10 ways to slightly improve your Japan ski trip without really trying: reader edition

Japan ski travel tips from our readers.

Earlier this month we published a Guardian-inspired 17 ways to slightly improve your Japan ski holiday without really trying, in which the team shared its top Japan ski travel tips. We then asked the same questions of our readers in the hope that your collective wisdom would unearth a few gems. And you didn’t disappoint.

Naturally, we had several readers tell us that their best tip would be to first make it through Japan’s heavily policed border. Point taken. But while it’s true international tourism to Japan is not exactly thriving (or existing) right now, we’re doing our best to look ahead, and we sincerely hope that these tips will help you plan your holiday from 2022 and beyond.

A big thanks to those who contributed. If you missed out and would still like to share, please leave your best Japan travel tip in the comments below.

Book an accommodation with a ski valet

When you go out to ski, pass them your shoes and collect your gear and off you go. Then when you come back, dump your gear with the valet. When hiring ski gear, the ski rental shop can deliver directly to the ski valet as well. If you have a ski rental outlet in the hotel where you are staying, return is just taking the gear from the valet and passing it to the rental outlet (which are next to each other).

– Anonymous

Hotel ski valets can be a major time saver. Image: AYA Niseko

Rent ski gear from an outlet at the base of the slope

You may then store the rental gear overnight for free. Or rent a locker at the base of the slope, so you don’t have to bring your gear everyday to the slope.

– Anonymous

Consult your accommodation provider for local advice

Choose your accommodation carefully (peer reviews are always a great source of info, and google translate helps you look through the language barrier), but then don’t just book, consult them before your arrive.

They are local and will have a wealth of information to share with you, if you’ll let them – whether it’s travel tips, restaurant reservations/bookings, info on local events, etc. Read any information they send you! You’ll get much more out of your holiday (especially in as distinctive a country as Japan) if you let locals brief you before you travel.

– Peter, Nozawa Onsen

Carry a plastic bag

In Japan, carry a plastic bag with you wherever you go as there are no bins. You can then separate and dispose of waste at home. Respect the country you are travelling in by keeping it as clean as the Japanese do.

– Andrew

Cash is (still) king

Take out a bunch of cash on the first day that you arrive and you’ll never be in need of an ATM for the rest of your trip. There are many reasons to do this: (1) Japan is a cash based society, (2) ATMs can be hard to come by, (3) you’ll only incur one transaction fee instead of many, (4) you can budget ahead this way, (5) Japan is very safe country so if you’re careful there is almost no chance of getting it stolen, and (6) you’ll have all the cash you need to buy those great souvenirs and cold beers.

– Jared Kubokawa

For a country that still largely runs on cash, ATMs can be a surprisingly rare sight at ski resorts in Japan

Book a hotel or ryokan with an onsen

– @analect_beat

Many Japanese hotels and ryokans will have an onsen available for guests to use. In some cases (like Hakkoda’s Sukayu Onsen), the onsen is a bigger attraction than the accommodation.

Chairs outside your restaurant? Here’s why

When you see a line of chairs outside a restaurant in Japan this means you need to wait outside. Don’t worry, they’ll see you and invite you in when ready!

– Alan Wearne

Have your ski/snowboard luggage pre-packed and ready on the go

No more last minute looking for leftover items in the closet. Time saving and no more stress looking for that missing socks or gloves!

– Calvin Kho

Don’t forget your Ekibentō

Ekibentō or ekiben (駅弁当 or 駅弁) is a combination of the two Japanese words for train station and ‘ben’, which refers to a Japanese lunchbox. They’re sold at major train stations around the country, and the contents of these lunch boxes is often seasonal and exclusive to the region.

So, leave enough time at the train station to pick out an appetizing ekiben (there are often many to choose from). It’s not only a great way to sample some authentic Japanese cuisine, but will also make for a more enjoyable train journey to your ski resort – especially if it’s a long one.

– Angelina