All prices are per person in Australian dollars (AUD)and subject to change without notice They include 7 nights accommodation, 6 day lift pass, meals and transfers if stated Prices are to be used as an indication only as an exact price will be confirmed by Skimax when a quote is requested airfares only apply ex Australia** Ask us for airfare deals ex New Zealand
Niseko	Niseko Resort Information
Rusutsu	Rusutsu Resort Information
Hakuba	Hakuba Resort Information
Furano	Furano Resort Information
Tomamu	Tomamu Resort Information
Shiga Kogen	Shiga Kogen Resort Information
Nozawa Onsen	Nozawa Onsen Resort Information
Note: Cool Deals on the brochure are airfare deals that apply for travel from Australia only.  All prices are in Australian Dollars and should be used as an indication only. An exact price will be confirmed in writing by Skimax based on your request.  Japan quotes are based on Saturday / Saturday packages.

 Japan has hundreds of ski resorts.  Please see below for details about the most popular destinations:

  JAPAN RESORT INFORMATION

Niseko

Facts:
Niseko is an exciting place to experience true hospitality, world-class resorts and incredible cultural delights, all just a 10 hour flight from Australia. Located on the western coast of the island of Hokkaido, Niseko is widely known as having one of the most consistent and biggest snowfalls in Japan and is famous for some of the best powder conditions to be found anywhere.
Niseko is the largest of Hokkaido’s ski areas with 4 inter-linked first class resorts – Annapuri, Higashiyama, Hirafu and Hanazono. As well as the powder, the terrain offers first timer slopes, half-pipes, quarter pipes, table tops, mogul fields, tree runs and lot's of natural hits to ensure everyone's tastes are catered for. There is a good mixture of beginner, intermediate and advanced runs, with skiers and snowboarders welcome everywhere. One of the highlights is night skiing, with lifts open daily from 8.30am to 9pm. The illuminated area is huge, and visibility good. Even tree runs are accessible. A powder night session is a must!

Plenty of alpine alternatives are also on offer including cross country skiing, snowmobiling, snow rafting, snowshoeing, dog sledding and relaxing in the natural hot springs called onsens.

Niseko offers some great ski-in / ski-out accommodation with a variety of western hotels and pensions catering to all budgets.

Ski Terrain Area	47km of groomed ski trails Beginner runs:  30% Intermediate runs:  44% Advanced runs: 26% Expert: 0%
Vertical Rise	1009m
Elevation	1309m
Base Elevation	300m
Longest cruising run	5.7km
37 Lifts	3 Gondolas, 6 Quads, 1 Triple, 13 Doubles, 14 Single
Terrain Park	Yes
Average Snow Depth	4.10m
Average Snow fall	12m
Nearest City	Sapporo 2.0hrs
Airport	New Chitose 2.0hrs
Transfer	return included

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Rusutsu

Facts:
Rusutsu is situated on the island of Hokkaido, 79km west of Sapporo close to Niseko and the extinct volcano Mt Yotei. Family-friendly Rusutsu has 37 diverse courses that offer something for everyone from beginners to experts. The ski area is spread across three mountains, with skiing directly above the resort on West Mountain, or you can take a gondola ride to the majority of terrain spread across East Mountain and its lift-linked neighbour Mt Isola, which together have about three-quarters of the 42km of runs - and some spectacular scenery!

Rusutsu offers skiing for all ability levels. There are easy trails close to the resort, but also runs to progress onto further away from the complex. Intermediates will find all the resort's terrain open to them and advanced skiers and boarders should be pleased with challenges on offer, including off-piste terrain and tree skiing. There's also a halfpipe and night skiing on West Mountain. Children's facilities such as the Kids' Park and the day-care centre make Rusutsu a popular choice for families. Other alpine activities include cross-country skiing, snow rafting, snow tubing, orienteering, ice skating and dog sledding. You can also relax at the traditional Japanese hot-spring onsen baths.   

