Hi,
me and my girlfriend (from europe) are going to japan for the second time in January 2026. We will be arriving in Tokyo. Besides Tokyo we want to see the mountains and ski, as well as (if possible) travel to Kanazawa which we haven’t seen yet.
I spent some time looking into skiing areas. Ideally the area should be accessible by public transportation (car rental is possible, but I would prefer public transportation), has onsen, isn’t too crowded (in the middle of january, I know it’s peak season) and preferably has a nice traditional town with some restaurants and not only modern hotels.
I looked into Nonzawa onsen, which looks great, but seems to be booked out already and might be crowded. Myoko kogen seems spread out (is there a town or is it just multiple ressorts?), hakuba seems to get crowded. Zao onsen and Appi Kogen are often recommended but they are far from Tokyo and Kanazawa.
Which town would fit the criteria best? Is it worth going further north (to Zao onsen or Appi kogen) or are there closer options I am missing?
I am thankful for any insight ⛷️
by monobloc_666