Planning a Ski Trip to Japan? Wait–Don't go to Hokkaido.

Here’s why you should try skiing on the main island of Honshu instead.

You’re planning your next ski adventure to Japan. You can’t wait to experience the legendary Japow you’ve heard so much about. Instinctively, you want to hit the ski resorts in Hokkaido - but wait. Before booking your accommodation and tickets for Hokkaido, we want to share some compelling reasons why a ski trip in Honshu could be an even better choice.

Hokkaido resorts are crowded

We won’t lie to you. There’s a reason why everyone wants to go to Hokkaido. Hokkaido does have the best snow in all of Japan. Because of the latitude and geography, the snow is dryer and fluffier than the snow in Honshu. But think again. Many other skiers and snowboarders will also be headed to Hokkaido. 

Case in point–Niseko–arguably Hokkaido and Japan’s most famous ski area–suffered from a surge of international tourists in the previous season, right after Japan opened up. The express trains from Sapporo–the capital city of Hokkaido–take around two and a half hours to get to Kutchan, the station that stops closest to the Niseko ski area. There are also fewer trains in the evening. By bus, the journey can take even longer. 

Once you get to Niseko, while there are free shuttle buses you can take to get around, there are few taxis, and you’ll have to share them with the thousands of other snow tourists descending upon the town. The growing number of food trucks is proof that visitor demand has significantly outstripped restaurant capacity. 

Your accommodation options are also likely to be limited. Niseko, and Hokkaido in general, is so popular that you often need to book months in advance. If by any chance you manage to find accommodation, be prepared to pay a premium. And that brings us to the next point.

Skiing in Hokkaido is expensive 

It’s much more expensive to ski or snowboard in Hokkaido than on the main island of Honshu. First, consider that ski passes will cost much more. For instance, a Niseko all-mountain ski pass for a single day will set you back around 10,500 yen. Now, compare that with an early-bird one-day ski pass at Myoko Suginohara, which will cost around 6000 yen. That’s 75% more expensive. 

The high prices aren’t just at Niseko. Consider Rutsusu Ski Resort, another popular Hokkaido snow destination. A day pass will cost 14,500 yen if you buy at the counter, and 11,200 if you purchase online. And that’s not even factoring in gear rental or ski lessons. It’s not difficult to imagine that these associated costs will also be higher. 

We told you about the food trucks at Niseko–but did we tell you that the prices are extremely expensive? Tempura soba went for as much as 3,500 yen for a bowl in the previous season. That’s three times what you might pay in Tokyo, and double what you would pay at a ski resort in Honshu. Given the inflation that hit Japan in recent years, don’t be surprised if the prices at Hokkaido ski resorts will be even higher this year.

If you’re still hell-bent on going to Hokkaido for your ski vacation, keep in mind that part of the higher costs will come from transportation. Most tourists will fly into Japan via Narita or Haneda airports. From there, you’ll have to fly again to Sapporo, before making your way to the ski resort of your choice. There is the option to take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hokkaido but be warned–the Shinkansen stops at Hakodate, which is why it is not a popular option.

Honshu resorts are much more accessible than Hokkaido resorts

If accessibility is high on your priority, choosing to enjoy your vacation at one of the numerous Honshu resorts might make more sense. Well-known ski areas such as Myoko Kogen, Nozawa Onsen, and Hakuba are all relatively accessible from Tokyo. This becomes all the more important if you’re coming to Japan not only to ski and snowboard, but also to sightsee, enjoy Japanese food, and partake in Japanese cultural experiences. 

Another reason to visit Honshu ski resorts instead is if you’d like to experience a more authentic Japanese ski town. No surprise–with all the foreign tourists popular resorts in Hokkaido are receiving, you’ll find that the culture can feel more “western” rather than Japanese. Anecdotally, many tourists have been surprised at how many Australians were at Niseko. You might actually hear more English than Japanese. Being able to communicate in your language may be comforting, but why pay that much to feel like you haven’t traveled at all? 

You get to enjoy more authentic Japanese culture if you ski on Honshu

After all, the whole point of traveling (even if the main activity is winter sports) is to experience a different world. Why not enjoy winter sports and Japanese culture, at the same time? 

Take, for instance, the beautiful Zao Onsen Ski Resort. Located in Yamagata Prefecture and named for the onsen town that sits at the base of the mountains, this historical town is said to date back to at least 110 AD. Today, it is a popular hot spring destination for travelers who love a good reinvigorating soak in thermal waters. Due to the high acidity of the waters in this hot spring town, they are thought to have skin-beautifying benefits, and have earned Zao Onsen the moniker the “Springs of Beauty”.

The town boasts wooden public bathhouses that will make you feel transported back a hundred years, as well as a variety of foot baths and day spas. Here, you get the authentic Japanese experience. But make no mistake. Zao Onsen also boasts excellent powder snow. To top it off, Zao Mountain is famous for its “snow monsters”–conifer trees that become completely encased with snow in the deep of winter. There are so many local snow festivals that you can par-take in, like the Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival, Iiyama Snow Festival, Tokamachi Snow Festival.

Zao Snow Monsters. Image Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (JAPAN)

Explore the best ski resorts in Japan—hassle and worry-free 

While skiing the powder snow of Hokkaido is many a skier (and snowboarder)’s dream, you shouldn’t overlook a Honshu ski resort for the many reasons that can make or break a ski holiday–lesser crowds, cheaper prices, easier access, and more authentic Japanese experiences.

If you’re interested in planning a Japanese ski holiday, we can help. A private tour with TokudAw means you get safely to the ski resorts of your dreams, packaged together with a completely personalized Japanese cultural itinerary if so you desire. So you can worry less, ski (or snowboard more), and stick to doing what’s important–making your winter vacation the delightful and memorable experience it should be.