THE JAPAN ATLAS
Explore Japan by destination
Inns, food, hot springs, and sightseeing in areas with snowy mountains. Connect your stay in Hokkaido, Tohoku, and Shinetsu.
Search by prefecture
To the 9 listed prefectures.
Around Appi Kogen
Enjoy the snowy mountains of Iwate throughout your stay.
Hokkaido↗Niseko United
Four ski areas surround Niseko Annupuri. Start with the base that fits your hotel and lesson, then shape the day around wind, lift operations and open terrain.
Yamagata Prefecture↗Zao Onsen Ski Resort
Ride up towards the winter trees, then return to the hot-spring town for the evening.
Nagano Prefecture↗Hakuba Valley
A group of ski areas facing the Northern Alps. Choose a hotel by the mountain you want to ski and the village where you want to have dinner.
Around Niseko United
Niseko, overlooking Mt. Yotei, is a stay area that spreads across Kutchan Town, Niseko Town, and Rankoshi Town. Don't choose a lodging based solely on the name of the ski resort; consider a base such as Hirafu, Hanazono, Higashiyama, or Annupuri, along with transportation to meals and hot springs, and you'll get a better idea of the outline of your stay.
Around Furano ski resort
Furano is a destination that combines the base of the ski resort, the town around Furano Station, and the experience facilities of the forest into one stay. In winter, the scenery is different from the flower garden season, and it is suitable for a schedule that focuses on skiing, dairy products, crafts, and hot springs.
Around Hoshino Resorts Tomamu Ski Resort
Tomamu in Shimukappu Village brings ski slopes, hotels, restaurants and an indoor pool into one resort area. Plan several days around skiing and experiences close to where you stay. Hoshino Resorts and Club Med have separate operators and different inclusions, so compare the services offered by your chosen property.
Around Hakkoda
Hakkoda, south of Aomori City, is a mountain destination with close proximity to snow monsters, mountain runs, and hot spring inns. Sukayu's spa culture and log-built hotels are also part of the trip. If a person who skis and a person who enjoys hot springs are staying together, the day will be organized around transportation and mountain business conditions.
Around Geto Kogen ski resort
Geto Kogen, which enters the mountain west from Kitakami City. You can choose from three lodging locations: an on-site inn in the mountains, a hot spring village along the way, and around Kitakami Station. Whether you're planning a trip with plenty of time for skiing or combining a hot spring inn with a meal in town, each transportation plan is important.
Around Tazawako ski resort
Akita's journey combines Lake Tazawa, highland ski resorts, Mizusawa and Nyuto hot springs. If you base yourself at a hot spring inn near the mountains, the skiing will be the main focus, while if you spend time by the lake, the food and scenery will be the main focus. Starting from the trip from Lake Tazawa Station, think about what you want to do in one day.
Around Zao Onsen ski resort
Zao Onsen in Yamagata is a destination that combines snow monster mountains, expansive ski slopes, and sulfur-scented hot spring towns into one stay. Those who focus on skiing should choose accommodations based on the entrance to the slopes, while those who value hot springs and walking around town should choose accommodations based on the location relative to Takayu Dori and the bus terminal. It is also suitable for multiple nights where you can choose a time when the weather is good without cramming all the mountaintop sightseeing into one day.
Around Miyagi Zao Sumikawa Snow Park
Miyagi Zao's winter trip combines skiing at Sumikawa, snowmobile experience at Snow Monsters, hot springs at Togatta Onsen, kokeshi doll crafting, and dairy farm food. If you stay in a hot spring town, the way you spend the day can be divided between those who ski and those who don't. The transportation hub is different from Zao Onsen in Yamagata, so plan your trip first by staying on the Miyagi side.
Around Hoshino Resorts Nekoma Mountain
A trip to Nekoma will look different depending on whether you stay in the south area on the Bandai town side or go to the north area on the Urabandai side where there are lakes and hot springs. Hotels with direct access to the slopes in the south make it easy to combine skiing and a stay with Aizu culture, while accommodations in Urabandai include the nature of the lake and Grandeco. Choosing a place to stay will be easier if you consider the ski resorts connected in the mountains and the roads in the area you will be traveling by car separately.
