Winter sports in Japan

Japan is a mountainous country, around 70% of the country’s landmass is mountains, and receives some of the world’s most reliable snowfall, thanks to icy winds blowing in from Siberia, making it a fantastic destination for winter sports. There are over 500 ski resorts in the country, with some offering powder and après-ski to rival the best on offer in Europe or North America. The most popular are the resorts of Niseko, which is easily accessed from Sapporo, or those around the city of Nagano, conveniently connected with Tokyo. Visit during the winter months and you will find excellent conditions for a range of winter sports. Although it is best to try and avoid weekends and holidays as the resorts can become popular with locals!