Snowboarding in Japan – What It’s Actually Like?

thirteenth March 2025

James Cove and the PlanetSKI workforce have been in Japan for effectively over a month ( 5 weeks and three days to be exact) – snowboarding 5 resorts within the Hakuba Valley on the primary island of Honchu, and 9 ski areas on the northern island of Hokkaido.

They’ve additionally spent three intense days in Tokyo, visited quite a few temples, castles & shrines and ventured off the extra regular vacationer routes.

PlanetSKI has skilled Japanese horse racing, bird-watching, ice sculture, Japanese drumming, onsens and far else moreover the snowboarding.

And now it’s golf on the base of Mt Fuji.

If we have now one bit of recommendation for folks going to ski in Japan, it’s do extra than simply ski – throw your self into the expertise of visiting one of the vital fascinating nations on this planet.

Right here James Cove displays on the Japanese adventures of PlanetSKI.

There’s maybe no higher manner to attract issues to a detailed than a spherical of golf on the Taiheiyo Membership as I look again on the expertise of snowboarding in Japan – the nice factors and the much less good factors.

I’m on the primary tee with my 24-year previous son Max who has been out right here for a part of the journey participating within the PlanetSKI gear and tools assessments that we’ll be posting forward of subsequent season.

“Japan has been an absolute eye-opener for me and like no-where I’ve ever skied,” stated Max.

“On the primary day in Happo One within the Hakuba Valley I questioned why I had flown as far as the resort was small, the slopes not so difficult and I used to be quite under-whelmed to be sincere.

“Then over the following few days I had the very best powder snowboarding I’ve ever had, and I’m wondering if I’ll ever see such snow once more.”

Extra of the snowboarding and the snow later.

First the golf.

You understand that feeling in a ski resort while you throw open the curtains and see a blue sky powder day beckoning?

Good morning, Mt Fuji and a spherical of golf.

Golf, like most issues in Japan, is acquainted and but so, so totally different.

You tee off by choosing one in every of these – the one with the shortest mark goes first.

Buggies are the norm, although they’re the scale of a small automotive.

And so they drive themselves.

Pardon?

If a name of nature beckons there isn’t a want to move to the timber as there are some very civilised amenities at lots of the holes.

Going to the bathroom is a severe enterprise in Japan with its extraordinary loos – the seats are heated, spray and water is obtainable (at differing ranges), and a few even play music.

Who knew you want a management panel to function a bathroom?

For our recreation of  golf Japan’s most well-known mountain is a backdrop, lunch is included within the spherical and all of it finishes with an onsen.

As I stated, golf is acquainted however so very totally different.

As is the snowboarding.

As we performed the course ideas of snowboarding stored popping into our minds.

Japan had delivered past my expectations after which rather more, however it’s also a rustic of contradictions.

THE SNOW

Mainly it snows right here – typically it appears like on a regular basis.

To date this winter some resorts have seen over 7m.

It doesn’t a lot are available one enormous storm, however quite it simply retains on snowing – in my expertise just about each day.

It’s relentless.

Consider an extended drizzly day of rain within the UK – in Japan change that rain with mild, dry powder snow.

So, why does Japan obtain a lot snow?

It advantages from some very chilly air lots travelling from the Yakutsk area of jap Siberia in Russia to the west – they suck up moisture as they go over the Sea of Japan.

This then collides with moisture laden air from the North Pacific coming type the east.

The 2 air lots collide over the mountains of Japan & then…JaPow!

In and away from the ski resorts.

Nevertheless it must also be identified that the snow means clouds and inclement climate for a lot of the time, so don’t count on too many, if any, sunny lunches sitting on a restaurant balcony.

Or cruising down a large marked run within the sunshine.

SKIING & THE RESORTS

In actual fact lots of the on piste runs should not huge or difficult, and there are few of them as Max commented.

Resorts in Japan are very small by the requirements of the Alps with antiquated lifts and a few lengthy queues.

Although the previous lifts make for some gorgeous pictures and are such enjoyable to trip..

Only a few of the runs are steep because the snowboarding is usually on hills, quite than mountains.

Many of the purple runs right here, could be straightforward blues in Europe.

The form of the slopes, plus the size of runs jogged my memory of Norway – not probably the most difficult snowboarding, however fascinating all the identical.

In brief Japan is for Europeans who like powder snow, not for those who want to stay to the pistes.

It’s a lengthy technique to come should you don’t ski powder.

But when powder is your factor then Japan is 100% the place to return.

When you get to Japan the overall prices are a fraction of the costs now charged within the Alps, helped partially by the beneficial alternate price.

A each day raise go is round £25 and you’ll  purchase them by the hour in some areas.

Ski rent and classes are additionally good worth.

THE JAPANESE CUISINE

The meals is off the size – as you lengthy as you want Asian meals and may get by with chopsticks.

It’s very good in style and freshness, and is available in at an excellent worth.

A good meal for 2, with drinks is about £20.

Nonetheless a lot as I really like Japanese meals, after 5 weeks my style buds wished one thing extra western, and undoubtedly much less salty.

