There are a lot of very cool places around the world to go skiing, including in North America. Sometimes it can get difficult choosing exactly where to go when there are so many great options. The Slippery Slope compared skiing in Japan to skiing in North America and Europe to determine whether or not it’s the ultimate ski destination. Spoiler alert, while it is pretty remarkable and has a lot of positives, there were a few negatives.
Japan’s lift tickets are often much more affordable than those in both North America and Europe, sometimes costing less than $50 USD for a major resort compared to the $200-$300 you might pay in the United States. Japan’s trail signs are pretty simple as well, using just green, red, and black circles to mark the runs. but they lack the details that you see at most North American resorts.
Food at Japan’s ski areas is unbelievably delicious and very cheap, with full meals costing less than a handful of french fries and a U.S. resort. However, The Slippery Slope believes that the restaurants on Japanese ski mountains lack the cozy ambiance of European huts. Ski lift infrastructure in Japan is often outdated as well, with lifts coming from the 1980s and resorts mostly featuring slow two-person chairs and an occasional gondola.
The crowds at Japanese ski resorts are often much smaller than what you see in the United States, and Japan’s snowfall is truly exceptional. It usually exceeds North America and Europe in terms of snow, but the ski season is typically shorter. Off-piste skiing tends to be a mix between the controlled areas in North America and the self-responsibility model you see in Europe.
One of the biggest downsides to Japan skiing is the minimal après-ski scene. There are usually plenty of places to go out and about in the towns themselves, but the resorts usually lack the après that you see in Europe or even North America. Japan is a great, cost-effective, snow-rich destination with a ton of cultural charm and value, but to The Slipper Slope, it’s not quite the ultimate destination. To them, the Alps in a good snow year is the top choice.
