Top Ten Japan Classic Adventures

Cross-Country Skiing Photos: Methow Valley, Washington

advertisement

Cold Siberian air meets moist Pacific air on Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido, making for some of the best—and most dependable—powder in Asia. Two and a half hours southeast of Sapporo, the ski town of Niseko sits in the shadow of buffering Mount Yotei, keeping it protected from all but the driest snow. Purchase one ticket and you'll have access to all four of the area's runs, which means one ticket for 57 separate runs and over 30 miles of groomed slopes.

Plow a monster trail through the trees following a fresh snowfall—with 36 feet of annual snowfall, deep-powder skiing here is unsurpassed. But the options don't end there. Whether you want to ride some handrails, take a hit off the half-pipe, or find peace in the backcountry, it's there.