School ski trips offer students a unique blend of physical activity, personal development, and cultural immersion. Traditionally, Japanese schools across the country have long included ski trips in their curriculum, giving students the chance to experience life in the Yukiguni (snow country) and be introduced to the joy of winter sports. For many students, these trips were their first encounter with snow—an unforgettable experience that also helped connect urban youth with Japan’s rural, mountainous regions and fostered a love for the outdoors.
While ski trips are a long-standing tradition in Japan, why have so few schools in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, or the Middle East chosen Japan for their own ski programs, instead favoring far-off destinations in Europe or North America? There’s no simple answer, but several factors have historically discouraged overseas schools from selecting Japan as a ski trip destination:
- Language barriers. Many large hotels that catered to foreign tourists did not accept school groups, as doing so was seen as damaging to their prestige image. Meanwhile, hotels accustomed to working with Japanese school groups often lacked English-speaking staff and were hesitant to host foreign students due to communication challenges. Additionally, some ski resorts did not have enough English-speaking instructors to handle large overseas groups, further limiting available options.
- Accommodation and food. While staying in traditional lodges with tatami rooms and futons and enjoying Japanese cuisine is a highlight for many tourists, school groups often preferred a more Westernized experience. The absence of Western-style beds in most accommodations and the limited availability of international meal options posed a challenge for many schools planning their trips.
- Strong yen and visa issues. In the past, the high value of the Japanese yen compared to other currencies made trips to Japan particularly expensive, even when factoring in relatively lower flight costs. At the same time, many Asian travelers needed special visas to visit Japan, adding complexity and administrative hurdles to organizing a school trip.
- Lack of appropriate rental gear. Rental shops often did not carry larger sizes, making it difficult for some students to find properly fitting ski boots and outerwear—often having to use adult sizes instead. Additionally, while helmets have long been standard in other countries, their adoption in Japan was slower. Some rental shops still do not offer helmets or lack sufficient stock. Even today, most Japanese school ski programs do not include helmets in their rental packages.
Thankfully, since Japan’s reopening to international tourism, its ski resorts have welcomed an increasing number of inbound visitors each year. This has accelerated the internationalization of existing hotels, and in some cases, led to their acquisition by foreign operators who introduced new management styles and adapted amenities and food offerings to suit international tastes. Ski schools have also evolved, with a growing number of English-speaking instructors, as well as ski resort signage and safety information now provided in both English and Japanese.
Why Choose Japan for School Ski Trips?
- Japan boasts the world’s most reliable and abundant snowfall, often referred to as “Japow”, providing guarantee conditions for skiing and snowboarding during January, February and March.
- Accesability. Connections to the slopes from Japan’s international airports are easy and smooth, with a fantastic network of snow-cleared highways providing access to world-class ski destinations in some places in under an hour. Beyond major hubs like Tokyo or Kansai, many local airports are well-connected with destinations across Asia, providing even faster access to the slopes. New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido is a major gateway, but other airports like Niigata, Toyama, Aomori, Akita, Hanamaki Airport in Iwate, or Sendai also offer excellent direct flights across Asia to reduce travel time further.
- Beyond the slopes, Japan offers a wealth of unique cultural and fun experiences. Students can soak in natural onsen (hot springs), visit the famous snow monkeys at Jigokudani, enjoy vibrant winter festivals with lanterns, ice sculptures, and sled rides, or even build Japanese-style igloos (kamakura) and snow lanterns. Après-ski activities provide a rich cultural immersion, including Japanese calligraphy, Taiko drumming lessons, and soba (buckwheat noodles) making.
- Skiing and snowboarding are action sports with inherent risks. In case of an emergency, Japan has robust safety protocols in its ski resorts, accessible clinics and hospitals, and efficient medical transportation if required. Highly trained ski patrol teams consistently monitor the slopes.
- Adding a couple of days to visit Tokyo and all what a world class city offers is seamless and makes for a great overall experience for the students.
Things to consider when planning a ski/snowboarding school trip to Japan
- Après-Ski Activities: Except for some notable exceptions, most ski resorts in Japan do not have a dedicated village with extensive après-ski opportunities. It is important, then, to plan in advance activities that can be conducted in the accommodation, book multi-use rooms, or arrange cultural activities or visits for the group.
- Dietary Requirements: Even hotels with Western-food options might not be able to cater for students with allergies or other specific food requirements such as halal, vegetarian, or gluten-free. It is crucial to check all potential dietary requirements well in advance.
- Adherence to Schedule: Japanese school students are very disciplined and follow schedules agreed well in advance with accommodation providers. It is important that foreign school teachers are involved in maintaining order and following the itinerary, particularly the times allocated for breakfast and dinner.
- Booking in Advance: Some hotels or accommodation providers do not accept schools, and others block certain dates like Christmas, New Year, weekends, national holidays, Chinese New Year, Australia Day holidays, etc. In general, most Japanese schools plan their ski trips during March, which is often considered low season, on weekdays agreed well in advance. Early booking is highly recommended for best availability and rates.
- Ski-in/Ski-out Accommodation: A ski-in/ski-out accommodation next to the chairlift is a must for school trips. Lodges or hotels that require walking, crossing a road, or taking a free shuttle present a risk liability for students and can significantly decrease their motivation and energy levels before even greeting the instructor.
- Experienced Bus Companies: Make sure that the travel operator uses local bus companies familiar with snow road conditions, and with a 3-star safety score issued by the Nihon Bus Association. Traveling to snow-covered mountains requires special skills, snow chains, and road knowledge often unknown to city-based bus companies and drivers.
- Certified Instructors: Check that the selected ski and snowboard instructors belong to a registered ski resort school (you can confirm if the school is listed on the resort website), and that the instructors hold at least a Level 2 qualification issued by a recognized organization such as the International Ski Instructors Association (ISIA). In popular ski areas, ski patrol can cancel a lesson if they notice that the instructors do not belong to an official ski school.
- Lift Pass Coverage: Many Japanese ski domains are a combination of different ski areas with their own lift tickets. It is important to check in advance if the lift tickets included cover the whole mountain area or only certain domains.
- Comprehensive Safety Protocols: Having comprehensive safety protocols, including emergency procedures and ensuring all activities are supervised by qualified personnel, is paramount. It’s also advisable to have travel insurance that covers skiing activities.
A school ski trip to Japan offers students an unparalleled opportunity to combine physical activity with cultural education. The country’s exceptional ski conditions, coupled with its rich traditions, create a multifaceted experience that promotes personal growth, physical fitness, and global awareness. With the support of an experienced travel agency such as La Colina Outdoor, a school trip to Japan can become a transformative educational journey that leaves lasting impressions on students.