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Best of Japan

Best Ski Resorts in Japan 2026/27: Largest, Highest & for Beginners

By Book & Ski · Sources checked

The short answer

By mapped runs, the biggest ski areas in Japan are Niseko United (59 km), Nozawa Onsen (42 km) and Zao Onsen (39 km). The highest is Myoko Suginohara, with runs from 1,857 m (6,093 ft); the biggest vertical is at Myoko Suginohara (1,118 m); and Zao Onsen has the largest share of easy terrain (76%).

Three skiers in bright jackets on a chairlift in Yuzawa, Japan
On the chairlift in Yuzawa, Japan. Photo: Maheshwaran Shanmugam / Pexels.
Top elevation of the highest resorts in this list0 m500 m1,000 m1,500 mHakuba Happo-one: top 1,829 m (6,001 ft)1,829Hakuba Happo-oneTsugaike Kogen: top 1,707 m (5,600 ft)1,707Tsugaike KogenZao Onsen: top 1,665 m (5,463 ft)1,665Zao OnsenNozawa Onsen: top 1,645 m (5,397 ft)1,645Nozawa OnsenAPPI Kogen: top 1,285 m (4,216 ft)1,285APPI KogenKiroro Resort: top 1,181 m (3,875 ft)1,181Kiroro ResortNiseko United: top 1,176 m (3,858 ft)1,176Niseko UnitedFurano: top 1,064 m (3,491 ft)1,064FuranoSahoro Resort: top 1,044 m (3,425 ft)1,044Sahoro ResortRusutsu Resort: top 988 m (3,241 ft)988Rusutsu Resort
Top elevation of the highest mapped run, in metres. Full figures in the table below.
Largest ski areas in Japan by mapped runs
ResortTop elevationVerticalMapped runsEasy terrainSource
Niseko United1,176 m919 m59 km55%source
Nozawa Onsen1,645 m1,079 m42 km41%source
Zao Onsen1,665 m875 m39 km76%source
Tsugaike Kogen1,707 m904 m34 km60%source
Rusutsu Resort988 m566 m31 km32%source
APPI Kogen1,285 m657 m31 km56%source
Hakuba Happo-one1,829 m1,079 m30 km48%source
Furano1,064 m829 m26 km54%source
Kiroro Resort1,181 m658 m25 km35%source
Sahoro Resort1,044 m637 m24 km47%source

Highest ski resorts in Japan

Higher resorts generally hold snow longer into spring. These have the highest mapped runs in Japan.

Myoko Suginohara: 1,857 m (6,093 ft) →Hakuba Happo-one: 1,829 m (6,001 ft) →Tsugaike Kogen: 1,707 m (5,600 ft) →Zao Onsen: 1,665 m (5,463 ft) →Nozawa Onsen: 1,645 m (5,397 ft) →

Biggest vertical drop

Vertical is the height difference between the highest and lowest mapped runs: a guide to how long the longest descents can be.

Myoko Suginohara: 1,118 m vertical →Nozawa Onsen: 1,079 m vertical →Hakuba Happo-one: 1,079 m vertical →Niseko United: 919 m vertical →Tsugaike Kogen: 904 m vertical →

Best for beginners (most easy terrain)

Ranked by the share of mapped run length graded novice or easy. A big share of gentle runs gives beginners more room to progress; also check where the ski school meets.

Zao Onsen: 76% easy (39 km total) →Myoko Suginohara: 63% easy (21 km total) →Tsugaike Kogen: 60% easy (34 km total) →Nekoma: 57% easy (23 km total) →APPI Kogen: 56% easy (31 km total) →

How we chose

“Best” here means measurable: size (km of mapped downhill runs), top elevation, vertical drop and the share of easy terrain, across the 15 ski areas with at least 20 km of runs and five lifts in Japan. Figures come from OpenStreetMap via OpenSkiMap, retrieved 2026-10-01, and can differ from resorts’ own published numbers.

All ski resorts in Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is the biggest ski resort in Japan?

By mapped runs, Niseko United, with about 59 km and 29 lifts.

What is the highest ski resort in Japan?

Myoko Suginohara, with mapped runs starting at about 1,857 m (6,093 ft).

Which Japan ski resort is best for beginners?

By share of easy terrain, Zao Onsen (76% of runs graded novice or easy). Also consider ski school locations and lift access.

Official sources

Checked on . Prices and timetables change; confirm with the operator before you pay. How we research.