Ski Terrain Area	42 km of ski trails Beginner runs: 30% Intermediate runs: 40% Advanced runs: 30%
Summit Elevation	994m
Vertical Rise	684m
Base Elevation	310m
Elevation	1200m Longest cruising run is 3.5km
19 Lifts	4 Gondolas, 7 Quads, 5 Doubles, 1 Single, 1 Half Pipe
Average Snow Depth	3.00m
Nearest city	Sapporo 2.5 hrs
Airport	New Chitose 2.0hrs

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Hakuba 

Facts:
The Hakuba Valley is a huge expanse of resorts offering an incredible variety of terrain for skiers and snowboarders alike. Situated in the heart of the Japan Alps, the alpine scenery is truly spectacular with huge rugged peaks towering above the town below.

From one end of the valley to the other, there are 10 resorts accessing over 200 runs making Hakuba is the skiing mecca of Japan. Resorts include Sun Alpina, Hakuba 47, Goryu-Toomi, the Olympic ski resort of Happo-One, Iwatake, Tsugaike, Norikura and Cortina. All resorts are impressive and rate highly amongst skiers and boarders alike. Night skiing is available at a limited number of resorts in Hakuba, usually from the end of December to the end of March

Hakuba provides an abundant variety of alpine alternatives for everyone to enjoy. Ski the Olympic cross-country courses or the scenic nordic courses at Minekata and Tsugaike ski resorts. Experience guided ski/snowboard and snowshoe tours in the Alps or try out snow tubing, tobogganing and snow rafting, available at various resorts in the valley. For those wanting to have a break from the snow, take in Nagano's famous Zenkoji Temple and the snow monkeys at Jigokudani hot springs.

Choose from a wide variety of great properties all in the perfect location at the base of Happo One.

Ski terrain for	50kms of ski trails Beginner runs:  20% Intermediate runs:  40% Advanced runs:  40%
Vertical rise	1070m
Elevation	1950m
Longest cruising run	8km
31 Lifts	2 Gondolas, 5 Quads, 4 Triples, 13 Doubles, 1 Half-pipe
Terrain Park	Yes
Average snow depth	3.70m
Av Annual Snowfall	10m
Nearest city	Tokyo 2.5hrs
Airport	Tokyo 2.5 hrs

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Facts:
Nestled in the centre of Hokkaido, the picturesque town of Furano benefits from more than 8 metres of snow each season and more blue sky fresh powder days than most resorts in Japan.

The mountain is divided into 2 linked zones and the terrain consists of long groomed winding wide trails, challenging steeps and open ungroomed powder fields. The lift system is fast and efficient and while Furano does attract crowds on weekends, midweek it stays relatively uncrowded. Beginners and intermediates can enjoy 22 of the widest, longest and most perfectly groomed runs in Japan. For high intermediates and advanced, Furano has hosted the Downhill Ski World Cup 10 times and thus has not only some of the longest powder courses but is also the steepest on course mountain in Hokkaido. Night skiing and snowboarding is open until 9pm each day and makes for a spectacular way to spend an evening.

Free guided mountain tours are available at Furano. These bilingual guided tours cater for all levels of skiers and snowboarders in both large and small groups. As well as showing you every aspect of the resort the guides can give you some local history lessons, recommend restaurants and bars.

There are many non-ski activities ranging from hot air ballooning to a height of 1000m, ice hole fishing, snowmobiling, 4WD motor bikes and snow carts, snow rafting, tubing, parasailing, horse riding, paragliding and hot spring tours.

Accommodation varies from ski-in / ski-out luxury hotels, lodges and small family-run pensions.

Ski Terrain Area	470 acres of ski trails Beginner runs:  40% Intermediate runs:  40% Advanced runs:  20%
Vertical rise	974m
Elevation	1209m
Longest Cruising Run	4.0km
10 Lifts	1 Cable Car, 4 Gondolas, 7 Quads, 5 Doubles, 1 Single, 1 quarter pipe
Terrain Park	Yes
Airport	New Chitose 2.0hrs
Average snow depth	3.00m
Average Annual Snow fall	8m
Nearest City	Asahikawa  1 hr

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Facts:
Tomamu is situated 150km east of Sapporo close to the Hidaka National Park. Tomamu is the most lavish of the Hokkaido resorts and no expense has been spared on with first class facilities on and off mountain.

