Itinerary
Japan Alps Explorer
Staying on Honshu Island, this itinerary features two contrasting ski resorts; one somewhat Western in feel, though huge in scope, and the other a more traditional Japanese ski / hot spring village on a more compact, though enthralling, ski terrain. The end result - you will want for nothing both on and off the mountain...and you also get to tick off both of Japan's two major destinations; one your entry point, the other your exit point.
The best that Honshu Island has to offer in the winter, this itinerary features both Nozawa Onsen and the Hakuba Valley in the Japanese Alps. It all begins with the excitement of Tokyo and ends up in Kyoto – Japan’s cultural heart.
Staying on the main island – Honshu – experiences that can be ticked off the list include riding the shinkansen (bullet-train), visiting the snow monkeys, relaxing in onsen waters and staying in a traditional Japanese inn - a ryokan. And there's no compromising on the skiing - two contrasting ski resorts offer the variety, terrain and challenge.
Day-By-Day Itinerary
How much would this holiday cost?
Obviously, cost depends on which accommodation you choose, how many excursions and activities you want to book, whether you wish to include ski hire and local backcountry guides, etc. An indicative lead-in price for this 16-day itinerary would be from circa £3,600 per person, including on moderate accommodation (mid / low season), transfers, lift passes, rail tickets, snow monkey excursion and economy class flights from the U.K.
If you were to move the dates to January (but still avoiding Christmas & New Year / Chinese New Year), this would then rise by approximately a couple of hundred pounds per person. And, of course, if you wanting the finest, most luxurious accommodation then....the sky's the limit really! Solo travellers should also be aware that costs increase, as you carry the burden of the accommodation cost alone.
We don't have to include international flights. However, by keeping it all within one package, your arrangements are protected by ATOL.
Different Snow strive to offer the most competitive prices in all instances. However, we pride ourselves first and foremost on quality - we are an independent specialist tour operator and, therefore, are not beholden to any supplier. We make our decisions based only on who's best in each and every instance.
Suggestions & Variations
With no set departures or fixed dates this itinerary can be extended, or even curtailed, to suit your available dates or match your budget.
You could reverse the trip, beginning the trip immersed in the culture of Kyoto and ending with the bright lights of Tokyo before flying home. Similarly, there is no reason you need to ski in Nozawa Onsen first and then head to the Hakuba Valley second - the itinerary works well either way around. The principal difference between these two options is the ski resort to Kyoto journey - if travelling from the Hakuba Valley, then you get to visit the amazing castle at Matsumoto en route, whereas if you reverse it and travel from Nozawa Onsen then the amazing city of Kanazawa is on your way. Either way, you should break the journey, and in Kanazawa's instance perhaps for a night or two?
Want to see more of Japan? We can easily add time in the Hakone region near Mount Fuji, or extend your stay at the end to head down to Kurashiki and Hiroshima. Alternatively, Takayama is easily accessible from Hakuba and certainly worth several days of your time.
If you don't quite have a full 16-days, then it is possible to include all the same locations but simply make better use of time. Late trains from the ski resorts give you a full days skiing, yet you can be in Tokyo or Kyoto that same evening. Private transfers between Nozawa Onsen and the Hakuba Valley allow for full days on the slopes and transfers in the evenings. And you can, of course, just spend the one full day in Kyoto and pack your sightseeing in with a local guide?