The snow covered Hakuba range above the ski runs and the village of Hakuba in Nagano, under a clear winter sky.

Hokkaido & Nagano

Japan

Cold winds crossing the Sea of Japan drop light, dry powder on Niseko in Hokkaido and on the Hakuba valley in Nagano, and a morning in the trees there feels close to weightless. The day ends in a hot spring with steam rising into the falling snow, then dinner at a small counter in the village: grilled skewers, wagyu, a glass of sake. We plan the whole trip, from the flight to the instructor waiting on the first morning.

Season
December to April
Resorts
2
Plan a trip to Japan

Ski resorts

Choose your resort in Japan.

January and February are the peak months; Niseko is scheduled to open on November 28, 2026, and Hakuba has not announced its 2026/27 dates yet.

What we handle

Every part of the trip, in Japan.

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  1. 01

    Private Ski Lessons

    An instructor chosen for your family, down to who teaches whom.

  2. 02

    The Right Hotel

    Which hotel, and why, for the way your family travels.

  3. 03

    Private Houses

    Fully staffed chalets and houses, for families and groups.

  4. 04

    Private Charter

    Your own aircraft, from boarding to the mountain.

  5. 05

    Flights & Transfers

    Commercial flights and every transfer, from your door to the snow.

  6. 06

    Mountain Experiences

    Heli skiing, cat skiing and days beyond the pistes.

  7. 07

    Concierge on the Ground

    Passes, equipment and one contact while you are on the mountain.

Roughly how it goes

A shape for the week, not a fixed schedule.

  1. 01

    Before you travel

    We agree the base, the instructor and the transfers, and send a single itinerary with everything in one place.

  2. 02

    Arrival day

    You are met and driven to the property. Lift passes and rental equipment are arranged before you get there.

  3. 03

    On the mountain

    Ski days are built around your group rather than a fixed schedule, and shift when conditions do.

  4. 04

    Off the mountain

    Restaurants, experiences and the quieter afternoons are booked as part of the same plan.

Before you book

Guides worth reading first.

All guides

Japan questions

Before you book Japan.

When is the best time to ski in Japan?

The season generally runs from December to April, and January and February are the peak, the months of consistent snowfall (JNTO). For 2026/27, Niseko is scheduled to open on November 28, 2026 (Niseko United); Hakuba has not announced its dates yet.

How do you get to Niseko and Hakuba?

For Niseko, fly to New Chitose Airport, about 90 minutes from Tokyo (JNTO), then about 120 minutes by car (Niseko Village). Hakuba is as little as 2 hours 50 minutes from Tokyo by Hokuriku Shinkansen and express bus (Hakuba Valley). We arrange the flights and a private transfer for either.

Can you ski backcountry in Japan?

Yes, through official gates and under local rules. Niseko asks you to enter only through open gates with a helmet and an avalanche beacon (Niseko United); in Hakuba only five of the ten resorts have gates, and a transceiver, probe and shovel are required (Hakuba Valley). We book a qualified local guide for those days.

Also explore

Other winter destinations.

Opposite hemispheres, same team. If your dates move, the region usually moves with them.

Beyond Japan

Mountains in the other regions

Plan your trip

Plan your trip to Japan.

Tell us about your family and the trip you have in mind. We will tell you which mountain, which hotel and which instructor, and why.

Plan your next trip with usWhatsAppcomercial@patagonialiving.com

Start with whatever you know

  • A destination or idea01
  • Dates or a season02
  • Who’s travelling03