Skiing Near Osaka: 9 Awesome Ski Resorts That'll Have You Booking Your Trip Now!

Winter is the season of Japow - Japanese powder snow! Coined by satisfied foreign skiers, "Japow" has come to represent the superb snow quality of Japan's ski resorts.

The image of Japanese ski resorts may make your mind naturally wander towards the more popular ones in Hokkaido or Nagano, but did you know there are actually many excellent ski resorts in the Kansai region as well? And they make perfect day trips from Osaka too, as they can be reached in about 2 to 3 hours via train or bus. H

ere are 9 of them you can feel absolutely free to drop by for a bit of casual skiing while you're sightseeing around the Osaka or Kyoto areas!

Main image: Adi Haririe / Shutterstock.com

The world is taking notice of Japanese ski resorts

Adi Haririe / Shutterstock.com

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 a variety of 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 that are 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 that has 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 of the 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 of operation, most Kansai 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.

Ski Resorts Near Osaka: How to enjoy skiing and snowboarding during your Kansai trip

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. Shiga is relatively near Osaka and Kyoto and can be reached in about one to two hours from those areas. Hyogo's northern parts sees 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, and depending in 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.

In terms of prices, the resort charges 3,000 yen per day for early reservations, 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.

How much does it roughly cost to ski around Osaka?

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 out 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 (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)

Top 9 Must-Try Ski Resorts in Kansai

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!

1. Mount Rokko Snow Park (Hyogo)

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. The ski resort also has enough rental gear to go around!

Mount Rokko Snow Park
Kitaroko-4512-98 Rokkosancho, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 657-0101
078-891-0366
Dates: November 16, 2019 – March 29, 2020
Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (night activities from 10:00 p.m. onwards)
Price: Day ticket (adult) 2,200 yen; Night ticket (adult) 2,700 yen; One-day lift voucher 1,550 yen *Discounts available, tax included
Closed: Open daily

2. Hachikogen Ski Resort / Hachi Kita Kogen Ski Resort (Hyogo)

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

Hachi Kogen Ski Resort
909-1 Tando, Yabu, Hyogo 667-1344
079-667-8036
Dates: December 7, 2019 – First Sunday of April, 2020
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:50 p.m. (weekends and public holidays from 8:00 a.m. onwards))
Price: One-day lift voucher (adult) 4,500 yen *Discounts available, tax included
Closed: Open daily

Hachi Kita Kogen Ski Resort
580-1 Muraokaku Osasa, Kami, Mikata-gun, Hyogo 667-1344
079-696-0202
Dates: December 14, 2019 – First Sunday of April, 2020
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:50 p.m. (weekends and public holidays from 8:00 a.m. onwards)
Price: One-day lift voucher (adult) 4,500 yen *Discounts available, tax included
Closed: Open daily

3. Up Kannabe Ski Resort (Hyogo)

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.

UP Kannabe Ski Resort
59-78 Hidakacho Kurusuno, Toyooka, Hyogo 669-5372
0796-45-1545
Dates: Late December 2019 – Late March 2020
Hours: Daytime 8:30 a.m. – 4:40 p.m.; Night 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. *Special extension for forest nights from 11:00 p.m. onwards only on Saturdays and eves of public holidays only
Price: One-day lift voucher (adult) daytime 4,500 yen (weekends and public holidays) 3,800 yen (weekdays); Night 2,600 yen *Discounts available, tax included
Closed: Not fixed

4. Kaminabe Kogen Manba Ski and Snowboard Resort (Hyogo)

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

Kaminabe Kogen Manba Ski and Snowboard Resort
480 Hidakacho Manba, Toyooka, Hyogo 669-5378
0796-45-0191
Dates: End of December 2019 – End of February 2020 (depends on snow accumulation)
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:50 p.m.
Price: One-day lift voucher (adults) 4,500 yen *Discounts available, tax included
Closed: Not fixed

5. Sky Valley Ski Resort (Hyogo)

This ski and snowboard facility has a 3,200 meters (about 10,500 feet) long ski course and a place for halfpipe skiing as well. 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.

スカイバレイスキー場
701, Ｎakaootani, Ｍuraokaku, Kami, Ｍikata, Hyogo 〒667-1343
0796-96-0375
Dates: December 21, 2019 – End of March 2020
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:40 p.m. (public holidays from 8:30 a.m. onwards) *Subject to change depending on the weather
Price: One-day lift voucher (adult) 4,2000 yen (weekends and holidays); 3,600 yen (weekdays) *Discounts available, tax included
Closed: Open daily

6. Biwako Valley (Shiga)

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

Biwako Valley
1547-1 Kido, Otsu, Ｓhiga 520-0514
077-592-1155
Dates: Late December 2019 – March 22, 2020 *Subject to change depending on snow accumulation
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. *Last ropeway ride is at 5:00 p.m.
Price: One-day lift voucher (adult) 4,800 yen onwards *Discounts available, tax included, ropeway fee included
Closed: Open daily

7. Gransnow Okuibuki (Shiga)

One of Kansai's best snow resort 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 is 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.

GRANSNOW OKUIBUKI
Kozuhara Okuibuki, Maibara, Shiga 521-0301
0749-59-0322
Dates: December 14, 2019 – Early April 2020
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Price: One-day lift voucher (adults) 4,300 yen onwards *Discounts available, tax included
Closed: Mid December to early April

8. Yogo Kogen Resort Yap (Shiga)

A popular 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, the resort 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!

Yogo Kogen Resort Yap
373 Yogocho Nakanokawachi, Nagahama, Shiga 529-0531
0749-86-3001
Dates: Late December 2019 – Early April 2020 *Subject to change depending on snow accumulation
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Saturdays 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.; Sundays and public holidays 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Price: One-day lift voucher (adults) 4,000 yen onwards *Discounts available, tax included
Closed: Not fixed

9. Hakodateyama Ski Resort (Shiga)

At this ski resort, 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 winter vacation with the family! There is a variety of courses for everyone, from beginners to experts available here.

Hakodateyama Ski Resort
4201-4 Imazucho Hiokimae, Takashima, Shiga 520-1655
0740-22-2486
Dates: December 13 – March 22 *Subject to change depending on snow accumulation
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. *Subject to change without notification
Price: One-day gondola lift voucher (adults) 4,200 yen onwards *Discounts available, tax included
Closed: Open daily

Tips for an enjoyable ski tour in Osaka

Ski resorts in the Kansai region have a number of advantages: Transport is relatively easy to arrange, beginner courses with gentle slopes are abundant, facilities are often family-friendly, ski classes are available, and they 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 the ski resorts 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!

Reference: SURF＆SNOW

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