7 Best Ski Resorts in Japan, Where Olympic Slopes Meet Traditional Onsens | Condé Nast Traveler

"In Niigata’s historic Snow Country just outside Yuzawa, this ropeway-dominated mountain is a revelation for skiers who crave epic vertical and authenticity. An 81-person tram rockets more than 2,600 vertical feet in five minutes to long, steep groomers and revered, challenging ungroomed powder fields; runs are few on the map but exceptionally long, with a 30/40/30 beginner–intermediate–advanced split. The highlight is the deep, generally approachable backcountry accessed via a gate only with Canyons or resort guides. Independent and uncrowded, day tickets are a value at about 5,700 yen, with limited First Tracks by reservation." - Brent Rose