Around Grandeco Snow Resort
At Urabandai, where Grandeco is located, you can combine a day of skating through the forest with the natural beauty of the lakes and the hotel's hot springs. Those who want to spend more time in the snow-capped mountains can choose from the nearby hotels, while those who want to spend time by the lake can choose from the inns at Urabandai. Nekoma is also in the same area, but the entrance to the mountain and transportation are separate, so decide on your daily destination and organize your transportation accordingly.
Around GALA Yuzawa
Trips that use GALA as an entry point can range from a day trip in the snow by train from Tokyo to a weekend stay at Echigo-Yuzawa Onsen. Don't just take advantage of the convenience of being directly connected to the station by skiing; instead, enjoy Yuzawa's hot springs, hegi soba, Minamiuonuma rice, and Niigata's sake. Even if you are visiting multiple mountains, you can use a common base at an inn near the station.
Kagura and Mitsumata
Your choice of Mitsumata or Tashiro changes the journey from your hotel. Plan an Echigo-Yuzawa base and stops in Mitsumata around the entrance you intend to use.
Around Naeba Ski Resort
Naeba is lined with inns and restaurants along National Route 17, and is a tourist destination where you can go back and forth between large ski slopes and mountain villages. In addition to the convenience of skating in front of the hotel, you can also combine a day trip to the hot springs, a multiple-night visit to Kagura, and a meal at Echigo-Yuzawa on the way there and back. How you spend your day will depend on whether you choose an accommodation in the ski area or commute from Yuzawa.
Arai and Myoko
Choose between staying within the Arai resort and using a base in Arai town or Takada. Akakura and Myoko Kogen are different locations; compare the ski area and daily transport before choosing your hotel.
Around Shiga Kogen
The Yamanouchi area allows you to choose the snowy mountains of the plateau and the ski areas of Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen as one trip. The look of your trip will change depending on whether you stay at Shiga Kogen and ski in the morning, or whether you go from the hot spring town and enjoy a walk around town at night. If you add a walk to Jigokudani and dinner at the hotel, and separate the skiing day and the moving day, you can enjoy the wide area at your leisure.
Around Hakuba / Hakuba Valley
The Hakuba area is a ski area in the Northern Alps that is dotted with inns, hot springs, cafes, and bars. You can combine the fun of choosing a mountain with the fun of staying in a valley village. Dinner and transportation will vary depending on whether you stay in Wadano or Happo, or Echoland or Tsugaike, so we recommend deciding where to stay based on how you plan to spend the next few days.
Around Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort
At Nozawa Onsen, which is close to the mountain and the hot spring town, you can not only ski but also stay overnight at a hot spring inn, enjoy an outdoor bath, and eat meals in the village all in one trip. Your choice of lodging will depend on whether you want to spend time walking around Oyu-dori Street or whether you want to focus on the entrance to the slopes. We recommend a stay where you can experience the steam of the hemp pot and the public bath, and learn how hot springs support village life.
Continue exploring this area
Getting to Hakuba
Reserved and non-reserved Nagano buses are separate. Winter pages still cover2025–26: verify the current departure and actual stop at Happo, Hakuba Station or Goryu. The existing80min example is bus plus walking from Nagano to Happo gondola, not every mountain or waiting time.
Japan snow itineraries
Connecting skiing days with time to enjoy the surroundings. Consider the model plan for each area.
A winter itinerary for Hakuba
Hakuba's model plan. Connecting arrival, skiing, and enjoyment of the surrounding area. Please adjust the number of days and time allocation according to arrival time and traffic.
A winter itinerary for Tomamu
Tomamu's model plan. Connecting arrival, skiing, and enjoyment of the surrounding area. Please adjust the number of days and time allocation according to arrival time and traffic.
Getting to GALA Yuzawa
Transportation information to GALA Yuzawa. From major transportation hubs to snowy mountains and the entrance to your inn. Please check the official information on the day of use for times and fees.
Getting to Kagura and Mitsumata
Transportation information to Kagura/Mitsumata. From major transportation hubs to snowy mountains and the entrance to your inn. Please check the official information on the day of use for times and fees.