There are more than 500 ski resorts within Japan itself. Although relatively smaller in scale than the grander ski resorts available in the West, these places offer various ski courses and good facilities to support the sport.

On top of that, the snow quality of Japanese ski resorts is excellent, and they're usually in places conveniently accessible from major cities. Without a doubt, you can expect ski resorts in Japan to provide top-class environments for those who appreciate the sport.

Nagano is the prefecture with the most number of ski resorts in Japan, followed by Hokkaido and Niigata. Nagano ski resorts are especially well-known for an astounding variety of ski trails.

Also, ski resorts located next to mountain peaks usually issue shared lift vouchers that can grant you access to completely different ski courses. Many ski resorts also come equipped with hot spring facilities, allowing you to enjoy the full Japanese post-skiing package without too much extra traveling!

Regardless of their scale, most Osaka area ski resorts offer different ski trails, from child-friendly gentle slopes to more challenging courses. This means anyone - whether beginners or experts - can look forward to having a good time.

The peak season for ski resorts in Kansai is between December to March, and skiers usually flock to Shiga and Hyogo, where there's relatively more snowfall. (Snow in Osaka is somewhat uncommon.)

Shiga is relatively near Osaka and Kyoto and can be reached in about one to two hours from those areas.

Hyogo's northern parts see lesser mainstream train traffic, so those unfamiliar with the transportation system used there may want to consider reserving seats in a ski bus tour beforehand, as the bus will take you there and back directly from Namba or Shin-Osaka. This takes about two to three hours one way. Depending on the bus schedule, you should have about five to six hours at the ski resort proper.

If rushing through the day isn't your thing, then consider an overnight stay. Changing between trains and buses incurs a lot of waiting time and can be very difficult to bear after a tiring day at the ski slopes, perhaps even to the point of ruining all the good memories you've made there! So go ahead and book a homestay or hot spring hotel near the ski resort to avoid the travel grind and rest up well for the next day of activity.

Many resorts charge 3,000 yen per day for early reservations in terms of prices, though the main pricing is generally around 10,000 yen inclusive of chair lift usage.

Skis, boards, gear, and other equipment are all available for rental at the ski resort, allowing you to plan to travel there empty-handed if you like.

But here's a pertinent question visitors to ski resorts in Osaka are likely more interested in: How much does it actually cost to do some casual skiing there?

We've done some research for you about daily rates for most ski resorts and listed an example below for your reference. The actual cost will differ from resort to resort, so you'll still need to do your due diligence for the resort you're interested in!

Rental fees (a rough guide for one day for one person)
・Skis/Snowboards: 3,500 yen onwards (per set)
・Skiwear: 3,500 yen onwards (does not include hats, gloves, or goggles - note that few resorts offer rentals for these)

Lift tickets
Around 4,000 yen – 5,000 yen (if you're in a tour package, this will sometimes be included in the tour price)

Transport
・Trains: 10,000 yen onwards (although a safe way to travel, it's likely to incur additional charges because most ski resorts are located a distance away from the nearest train stations)
・Buses: 5,200 yen onwards (cheaper, but the time you get to spend at the resort is limited)
・Rental car: 7,000 yen (compact car rental for 24 hours - no time limit at the resort, but can be dangerous if you're not used to driving on snowy roads)

Others
・Food/Lockers: 3,000 yen

Ski Tour
・Example: Osaka to Hachikita Ski Resort Day Trip (weekday) - 5,000 yen onwards (according to an aggregator website search)

Since there are so many ski resorts in the Kansai area, which is the one that will suit you best?

To help you with that decision, here's a list of 9 ski resorts recommended by the most authoritative ski resort/snowfall website in Japan, Surf&Snow, for your handy reference!

The moderate slopes in this snow park makes it a smash hit with families and beginners. Ski slopes are also kept separate from the Snowland area that's for playing in the snow, meaning everyone is guaranteed a good time here without having to worry about accidentally crossing the wrong path. This ski resort near Osaka also has enough rental gear to go around!

Hachi and Hachi Kita are two separate areas containing a total of 25 courses and ski slopes. This is the largest ski resort in the Kansai region!

The resort is proud of its beginner-friendly slopes and confident that skiers will leave satisfied. In fact, 80% of its courses are for beginners to intermediate skiers, with wide slopes and gentle gradients so that everyone - from children to adults can have some relaxing fun.

Kaminabe Kogen, located in northern Hyogo, is an internationally renowned geopark blessed with an abundance of lush natural sights like the sea, mountains, rivers, and farm produce.

It's a fantastic ski resort near Osaka. Upon stepping into the grounds, the first thing you'll see is the wide and welcoming family-friendly ski slope, which is a great way to introduce children to the sport and allow them to practice safely!

This ski and snowboard facility has a 3,200 meters (about 10,500 feet) long ski course and a place for halfpipe skiing too. The spacious ski center is open 24 hours and even comes with a napping room! It's connected to the nearby Hyperbowl Tohachi via ski lifts. With a shared ski lift voucher, you can look forward to double the ski courses and triple the fun.

By using a world-class artificial snow machine to complement natural snowfall, Biwako Valley can ensure the grounds always have plenty of quality snow. This ski resort near Osaka boasts nine vastly different courses such as Horai Panorama Ski Slope with the beautiful Lake Biwa as the backdrop, or the popular glades course.

One of Kansai's best snow resorts that is easily accessible from both the Kansai and Chubu regions. Its location near an interchange road also means there won't be any traffic jams here.

This ski resort near Osaka is in the perfect location for a ski and snowboarding day trip! It also features top-class ski slopes that fully utilize the area's natural landscape, resulting in 12 widely varied courses that have been designed to appeal to people of all skill levels, from beginners to experts.

A popular Shiga ski resort for day trips, it takes about just two hours to get here from Osaka and Kyoto, or 1.5 hours from Nagoya.

On Saturdays, this ski resort near Osaka is open until 11:00 p.m. for nighttime skiing from the mountain peak all the way down - the same mountain peak that commands a panoramic view of Tsuruga Bay, too! The snow quality here is so good, some may find it hard to believe they're still in Kansai!

At this ski resort in Shiga, you're taken directly to the ski slopes in an 8-seater gondola, where you can take in wonderful views of Lake Biwa and its surroundings on your way up. It's a great way to spend a winter vacation with the family! There is a variety of courses for everyone, from beginners to experts available here.

Ski resorts in the Kansai region have several advantages: Transport is relatively easy to arrange, beginner courses with gentle slopes are abundant, facilities are often family-friendly, ski classes are available, and usually come with the full suite of essential services for a good time.

Hot springs or delicious food can always be found in the vicinity of these ski resorts near Osaka as well, so why not include skiing into your winter trip itinerary? Although somewhat different from the usual sightseeing fare, you can be sure this activity be equally, if not more fun and enjoyable!

Text by: Westplan. English Translation by: Huimin Pan.

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