If you've always dreamt of reaching the winter wonderland of Japan and experiencing the best snowfields the world has to offer, this blog has you covered with all the tips and all the tricks to successfully reach and enjoy the land of rising sun.
When to go
If you're planning to visit the snow, Japans winter and snow season is best experienced from mid December until mid April. If you're unable to get to Japan within these months, there is still plenty to do year round, so feel free to check out my other blogs.
Transportation
Transportation in Japan is extremely unique, and if you're considering adventuring across the country, The 'JR Pass' is your best friend. This Pass will give you unlimited access to the JR Line (which covers the majority of Japan) and will place you aboard some of the fastest trains in the world, which is an experience in and of itself. It's an expensive purchase, however individual trips quickly add up and the Pass will soon pay itself off.
The passes can be bought in Japan, however I strongly recommend that you pre-purchase your JR Pass at least 1 week before departing for Japan so the passes can be created and mailed to your address. Sachi Tours, is a fantastic site of which both myself and various friends have very positive opinions on. Our passes arrived in 2 business days and the process was simple and efficient.
https://www.sachitours.com.au/Japan_Rail_Pass.html?gclid=CjwKCAiA2fjjBRAjEiwAuewS_RybPdWBGaw0Wl9GBMZQy4Ne-ITnska9a0dx8fyLcjFA8ZnQ--_kJhoCeE8QAvD_BwE
Which Resort?
There are over 500 ski resorts across Japan, varying from small one lift runs to entire mountain ranges.
For me, the pick of the bunch is Hakuba Valley, which includes 10 Ski resorts that are all accessible for free through the Perisher Pass. Hakuba Valley boasts a staggering 1000 hectares of the finest quality snowfields in the world, together making up the largest skiing resort in Japan.
Hakuba Valley is easily reached by catching the Hokuriku-Shinkansen bullet train (JR Pass) to Nagano station, followed by an express bus which will take you all the way into the valley. Free Wi-Fi is available along the trip and each seat has its own charging port.
If you're looking for something a little more familiar, 'HappoOne' is a popular location in the valley for both American and Australian tourists. This location combines both western foods and English speakers along with the traditional Japanese culture, so you truly can experience the best of both worlds.
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/hakuba-valley
What to Bring
Most accommodations will provide discounts for board/ski hire as well as all the necessary clothing items to keep you warm. For me, hiring equipment is favourable as it saves you transporting large items around Japan and worrying about lost baggage on flights/trains. However, if you own these items I would still recommend you bring them along:
Jacket - (Preferably Feather Down)
Gloves
Ski Pants
Beanie
The reason why I recommend packing these items is that they can still be used once you leave the snowfields and will keep you comfortable all across Japan. Not only this but Japan is notoriously expensive so for the price sensitive travelers such as myself, cutting costs where possible is extremely beneficial.
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