"One of Japan’s largest and the second-highest resort region, encompassing 18 interconnected resorts with 48 lifts and elevations ranging from 4,396 to 7,568 feet, all accessible with a single ticket; the area was part of the 1998 Nagano Olympics and remains popular domestically. Mid-range hotels with on-site hot springs are common, and beyond skiing visitors often take day trips to see the famous snow monkeys in their own hot spring or tour the highlands on snowshoes." - Selena Takigawa Hoy Selena Takigawa Hoy Selena Takigawa Hoy is a writer who has lived in Tokyo for more than 15 years. In addition to Travel + Leisure, she has written for BBC, Atlas Obscura, and CNN, among other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines