko, Hakuba, Furano and Rusutsu. Our teams are based in these regions and work directly with local accommodation providers year round.
Can you help if my group has different arrival or departure dates?
Yes. We do not sell fixed packages. Each booking is built around your accommodation and travel dates, and group members can arrive on different days, depart separately, or add different services if required.
What if my preferred accommodation is not available?
If a single property is unavailable for your full stay, we can often arrange split stays or recommend similar nearby properties that better suit your dates and group size.
Is Japan Ski Experience a travel agent?
Japan Ski Experience specialises in ski accommodation in Japan. Our focus is on helping guests choose and book the right place to stay, supported by resort-based teams and optional resort services. We do not sell fixed tour packages or flights.
When should I book ski accommodation in Japan?
Peak season accommodation often books out months in advance, particularly for Christmas, New Year and February. Booking early gives the best choice, though we can often help close to travel dates due to our wide supplier network.
Can you help experienced Japan skiers as well?
Yes. Many returning guests book with us year after year. Even experienced travellers value our wide accommodation access, local availability insight, and ability to simplify logistics across long-haul travel and winter conditions.
How is Japan Ski Experience different from booking through an OTA?
Unlike general booking platforms, Japan Ski Experience focuses exclusively on ski accommodation in Japan. We offer a wider range of properties, local resort advice, and direct coordination with accommodation providers, while matching or bettering public pricing through our Best Price Guarantee.
Is booking with a specialist more reliable than using a large booking site?
In most cases, yes. Japan Ski Experience is an established specialist with resort-based teams in Japan, long-standing supplier relationships, and thousands of verified guest reviews. We provide a smooth experience by ensuring accommodation and logistics align correctly.
Can I pay in my local currency?
Yes. Prices are quoted in Japanese Yen, but payments can be made in your local currency via Flywire.
Will I pay more booking through Japan Ski Experience?
No. Japan Ski Experience offers a Best Price Guarantee on all accommodation. You will always get the best price when booking your accommodation with Japan Ski Experience.
Can I book accommodation only?
Yes. Many guests book accommodation only. Optional resort services such as airport transfers, lift passes, equipment hire, lessons or guiding can be added later if required.
Do you book flights?
No. We do not book flights. Guests typically find the best airfares through online flight search platforms. Our team will advise which airports, arrival times and transfers align best with your accommodation and resort.
Do you provide dedicated support for Australian travellers?
Yes. Japan Ski Experience supports guests from around the world and provides dedicated support for Australian travellers. Our team regularly works with Australian guests to coordinate accommodation, transfers and arrival timing around Australia–Japan flight schedules and resort check-ins.
Do you support guests outside Australia?
Yes. Japan Ski Experience works with guests from around the world. While we provide dedicated support for Australian travellers, our teams regularly assist guests from Europe, North America and Asia.
Do you work with official tourism organisations in Japan?
Yes. Japan Ski Experience is an official member of Niseko Tourism and the Kutchan Tourism Association, and regularly contributes destination content to the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO).
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