Skiing & Sustainability in Japan

After a long overseas flight, you’ve finally touched down in Japan. You will be flying to into the Shinshu-Matsumoto Airport and upon your arrival for your overseas adventure travel, you will be greeted and shuttled to Nagano, one the major ski destinations in the country. 

The trip from Matsumoto to Nagano is about an hour and 20 minutes by car. Once you’ve arrived at the resort, you will be greeted by a local guide who proceed to give you a breakdown of the week’s upcoming adventures. 

Believe it or not, the 1998 Olympic Winter Games were hosted right here in Nagano. Today, you’ll get the opportunity to shred the slopes of the 1998 Olympic venue alongside your local guide and the rest of the group. At this ski resort in the Northern Alps of Japan, you can choose from 13 different runs. 

Following your ski or snowboarding session, head back to the resort for a shower and hot meal. In the evening, you will have a meet-and-greet session with one of the participants of the 1998 Olympic Winter Games. Take this time to hear their story as well as learn about the changes in climate and snow conditions the area has seen since then.

Today, you will hit up the Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort, a spot known for its mesmerizing tree runs, backcountry terrain and diversity of slopes with options suitable for all levels. Take the day to explore the resort’s different runs and take in the mountain-fresh air. 

Once you’ve used up all of your energy, head into the bustling ski town for some aprés-ski delight.  Afterward, you will head back to the resort where guests will have the option to either relax and watch documentaries about ski culture in Japan or explore the area at their leisure.

After two days of skiing, it’s only natural that your muscles will want a break. On that note, today you will be visiting a quaint hot spring town about an hour outside the city of Nagano. Take the morning and afternoon to explore the different hot springs, restaurants and shops. 

Upon your return to Nagano, connect with one of the members from Japan for Sustainability and get a better understanding of what efforts Japan is putting forward to support sustainable living both in Japan and around the globe. 

In the early morning, you will be taking a two-hour flight to another ski destination called Niseko. Upon arrival at New Chitose Airport, you will be transferred to your accommodation where you will be able to put down your belongings and grab something to eat before hitting the slopes. 

After an afternoon of riding, you’ll get the chance to talk to a developer in the area. Together the group will discuss the changes related to increased development, tourism and more. Get some insights from a professional about initiatives in the area on how achieving sustainable development goals with good planning is possible.

Take advantage of your final full day in Niseko at Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort, a smaller mountain offering three lifts and eight different runs. Here you will find runs fit for everyone from beginners to intermediate and advanced skiers. Scope out the mountain until you run out of gas and then head back to the lodge. 

In the evening, you will get to connect with a conservation group in the area to receive an eye-opening presentation about the current changes happening to the snowfall levels around the country. In addition, you’ll get a lesson in how to help prevent these changes. 

Wake up early to relish your final hours in Japan. After breakfast, you will head back to the New Chitose Airport and board a flight to Sapporo. From Sapporo, you will connect and either make your way back home or to your next destination. After this trip, you will carry on with a better understanding of the climate changes taking place today and how you can make an impact to prevent them.