Shiga-Kogen Yokoteyama Ski Resort

At 2,307m, Yokoteyama is the highest lift-served ski area in the country. Combined with snowmaking, this means an incredibly long season — often mid-November through early June. If you're planning a ski trip outside the typical January–March window, Yokoteyama might be one of your only options, and a very good one at that.

The summit offers panoramic views and, in midwinter, the chance to ski through dramatic 樹氷 (juhyo — tree ice formations). The famous summit café is the highest in Japan, and on the right day you'll look down on a sea of clouds from your seat. The 4,000m downhill from summit to base passes through this scenery the whole way.

Yokoteyama links to the Shibu Pass area, where the Shibu Pass Hotel famously straddles the Nagano–Gunma border. You can also ski into Kumanoyu, a north-facing zone with consistently dry powder and 10 courses from beginner to advanced. The hot springs at Kumanoyu's base make for a perfect après-ski soak.