Nozawa Onsen is an incredibly picturesque mountain and villiage. Nozawa Onsen town is at the base of the mountain and is blanketed in snow for the duration of the winter season. The township itself is slightly hilly, being at the very foot of the mountain, and absolutely oozes character.

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Myoko has become more accessible recently now that they offer a shuttle from Nagano Station for 4400 yen return. This is a lovely hidden area and is not frequented like some of the other areas due to it being slightly harder to get to.

There is still a lot of really enjoyable skiing/ boarding to be done in this area and the snow is often very good. The slopes are best suited to beginner and intermediate skiers/boarders. The Onsens are very nice with Akakura Onsen overlooking the whole snow-blanked valley at a height of 780 meters above sea level.

Ski fields include Akakura Kankou Ski Resort, Akakura Onsen Ski Resort, Ikenotaira and Myoko Suginohara.

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Myoko has become more accessible recently now that they offer a shuttle from Nagano Station for 4400 yen return. This is a lovely hidden area and is not frequented like some of the other areas due to it being slightly harder to get to.

There is still a lot of really enjoyable skiing/ boarding to be done in this area and the snow is often very good. The slopes are best suited to beginner and intermediate skiers/boarders. The Onsens are very nice with Akakura Onsen overlooking the whole snow-blanked valley at a height of 780 meters above sea level.

Ski fields include Akakura Kankou Ski Resort, Akakura Onsen Ski Resort, Ikenotaira and Myoko Suginohara.

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Shiga Kougen is actually a string of separately run ski fields which are all linked together. This was the site of many of the events for the Nagano Winter Olympics. Because Shiga Kougen is a bunch of mountains which are higher up than many of the ski fields in Tokyo surrounds, it often has the driest and most powdery snow.

Due to the large number of skifields there is a variety of options for boarders and skiers alike. Because it is so high up there is no villiage attached to Shiga Kougen and most of the accomodation and eateries tend to be hotels built before the bubble burst in 89.

This is a great place to explore the terrain and will oftern provide reliable skiing when other slopes are getting wet snow.

Hakuba area is a valley nestled in the backcountry of Nagano prefecture. There is a really good choice of mountains to ski at here with Happo One and Hakuba 47 being the most popular. Tsugaike, Cortina, and Iwatake are all highly recommended.

Other resorts in the area are Sun Alpina, Goryuu Tomi,� and Norikura. All of these slopes are fun in their own right and are well worth checking out. You need to spend a minimum of a day’s skiing at eachThe snow is usually pretty good here and there are plenty of eateries around if you explore the area. There are also a couple of good Onsens.

Gala Yuuzawa has its own bullet train station and can be reached by train from Tokyo in just over an hour. It is also quick to get there by car, taking just over two hours, which makes this slope one of the most popular (and crowded) ski resorts around. Definitely avoid this place on public holidays.

Still, if you only have a day to ski, this is a good mountain which offers fantastic views on a clear day. There are onsens and plenty of facilities for the whole family.

Naeba is located in Yuzawa along with Gala Yuzawa and Iwappara. Naeba is arguably the most famous ski resort in Japan due to its proximity to Tokyo and reputation for good powder.

Naeba ski field is enhanced by its linkage to the Kagura resort by way of the �Dragondola�. Between the two resorts there is a huge variety of runs and terrain to experience. For just a short skip from Tokyo this is one of the best places to go. Beware, Naeba can get very crowded.

Kusatsu is a resort town nestled in the mountains of Gunma. The townshop itself is extremely pretty and boasts a geothermal spring which steams up from the ground in the very center of the town.

Kusatsu is a popular family resort and has a slightly up market feel to it. There are plenty of onsens, restaurants and souvenir shops to purchase the local delicacies. The ski field (Kusatsu Kokusai) itself is nice for beginners and intermediate levels. It can get a bit crowded during holiday periods.

Ontake is a good sized mountain with plenty of lifts and slopes to board/ski. It boasts lovely views on a clear day and is a little close to Tokyo than Hakuba.

It is located on the South Western side of Nagano prefecture and is close to the Chuo Doro. There are not many Onsens but there are public baths nearby which are nice to soak in.

Karuizawa is an affluent resort town which boasts a fairly large outlet mall, onsens, and its own ski field. The ski field is not very challenging but is great for a family. There are plenty of things for others to do if there are non-skiers in your group also.

Karuizawa makes an ideal day trip from Tokyo as the ski field is very close to the station.

The Minakami area is in the north of Gunma prefecture in the Tanigawa mountain ranges. This area is famous for its Onsens and there are a wealth of really picturesque spots to bathe after a day’s skiing in the snow.

The area boasts 10 ski and snowboard resorts including; Minakami Houdaigi, Minakami Kougen, Minakami Kougen Fujiwara, Minakami Okutone, Norn Minakami, Ohana, Tanigawa Onsen, White Valley, Tanigawadake Tenjindaira. Only 70 minutes by train from Tokyo this spot is oftern overlooked by the crowds in favour of Yuzawa and Naeba. However, this area is less crowded and far superior when you add in the beautiful Onsens.

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