7/1/2020

Japan's Snowiest Places

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Japan is a country that is known for many things. The cherry blossoms that transform cities with clouds of pink, the iconic style of the Harajuku girls, the rich heritage and the towering skyscrapers are just a few things that come to mind. However, to many people, the wonderful snowfall that Japan experiences, is the thing that makes it such a brilliant place to visit. If this is you, then we imagine you will want to experience the best examples of winter that Japan has to offer. So, to help you out, we have listed Japan’s snowiest places. Read on to find out more.

Hokkaido

Hokkaido is the northern island of Japan and is known for many things, but nothing beats the impressive amount of snowfall. This is no secret to the world, and Hokkaido welcomes in millions of visitors each winter, who are all seeking to experience the iconic powdery white snow for themselves. Fantastic ski resorts and marvellous ice markets overtake the island in the winter months, creating a fairytale-esque experience that definitely needs to be seen to be believed. In Sapporo, the park that runs centrally through the city transforms into a snow festival to welcome the chilly time of year. Here, you can see spectacular snow and ice sculptures, while sampling some of the delicious local cuisines from the many street food vendors in the area.

Shiga Kogen

Shiga Kogen is an impressive ski resort in the Nagano Prefecture, which sees some of the best snowfall after Hokkaido. By staying in the Shiga Prince Hotel, you are in the heart of the snowy action that central Japan has to offer. One of the best things about Shiga Kogen is its accessibility. By this, we mean that experiencing the magnificent snowfall doesn’t remove the possibility of easily exploring the must-see cities of Japan. Take a day trip to explore the dazzling city of Tokyo, before retreating back into the snow-covered Nagano prefecture for a fantastic snowy experience. When in Shiga Kogen, we highly recommend that you take the time to visit one of the wonderful Onsen Resorts in the area. For those who are unfamiliar, Onsens are natural hot springs, which are volcanically heated and contain many vitamins and minerals that work wonders on the body. An ancient tradition in Japan that dates further back than the Edo Period, bathing in an onsen is proven to lower blood pressure, aid a great night’s sleep, soothe aching muscles and re-hydrate dried-out skin. Meaning it is perfect for after a day out in the snow.

Niigata

Similarly to the snowfall around Shiga Prince Hotel, the mountains of Niigata have slightly less, but still a significant amount of snow to enjoy. Niigata is a wonderful part of Japan to visit with family and first-time skiers, and the location of the city means you can explore many of the must-see sites with ease. Another wonderful feature of Niigata is it’s sea-side location. So, if you’ve had enough of the snowy mountains for one day, you can catch a bus down to the beach, for a bracing coastal walk.