And if we went skiing in Japan?
The experience would be absolutely fascinating: the difficulty with the language and relationships with people so far away from Western behavior, could not only increase the cultural baggage. If you're planning a winter vacation, be aware that many sites of the major ski resorts are only in Japanese. Be patient and stay calm. You'll find organization and kindness still at levels that can make your stay unique.
Far East for some years, has significantly improved its offer skiing. The prefectures with major ski resorts are Hokkaido and Nagano. But you can ski in many other places in Japan, until a few years ago even in the city of Tokyo, where stood the gigantic Ski Dome with its artificial tracks (from 2007 seems to have been replaced by un'Ikea).
Hokkaido is the region with the largest number of ski areas. Particular shines in the presence of the city of Sapporo: Japan's fifth largest city and capital of the prefecture, hosted the Olympic Games of 1972. The resorts around the city are Kitahiroshima, Kokusai, Moiwayama, Teine, Fu and Bankei.
Olympic pistes are located in the resort Teine in the Olympic Zone that divides the slopes and more competitive in the Highland Zone with longer ones and the best scenery. About an hour from Sapporo station is Kokusai however, well known center for snow quality and the presence of famous onsen (traditional Japanese spas). For beginners it is recommended that Moiwayama is located twenty minutes from the city. More or less the same distance but is Bankei, from whose top the evening you can enjoy a splendid view of the illuminated city of Sapporo. About half an hour by train is rather that it was presented as an ideal resort for families.
Probably best known for onsen for the small ski resort, the island of Hokkaido also offers the beauty of Noboribetsu.
ski to the north of Japan Wakkanai, famous for its ski slopes overlooking the sea.
Moving on to Nagano prefecture (city that hosted the Olympics in 1998) in recent times was extremely successful on the district of Happo-One with thirty lifts, which is part of the skiable domain called Hakuba. < br> Another skiable domain of the area, famous also in this case for the onsen is Shiga Kogen. The domain is composed of a dozen ski areas and is one of the few where you can reach a fair share of altitude (2300 m).
Full Japanese Alps is also located in Gifu Prefecture is located Takayama ("city of the mountains") is a popular international tourist center. In its surroundings there are several spas with adjoining small ski resorts: Nigorigo Onse, Hidafunayama Snow Resort, the Valley of the Hida (also famous for its meats), Suzuran Kogen, ... and then Takayama is known for carpentry shops and distilleries of sake, which tell the adventures of the day skiing and recover from the boiling onsen where you'll be immersed for the apres-ski.
If you are visiting Tokyo, you can take a day skiing in Yuzawa, Minakami or at Hunter Mountain.
Hoping to have you intrigued, I remind you that Japan runs very well with the train. Only for foreigners is available on Japan Rail Pass is a season ticket which allows you to benefit from many lines at a reasonable price (tickets purchased on site are very expensive, and the JRP is affordable only to foreigners and not Japanese territory).
Sources:
Snow Japan
Japan Rail Pass
Stampa
