Top snow destinations and winter wonderlands
Top snow destinations and winter wonderlands
Winter wonderlands with reliable snow cover
Snow has a way of making even a familiar place feel new, and for a lot of travelers a winter trip is about much more than skiing.
Some people chase fresh powder in places like Whistler, the Alps or Hokkaido, while others are happier with a cozy cabin, a sauna and a long walk through a quiet forest. Families often look for resorts with gentle slopes, ski schools and plenty to do off the mountain, such as sledding or ice skating. In Lapland and northern Norway, many visitors come for dog sledding, reindeer farms and the chance to see the northern lights on a clear night.
Snow conditions can change a lot from one year to the next, so it is worth checking recent reports and booking flexible dates if you can. The season also depends on where you go and in the Southern Hemisphere it runs from around June to September.
Lists by region
Village in Japan
Hakuba
Alpine ski valley beneath the Japan Alps
Hakuba hosted the downhill and slalom events at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. The valley holds ten separate ski areas beneath the Northern Japan Alps. Skiers can link several of these resorts using a single shared lift pass. Snow monkeys soak in hot springs not far from the base villages.
Town in Germany
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Alpine town below Germany's highest peak
Garmisch-Partenkirchen sits below the Zugspitze, Germany's tallest mountain. The town hosted the 1936 Winter Olympics under a single combined name. Skiers can ride a cable car to the summit for sweeping views into Austria. The original Olympic ski jump from that era still stands above the town today.
State/Prefecture in Japan
Hokkaido
Volcanoes, powder snow and fresh seafood
Hokkaido sits close enough to Siberia that cold air masses dump some of the lightest, driest snow anywhere. Local skiers call this powder pauda for its almost weightless texture. Riders can find fresh tracks for days after a single storm passes. Steaming volcanic vents warm several outdoor hot springs across the island.
Village in Japan
Nozawa Onsen
Thirteen free public baths and a ski area
Nozawa Onsen keeps thirteen free public hot spring baths scattered throughout its village streets. Locals still tend the baths under a centuries-old rotating duty system. Skiers can soak sore legs in these baths after a day on the mountain. A fire festival held each January draws crowds from across the region.
Town in Japan
Zao Onsen
Sulfur onsen, snow monsters and ski slopes
Zao Onsen is famous for its juhyo, trees so heavily coated in frozen snow they look like giant frosted monsters. Sulfur-rich hot springs feed public baths scattered through the village. Skiers can glide past the frost-covered trees under colored lights after dark. The resort has run continuously since the early 1900s.
Town in Japan
Niseko
Hokkaido powder snow and four linked resorts
Niseko sits downwind of the Sea of Japan, catching some of the heaviest snowfall in the country. Storms can drop meters of powder in a single week. Skiers can duck into steaming outdoor hot springs right after a powder run. The nearby volcano, Mount Yotei, watches over the valley like a smaller Fuji.
City in Japan
Sapporo
Snow festival city with ramen and beer
Sapporo hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics, the earliest Winter Games ever held in Asia. The city runs a massive snow festival each February with ice sculptures towering over its streets. Skiers can reach nearby ski areas within an hour of downtown. Its subway system stays warm enough that locals commute through winter without heavy coats.
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