E90 Skiing Japan: Tokyo to Hakuba – The Ultimate Ski Trip Guide

Drop us a message with any questions you may have :) So… what’s skiing Hakuba Valley really like? 🇯🇵⛷️ After flying 14 hours to Japan, we decided to start this trip properly — with a couple of days exploring Tokyo before heading into the mountains. And honestly, it set the tone for one of the most memorable ski trips we’ve ever done. From incredible street food at Tsukiji Market, to temples in Asakusa, vintage shopping in Shimokitazawa, and the chaos of Shibuya Crossing — Tokyo delivered. Then it was time for the main event… ✈️ Getting There We flew with Japan Airlines — and it was genuinely one of the best long-haul flights I’ve taken. Great food, spotless planes, and next-level service throughout. For parking at the airport, check out 👉 APH Parking: https://www.aph.com/ And if you're travelling, I’d highly recommend an eSIM — we used 👉 Holafly (unlimited data): https://holafly.sjv.io/LKWN20 🚄 From Tokyo to Hakuba Getting to Hakuba Valley is surprisingly easy: Bullet train (Shinkansen) from Tokyo to Nagano Then a short bus transfer into the valley In under 4 hours, you’re in the mountains. ⛷️ Skiing Hakuba Valley Hakuba isn’t just one resort — it’s an entire valley made up of 10 different ski areas, all connected by the Hakuba Valley lift pass. 👉 Learn more about the resorts here: https://www.inthesnow.com/hakuba-valley/ Across the valley you’ll find: ~120 ski runs ~90 lifts ~Terrain for every level from pow and tree skiing to wide open greens and blues to your hearts content Each resort has its own personality — from beginner-friendly slopes to deep powder and tree skiing. 🏔️ Where We Skied Over the week we explored: Cortina & Norikura – deep powder, tree skiing, quieter vibe Happo-One – Olympic runs, big vertical, incredible views Hakuba 47 & Goryu – varied terrain + night skiing Iwatake – some of the best views in the valley We even hit a couple of proper powder days — the kind Japan is famous for ❄️ 🏨 Where We Stayed Hotel Green Plaza (Cortina) – ski-in ski-out, right on the slopes https://greenplazahakuba.com-hotel.info/ Mominoki Hotel (Happo) – great location + onsen https://hakubamominoki.com-hotel.info/ Hotel Keisui (Iwatake area) https://www.keisui.jp/english/ 🍜 Why Japan Is Different Skiing in Japan isn’t just about the snow (although the powder is unreal). It’s: Incredible food (ramen, gyoza, wagyu…) A completely different ski culture Immaculate cleanliness everywhere Friendly, welcoming people Onsens after skiing (game changer) ❄️ So… is Hakuba worth it? Absolutely. You’re not skiing one mega-resort like in Europe — you’re exploring an entire valley, choosing different ski areas each day depending on conditions. And that’s what makes it so special. If you’ve been thinking about skiing in Japan… Just do it. Support the show In the meantime Enjoy the mountains :) And Please do leave a review as it's the only way other like minded travellers get to find us! And don't forget to check us out on the following channels inthesnow.com instagram.com/inthesnow TikTok@inthesnowmag youtube.com/inthesnowmag facebook.com/inthesnow To contact us with your suggestions for further episodes at [email protected] / [email protected]