{"id":33432,"date":"2014-01-15T14:00:34","date_gmt":"2014-01-15T18:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/?p=33432"},"modified":"2014-01-15T14:00:34","modified_gmt":"2014-01-15T18:00:34","slug":"%e3%80%90rocketnews24%e3%80%91five-of-japans-best-locations-to-ski-and-snowboard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/2014\/01\/15\/%e3%80%90rocketnews24%e3%80%91five-of-japans-best-locations-to-ski-and-snowboard\/","title":{"rendered":"\u3010RocketNews24\u3011Five of Japan\u2019s best locations to ski and snowboard"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted by\u00a0Michelle Lynn Dinh<\/a>\u00a0(Shimane<\/a>-ken,\u00a0Chibu-mura,\u00a0<\/strong>2010\u201313),<\/strong>\u00a0editor and writer for\u00a0RocketNews24<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>The following article was written by\u00a0Philip Kendall<\/a>\u00a0(Fukushima-ken,\u00a0Shirakawa-shi,\u00a02006\u201311), senior editor and writer for\u00a0RocketNews24<\/a>,\u00a0a Japan-based site dedicated to bringing fun and quirky news from Asia to English speaking audiences.<\/p>\n

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For those of us up in the northern hemisphere, winter is already in full swing. And for skiers and snowboarders, that can mean only one thing: the snow-covered mountains are calling and it\u2019s a race against the clock to get the most out of them.<\/p>\n

Treated to generous snow dumps each winter and coupled with the fact that so much of the country is mountainous, Japan is one of the best locations in the world for ski and snowboarding fun, not to mention some of the best powder snow in the world.\u00a0But which resorts should you be sure to visit before the powder turns to slush? Check out this list of five of Japan\u2019s greatest, and our favourite, places to ski and snowboard!<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s still January, so the snow\u2019s not going anywhere\u00a0quite<\/em>\u00a0yet, but when the weather starts to warm up and the green begins to peek through the white we may wish we\u2019d spent more time on the piste and less time thinking\u00a0about it, so let\u2019s get right to it!<\/p>\n

5. Monstrous conditions: Zao<\/strong>, Yamagata Prefecture<\/p>\n

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Photo:\u00a0Japan Guide<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Kicking us off is a resort not especially well-known outside of Japan. Zao has been described by foreign visitors as everything from \u201csimply beautiful\u201d to \u201csnowboarding heaven,\u201d and it\u2019s not hard to see why. This place has some of the widest runs you\u2019re likely to come across in Japan, making it perfect for those wanting learn to ski or snowboard or those who want to try out a few new tricks without having to constantly look over their shoulder, but perhaps the coolest thing about snowboarding on Mount Zao are the \u201csnow monsters\u201d that line the runs. As the winter wind blows and droplets of water from the nearby lake come into contact with the snow-covered trees in the area, bizarre shapes are formed and freeze solid, making the mountain look like it is covered with the frozen remains of mythical beasts. Along with the high quality snow that Yamagata Prefecture is treated to each winter, Zao pretty much guarantees good times on the piste.\u00a0More info<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

4. Monkey business: Shiga Kougen<\/strong>, Nagano Prefecture<\/p>\n

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Photo:\u00a0Powder Hounds<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s probably no surprise to find a ski resort on our list situated in Nagano, the home of the 1998 Winter Olympics, but Shiga Kougen (or Shiga Highlands) is a must for those who can\u2019t get enough of the white stuff. Spanning a whopping 21 resorts \u2013 all of which are accessible with just one ticket \u2013 Shiga Kougen occupies a massive 4.3 square kilometres (1.6 square miles) of mountain, making it one of the world\u2019s largest resorts and packed full of variety. The snow quality is of course superb, there\u2019s snowmobiling to enjoy when your legs eventually get tired, oh, and there are wild monkeys that enjoy taking dips in the natural hot springs dotted around the area. Monkeys! What else could you possibly want for?\u00a0More info<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

3. Chillin\u2019 up north: Furano,<\/strong>\u00a0Hokkaido<\/p>\n

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Photo:\u00a0Japan Guide<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Located not far from Asahikawa City (which is home to a great\u00a0Fuyu Matsuri<\/em>, or winter festival, each year), the Furano Ski Resort is spread over two main areas, both operated by the Prince Hotels Group.\u00a0There is plenty for advanced snowboarders and skiers to enjoy at Furano, but for intermediates and those still learning the ropes especially this location is ideal, with tons of runs and some amazing powder snow. A word of warning, though: off-piste boarders\u00a0will<\/em>\u00a0be spotted and stopped by the resort\u2019s many hawk-eyed staff, so if you live to dodge trees while carving you\u2019re likely going to have a hard time.\u00a0More info<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

2. From downtown: Hakuba Happo One,\u00a0<\/strong>Nagano Prefecture\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Photo:\u00a0Japan Guide<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Located in the Hakuba ski resort of Nagano Prefecture, Happo One takes our second spot thanks to its wonderful snow and usually great conditions. Just as importantly, though, it is within relatively easy reach of Tokyo, with direct links from the city and Narita Airport (through which overseas travellers usually enter the country), so if you\u2019re visiting Japan and don\u2019t wish to spend your entire time on a mountain, you can blend city adventures with powder fun relatively easily. Happo One boasts 13 pistes that (although lower-level snow lovers will still find suitable runs) are steeper and a little wilder than the average Japanese resort, so you won\u2019t be disappointed, especially if you\u2019re looking for somewhere to level up.\u00a0More info<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

1. Powder heaven: Niseko United,\u00a0<\/strong>Hokkaido<\/p>\n

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Photo:\u00a0Japan Guide<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Our top spot, however, has to go to Niseko United. This is, in fact, four different resorts situated on the same mountain, the 1,308.5m (4,293ft) high\u00a0Niseko Annupuri. Sure, this is in Hokkaido so it will require a little extra effort to get there, but the runs are as vast as they are various, and the powder you\u2019ll find up here is considered some of, if not\u00a0the\u00a0<\/em>best in all of Japan. The area is also incredibly accommodating to foreigners, and, along with dozens of restaurants and bars, there are hundreds of lodges, hotels and guest houses ready to take you in after a long day of snowboarding and skiing. If you only have time to hit one snow-covered mountain in Japan, make it this one. \u00a0More info<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Well that wraps things up for our top five! There are of course plenty more resorts to try, and we\u2019re sure you\u2019ll all have your own favourites, so be sure to let us know your thoughts and share your knowledge with other readers in the comments section below. Have fun in the snow, everyone!<\/p>\n

Featured image:\u00a0Japan Holidays<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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