The choice of cooked fished would have be good quite than sushi on a regular basis,  and boy did I crave for the simplicity of a fork.

When it got here at a Japanese/Italian restaurant in Sapporo it was very welcome.

In lots of eating places you order you meals at a machine.

And it typically will get delivered by one too.

And speaking of meals, while you play golf in Japan lunch is included at many programs.

The place there’s additionally some fascinating sports activities vogue on show.

As on the slopes.

TEMPLES, CASTLES & SHRINES

Away from the slopes can be the place Japan actually comes into its personal – the temples, the shrines and the tradition.

THE WHACKY WORLD OF JAPAN

In Japan whacky and random experiences occur each day.

There’s a shock spherical each nook – from derelict enjoyable fares on the slopes, via to computerized and vertical automotive parks, and carousles inside lodge foyers.

Then there are among the ski resorts.

Then there are the indicators you come throughout in eating places (in English), that depart no room for interpretation.

Many of the menu’s are decipherable with the assistance of the photographs.

However not all.

And lets not neglect the onsens.

Snowboarding in Japan is as a lot about these different points, plus the manners, the politeness, the enjoyable with the language and the countless bowing.

It’s fairly merely a novel expertise.

The bowing was in proof on the golf course as our computerized buggy handed itself in.

General although it’s the snowboarding I’ll keep in mind Japan for – like every part else it may be off the size and so totally different to the European expertise.

GETTING AROUND

When you want to ski the primary island of Honchu and the northern island of Hokkaido you’ll need to both fly or get the Shinkansen, bullet practice.

It’s an hour and a half to fly or 8-hours or so by practice – when you issue within the the hours of ready round in airports and the actual fact they’re out of city the practice is our most popular choice.

It’s although costlier, however can be utilized along side a particular season ticket purchased in your nation of origin.

As soon as in a ski space you possibly can both use public transport, lodge transport or rent a automotive in an effort to go to the totally different resorts.

For us hiring a automotive was the most suitable choice because it allowed us the liberty to go to any resort because the temper took us.

There was not drawback driving on the snowy roads as we had winter tyres and 4-wheel drive.

They drive on the left in Japan, however be warned the purple lights are on the far finish of junctions, so should you cease on the purple mild you will have already crossed the junction.

Three weeks automotive rent on Hokkaido, the place we explored a lot of the southern and central a part of the island, value us round £25 per day + tolls and petrol.

Speaking of prices the spherical of golf together with  the buggy, lunch, drinks, an onsen, six balls, a bag of tees and two commemorative hats was £110 per particular person.

It was a wonderful course too.

It could have been double or thrice that worth in Europe.

And in case you’re a golfer and questioning concerning the outcome, Max was one up as we reached the 18th inexperienced.

He lobbed it into the water so the match was drawn.

All-square appeared a good outcome and a great way to finish our time collectively in Japan.

And so PlanetSKI’s 5-week Japanese journey attracts to its finish on the foot of Mt Fuji.

Not a lot is definite in life, however one factor is.

PlanetSKI shall be again in Japan.

There’s a lot extra to get pleasure from, expertise and uncover.

On and off the slopes.

PlanetSKI’s rolling posts from Japan:

Now we have posted 1000’s of phrases with a whole lot of images and movies over the previous 5 weeks – all executed in dwell rolling blogs on the net website and throughout our social media channels.

They have been posted to be learn in actual time, so could also be date delicate, however we re-produce them under ought to  you wish to discover out extra element concerning the PlanetSKI expertise of snowboarding and touring in Japan:

Visiting Japan

A handful of UK operators provide ski holidays to Japan.

One is Ski Safari that has maybe probably the most expertise of the nation with tailor-made packages constructed on the corporate’s in depth data and expertise.

“Japan is in contrast to another nation you’ve skied in or been to earlier than,” stated Andy Knights from Ski Safari.

“The snowboarding alone is world class, with the Siberian climate methods bringing enormous quantities of sunshine dry powder – it’s not known as Ja-Pow for nothing.”

Ski Safari presents the next six resorts:

Niseko – Japan’s largest and best-known ski resort, the standard and amount of snow right here is unparalleled – for powder, it doesn’t get a lot better than a Niseko ski vacation

Hakuba – Hakuba ski holidays are blessed with alpine-like terrain and large selection. Hakuba is a good place to make use of as a base for exploring a number of resorts on one raise go.

Rusutsu – A unusual, powder-filled paradise, Rusutsu ski holidays are nice on their very own or as a part of an extended journey in Hokkaido.

Nozawa Onsen – Japan’s oldest ski resort, Nozawa Onsen ski holidays are as well-known for onsens as they’re for snowboarding – excellent for a ski journey with added tradition.

Kiroro – Comparatively under-the-radar, Kiroro ski holidays function deep powder, quiet slopes and incredible tree runs off-piste.

Furano -Select a Furano ski vacation for a standard resort in an idyllic setting and prime notch piste snowboarding. A great worth choice, Furano is a thriving city in its personal proper.

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