Everyone flies to Niseko and Hakuba. This is everything else. I’ve been riding Japan for over 20 years – this is my honest guide to the country’s underrated, uncrowded ski resorts, and how to plan a trip around them.
Start here
Nekoma Mountain (Fukushima) – one of Tohoku’s biggest ski areas, about 2 hours from Tokyo, and still empty. Read the full guide
Resort guides
- Nekoma Mountain, Fukushima – powder + park, day tickets under 4,000 yen (Early Bird Discount, due by December)
- More resorts coming soon: Takatsue, Madarao, Myoko, Nozawa, Lotte Arai
Plan your trip to Japan
Booking the essentials (affiliate links – they help support these free guides at no extra cost to you):
Where to stay near the slopes
Slopeside at Nekoma: Hoshino Resorts Bandaisan Onsen Hotel — ski-in/ski-out with an onsen. For Tokyo nights, the best value is booking your flight + hotel as a package (Expedia Australia / Expedia US), or browse Tokyo hotels.
Lift tickets & airport transfers
Lift tickets: each official site is cheapest — buy direct. For arrival day in Tokyo: airport transfers & Welcome Suica / IC card.
Pocket Wi-Fi / eSIM for Japan
Rent Gears
– [Rakuten / Amazon]
Watch & follow
New short videos on a different hidden resort regularly: YouTube – @SecretSnowJapan