@Sandrine: very sorry about my late reply. I am also planning my first ski trip to Japan, but my trip is in late December and it will only be ~3 days.
My knowledge about skiing in Japan and ski resorts in Japan is very limited. Based on the research and readings I've done about skiing in Japan, this is what I know:
1) To foreigners, most popular are Niseko and Hakuba. But there are other places, better think of Japan in terms of 'regions' to ski: Hokkaido, Nagano, Yuzawa, Niigata,Tohoku, Aizu region, etc. Website
https://www.powderhounds.com/Japan/Resort-Comparisons.aspx provides good info.
Most major resorts in Nagano region can be reached via Shinkansen from Tokyo + bus ride from a Shinkansen station. End to end travel time from Tokyo station is usually 3-4.5 hours (in general). Best to avoid travel really late in the evening as bus service might be limited at that time.
Some of the popular resorts in Nagano are:
- Hakuba
- Nozawa Onsen
- Myoko Kogen (in Niigata, neighbouring Nagano)
- Madarao Kogen
- Shiga Kogen
2) Besides snow conditions and snow depth, do you have preference to stay in places that are western? or traditional Japanese type village? Do you know / speak any Japanese?
There are some Japanese lodging /accommodations (Ryokan) won't host foreigners if they don't speak Japanese. Reason: in case of emergency, they need to be able to communicate with you....
Niseko in Hokkaido is very western, you don't need to know any Japanese to get around.
3) Lodging: recommend Rakuten website.
Hotel cancellation in Japan is quite strict. Usually reservation deposit is non-refundable, based on the research I've done. This is what I know: "Cancellation policies is a vexed issue for lodge owners in Japan. Traditionally when Japanese people book they are genuine and turn up and pay for their accommodation. Unfortunately far too many have been burnt by westerners booking and cancelling at the last minute. Or booking multiple places and only turning up at one place. So these policies have changed.
It might be ok for a big hotel to have a fairly liberal cancellation policy but many Ryokans are small with only dozen rooms, they turn away many other bookings and then if the booking you have is cancelled the day before you arrive, their business will be struggled to survive...."
4) Generally, Japanese hotels don't open booking until around 3 months out. However, if you're looking western owned places, they generally do it in a different way, and have open booking year round.
5) If you won't have rental car and need to rely on public transportation to get to resort, use this website to "time" your arrival and departure, as well as determine how "accessible" the resorts are in reference to public transportation.
https://www.hyperdia.com
6) Some resorts are easier if you have car to get from area "A" to "B" .... if no rental car, I'd avoid those resorts.
7) For me, I plan to go to Nozawa Onsen. I booked my lodging through the local tourism board in Nozawa Onsen.
After I decided on Nozawa Onsen, I started looking for lodging. I don't have much luck using Rakuten website because I am looking for traditional Japanese lodging (Ryokan). Most Ryokans don't have websites, I tried to call but I don't speak Japanese, so I wasn't able to communicate with the hotel staff.
Then I realize there are local tourism boards that can help you to look for lodging and facilitate booking, so I utilized their service. Basically, from the website, you submit a form, provide your criteria, e.g. budget, # of guests, include/exclude meals, traditional tatami or western bed, etc....
It may take few days before they reply back, be patient....
Tourism board websites I am referring are, for e.g.:
1)
https://www.naeba.gr.jp/en/
2)
https://booking.nozawakanko.jp
3)
https://www.kagura-mitsumata.ne.jp/english/mit_area/mit_area.html
My suggestion is, once you decide on where you want to go, if you have trouble finding lodging, try to see if there are local tourism board website, it'd be the best to utilize their service. Staff I dealt with from Nozawa Onsen tourism board are very professional and knowledgable. They found me a place that is very close to bus station. When I asked them about non-skiing activities, they were able to provide detail info. as well..... All these were done in English via email, so communication was not an issue for me.
I also PM'd you about the websites that I'd think you can visit to ask questions....
That's all I know and hope it is helpful.
