Backcountry ski areas in Japan
Japan's backcountry runs from Hokkaido's powder in midwinter to spring corn snow in the Northern Alps as late as June. Pick an area to see its season, terrain, access and main hazards.
Hokkaido
Niseko ニセコ
Japan's most famous powder destination, with gate-access backcountry off Mt Annupuri and ski touring on the volcano Mt Yotei.
Asahidake 旭岳
Ropeway-accessed volcano skiing in Daisetsuzan National Park — Hokkaido's highest peak, extremely cold, dry snow and serious whiteout terrain.
Furano & Tokachidake 富良野・十勝岳
Central Hokkaido's dry powder — resort-based skiing in Furano plus classic ski touring around the active volcano Tokachidake.
Tohoku
Hakkoda 八甲田
Ropeway-accessed touring through the snow monsters of Aomori — enormous snowfall, deep tree skiing and serious navigation.
Hachimantai 八幡平
A broad volcanic plateau straddling Iwate and Akita — gentle tree touring in winter and wide-open spring skiing once the plateau road opens.
Zao 蔵王
Famous for its snow monsters, Zao combines a big resort and a historic onsen town with touring onto the Zao volcano.
Gassan 月山
A sacred mountain buried by so much snow that its ski area only opens in spring — Japan's classic destination for spring and early-summer ski touring.
Central Honshu
Tanigawadake 谷川岳
Serious alpine terrain just over an hour from Tokyo by Shinkansen — heavy snow, steep faces and a formidable mountaineering reputation.
Hakuba 白馬
Big-mountain skiing in the Northern Japanese Alps — resort-accessed backcountry, alpine touring and steep couloirs above the Hakuba Valley.
Nozawa Onsen 野沢温泉
A traditional hot-spring village with a big resort on Mt Kenashi, deep beech-forest powder and sidecountry touring.
Myoko 妙高
One of the snowiest ski regions in Japan — deep tree skiing, volcano touring on Mt Myoko and quieter slopes than Hakuba and Niseko.
Tateyama 立山
High alpine spring skiing from Murodo at 2,450 m on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route — huge bowls and couloirs from mid-April into June.
Hakusan 白山
One of Japan's three holy mountains — a remote, expedition-style spring ski tour with long approaches and huge rewards.
Western Japan
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