When planning a trip to Japan, you may not think of skiing. There are many opportunities to ski in Japan.
When I was in Tokyo, I took a day trip to ski at Gala Yuzawa. I have taken two more extended ski trips to a Japanese ski resort included on the Ikon and Mountain Collective ski passes.
I visited Niseko United in January 2020 and December 2022. I'll tell you how and why to plan a trip of your own, as well as how to use points and miles.
The Points Guy is KaTIE GENTER.
It is easy to get to Niseko from the New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido. The biggest ski resort in Japan is located in Niseko.
Annupuri is one of the four resorts that make up Niseko United. There are beginner and intermediate runs at each of the resorts in this area.
The base areas of the four resorts are not close to each other. If you want to ski the most, it's best to stay close to where you want to ski. If you want to stay in a populated area with nightlife, Hirafu is the place to go.
You can get free ski days if you have an Ikon or Mountain Collective pass. Lift tickets are required if you want to. The prices are not very high. A four-day all- mountain pass for an adult would cost about $21.
If you don't plan to ski at other resorts, you might want to purchase a single resort pass. A four-day Niseko Village pass for an adult is about $174. If you plan to only ski a few runs each day, Niseko's point-based lift option may be a good choice.
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One of my favorite things to do in Japan is enjoy Japanese onsen. There are many hot spring baths to choose from. It's amazing to soak in an onsen with views of the mountains after a long day of skiing. There are many onsen around Niseko that you can visit for a small fee.
Plan your ski trip with points and miles.
I'm pretty sure you will visit other places during your trip to Japan. Points and miles can be used to fly into Tokyo.
Points and miles are included in our guide on traveling to Japan.
Inexpensive awards can be found through various programs. You can still get one-way American AAdvantage awards from the U.S. to Japan for 32,500 miles in the winter.
You can travel to Japan using public transportation. I recommend flying since it's in northern Japan. You can book economy flights to Japan for as little as 5,500 United miles and as much as $5.40 per way.
You can redeem American Airlines miles for flights on Japan Airlines if you prefer.
You can choose a domestically configured wide-body aircraft for your flight.
Which airport is better for flying into?
The Points Guy is KaTIE GENTER.
Taxis are not frequent in the Niseko area. It's not fun to carry your gear for long distances. I recommend staying at a hotel in the base area. The best option is to stay at a hotel that has a ski shuttle.
You have a number of options if you want to redeem your hotel loyalty programs.
| Hotel | Loyalty program | Award category or nightly award rates during ski season | Typical nightly cash rates during ski season | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Niseko Village | Hilton Honors. | 33,000 to 377,000 points. | $146 to $829. | Only premium room rewards are available for most of the ski season.
The onsen baths are located at the slope side of the village. |
| Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve | Marriott Bonvoy. | 80,000 to 120,000 points. | $499 to $1,943. | Offers direct ski access to the Niseko Village base area (a 10-minute walk to Bonzai Chair) and a spa with private onsen baths.
There are minimum stay requirements on certain dates. |
| Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono | World of Hyatt. | Category 8. | $635 to $1,389. | Ski-in, ski-out access to Niseko's Hanazono resort.
Private onsen baths with pool and onsen baths. There are minimum stay requirements on certain dates. |
| Mr & Mrs Smith Zaborin | IHG One Rewards. | No award availability found. | $1,124 to $1,413. | Each villa has two private onsen baths, one inside and one outside.
The Hanazono resort is close by car. There are minimum stay requirements on certain dates. |
The small luxury hotels of the world are participating in the World of Hyatt program. There was no use of points or cash at either hotel for this ski season.
Outside of the major hotel loyalty programs, there are many other accommodations. I earned Hotels.com rewards when I booked the Niseko Grand Hotel through Hotels.com. If you're looking for a budget friendly option or want to stay in traditional Japanese lodging, earning or redeeming rewards through an online travel agency may be your best option.
15 of our favorite ski friendly resort hotels can be booked on points.
You can plan a ski trip to Japan if you like skiing. I'm already planning to come back next year after staying at the well-located Hilton Niseko Village earlier this month.
You don't have to use a vehicle or reserve a transfer. You should check to see if a tourist bus drops off at your hotel. Most of the Niseko Village accommodations are served by Hokkaido Resort Liner and White Liner buses.
You don't have to bring ski gear. It's possible to rent clothing in most base areas. Equipment can be dropped off from your lodging. If you pre-order, some companies will give you a discount.
Experts are planning your trip to Japan. The brand is owned by the sister brand.
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