Itinerary
The Japan Ski Holiday
With two weeks in Japan you have the time to visit two contrasting ski resorts in Japan – five days of skiing in internationally-renowned Niseko and then a couple of days on the slopes in quaint, authentic, atmospheric Nozawa Onsen. There’s also time for couple of days in Kyoto, Japan’s cultural heart, and Tokyo – the world’s most exciting city.
Throw in rides on bullet-trains and a trip to the snow monkeys bathing in onsen waters, and we'd claim this as the ultimate Japan skiing itinerary. We know it works, because it’s our most popular itinerary (often with minor variations to suit) and our clients invariably love this holiday.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
How much would this ski holiday cost?
Obviously, cost depends on what standard of accommodation you prefer, 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 circa £2,600 to £3,000 per person, including moderately decent accommodation (during mid / low season), transfers, lift passes in both Niseko and Nozawa Onsen, a Japan rail pass, excursion to see the snow monkeys, domestic flights within Japan and economy class flights from the UK.
If you were to move the dates to January (but still avoiding Christmas & New Year / Chinese New Year), this would then likely impact the costs by circa a couple of hundred pounds per person. And, of course, if you wanted the finest, most luxurious accommodation then....the sky's the limit really, as both Niseko, Kyoto and Tokyo have it all (Nozawa Onsen not quite so much)!
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 our ATOL licence, which is preferable from your perspective.
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.
If the objective is to simply experience the best skiing on Hokkaido and then the best skiing on Honshu Island, then you could consider swapping Nozawa Onsen for the Hakuba Valley or Myoko Kogen? We like the contrast between Niseko (modern, brash, international) and Nozawa Onsen (characterful, authentic, Japanese), but you are compromising on the skiing slightly by making this selection.
You can, of course, reverse the itinerary - begin in Kyoto and end up on Hokkaido Island. Or perhaps, simply reverse the order of the itinerary on Honshu Island, flying from Hokkaido to Itami Airport, which is close to Kyoto and then, after visiting Nozawa Onsen, end up in Tokyo before flying home.
There are so many options if you want to see more of Japan. Perhaps spend time in Kanazawa, Takayama or even Hiroshima. Alternatively, head out to the countryside and stay in a traditional ryokan for a couple of nights.