The main resort is spread over two peaks with eleven different lifts accessing over 20kms of pistes to suite all levels of skier or boarder, including long courses, deep moguls as well as beginner pistes. The recently opened up expert courses and off-piste skiiing are certainly a bonus for the advanced skier and snowboarder. Unlike most Japanese resorts, Tomamu allows tree riding and offers some great backcountry guiding services including Cat and Heli boarding. Night skiing is also available until 7pm.

Alpine alternatives include, snowmobiling, backcountry tours, cross country skiing, para-skiing, dogsledding, hot air balooning and visiting the ice dome village.

Tomamu ski resort has a variety of hotel/accommodation options. Tomamu Towers and Galleria Tower Suite Hotel offer comfortable and spacious lodging. The resort has a huge indoor wave pool, outdoor pool, saunas, spas, relaxation centre and a large variety of restaurants to choose from.

Ski Terrain Area	25 km of slopes Beginner runs:  30% Intermediate runs:  40% Advanced runs:  30%
Vertical rise	670m
Elevation	540m
Longest Cruising Run	4.5km
11 Lifts	1 Gondola, 2 Quads, 6 Doubles, 2 Singles
Terrain Park	Yes
Airport	New Chitose 2.0hrs or Asahikawa
Average Annual Snowfall	8m
Nearest City	Sapporo 2.5hrs

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Shiga Kogen

Facts:
Shiga Kogen is located in the Johshinetsu National Park and is by far the largest ski resort in Japan, offering 21 interlinked resorts all covered by the one lift pass. With easy access and a season running from late November to early May, it is one of Japan's premier resorts.

With a resort this size it goes without saying that there are runs for every ability level and skiing style. Shiga Kogen’s seemingly endless variety of long perfectly groomed cruising runs, gentle beginner’s slopes, bottomless powder and challenging moguls are serviced by modern lifts and facilities all combined make skiing here an unforgettable experience. Host of the women’s downhill, slalom, the super Giant slalom and both snowboarding events for the 1998 Nagano Olympic Winter Games, Shiga Kogen boasts an extensive lift network that efficiently transports skiers between ski areas in search of that perfect run. And with night skiing available at some of the areas the search can go on well into the evening!

Located 1.5 hours from Nagano, you can easily enjoy a number of other activities in and around Shiga including the nearby Jigokyudani hot springs, home to the world famous Japanese Snow Monkeys.

There are over 100 hotel facilities within the Shiga Kogen resort, catering for all budgets and preferences.

Ski Terrain Area	over 80 km of ski trails Beginner runs:  30% Intermediate runs:  40% Advanced runs:  30%
Vertical rise	950m
Elevation	1350-2300m
Longest Cruising Run	8km
71 Lifts	67 lifts gondolas and ropeways
Terrain Park	Yes
Airport	Narita 3.0hrs
Average Annual Snowfall	12m
Nearest City	Nagano 1.5hrs, Tokyo 3.0hrs

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Facts:
Nozawa Onsen is one of the classic ski resorts in Japan, that has expanded over a 70 year period into one of the largest ski areas in the country with more than 50 kilometres of  trails.

Nozawa ranks amongst one of the best ski resorts in Japan with a great selection of runs offering great skiing and snowboarding experiences for beginners right through to the most advanced. There really is something for everybody: family friendly wide open pistes, mogul runs and great powder runs On a clear day you can see the Northern Alps and the Sea of Japan from the top of the mountain.

The village has a great sense of tradition and feeling of Japanese spirit with beautiful old streets and a bustling village full of history, culture and festivals. The village is also famous for its public hot-springs, with more than 30 springs located throughout the resort. One event not to be missed is the Dosoujin Fire Festival. Held on January 15th every year, Dousoujin is considered one three most famous fire festivals in Japan.

You can experience the real essence of Japanese culture and hospitality staying in Nozawa Onsen village. Accommodation options include hotels, traditional Japanese inns and pensions

Ski Terrain Area	50km of slopes Beginner runs:  40% Intermediate runs:  30% Advanced runs:  30%
Vertical rise	1085m
Elevation	1650m
Longest Cruising Run	10km
25 Lifts	2 Gondolas, 5 Quads, 4 Triples, 10 Doubles
Terrain Park	Yes
Airport	Narita 3.0hrs
Average annual snowfalls	10m+
Nearest City	Nagano 1.5hrs

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