Whether you have already booked your Japan ski holiday or are simply looking for inspiration for your eventual dream trip, you may be wondering where in Japan some of the more popular Japan ski resorts are located and how to get there.
Hokkaido Resorts (northern Japan island):
Where is Niseko Japan?
Niseko, Kiroro, Furano and Rusutsu ski resorts are located on the northern island of Hokkaido, accessed via Sapporo New Chitose Airport (see map above). While some of our guests from places like Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan can fly directly to New Chitose Airport, most will be flying via Tokyo Haneda or Tokyo Narita Airport.
Photo courtesy of Kiroro Resort
There are a number of low-cost domestic carriers who operate flights between Tokyo and Sapporo, and the journey takes about 90 minutes. You can find out more about how to get to Sapporo Chitose as well as step-by-step information on getting from Tokyo to Niseko in our Getting to Niseko guide, which includes information on travelling from Sapporo Airport to Niseko by bus, taxi and train.
From Sapporo New Chitose Airport, factor in about 2 hours’ travel time to your Hokkaido resort. When you book with Japan Ski Experience, we will take care of all your transfer arrangements to get you to the door of your ski resort accommodation.
Honshu Resorts (Japan main island):
Where is Hakuba Japan?
The majority of the more popular mainland ski resorts are located in Niigata and Nagano prefectures (think the 1998 Winter Olympic Games), though there are some fantastic resorts in places like Yamagata and elsewhere. Some notable Honshu resorts include (but are not limited to) Zao Onsen, Nozawa Onsen, Shiga Kogen and Hakuba (see map above).
In terms of size and terrain, Hakuba Valley resort, with a total of 10 separate ski resorts, takes the cake for what it has to offer skiers and snowboarders coming from afar.
Hakuba Valley is also relatively easy to get to from Tokyo, with many guests opting to make their own way there using public transit, though direct coach and taxi options are also available. The travel time from Tokyo to Hakuba is less than 3 hours, and guests can get the chance to experience the famous Japan Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Nagano. For step by step information on how to get from Tokyo to Hakuba, please visit our Getting to Hakuba guide.
When you book with Japan Ski Experience, we will take care of all your transfer arrangements to get you to the door of your ski resort accommodation.