Why Outback Mike needs to try skiing in Japan

A viral Tik Tok has exposed the hefty rise of skiing prices in Australia. So we found five fantastic ski resorts in Japan offering a day of skiing for AU$46 (¥4850) or less – the cost of an Australian lift pass in 1990.

Social media-savvy skiers may have come across a recent TikTok from Australian outdoorsman and Alone Australia season 1 contestant Outback Mike, lamenting the incredible price jump of a Perisher lift ticket from AU$46 in 1990 to $249 in 2024. In this short clip, he reveals that even after adjusting for inflation and GST, the ticket should today cost no more than AUD $118.

Outback Mike takes aim at the exorbitant cost on skiing in Australia

The video, which has amassed more than 13,000 likes, has also attracted 800+ comments, many of which point out that cheaper – and better – options exist overseas, including in Japan, home to some of the world’s best powder.

In fact, even Japan’s priciest all-mountain lift ticket is significantly cheaper than Perisher’s $249 day pass. Niseko United, which ranks among the world’s top powder destinations, charges ¥10,500 (AU$99) for its four-mountain day pass, granting access to an impressive 887 hectares of skiable terrain.

Of course, skiers seeking 90s-era prices will find even cheaper alternatives throughout the country, making it possible to offset the cost of a return ticket entirely (and then some). Here are several fantastic ski resorts in Japan offering a day of skiing for AU$46 (¥4850) or less.

@outbackmike Snow sports Skiing Snowboarding Cost of living Cost of living crisis #snowboarding #snowsports #skiing #costofliving #costoflivingcrisis #skiresort @Perisher ♬ original sound – Outback Mike

Sapporo Kokusai (Sapporo, Hokkaido)

Price: ¥4,700 (AU$44) / adult regular season 1-day ticket (web price)

Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort

Sapporo Kokusai, less than an hour’s drive from downtown Sapporo, is one of several resorts within easy reach of Hokkaido’s capital city. Thanks to its elevation (1,100 m) and unique geography, the resort is estimated to receive around 20 m of snowfall per season, making it one of the snowiest resorts in Japan, let alone Sapporo. With a near 6-month ski season, lifts often spin until early May, providing extended access to Kokusai’s 7 runs, including its “steep and deep” 2.2 km ‘Downhill’ course.

Kamui Ski Links (Asahikawa, Hokkaido)

Price: ¥3,800 (AU$36) / adult day pass

Kamui Ski Links, previously named one of Ski Asia’s ‘top 5 “off the beaten path” ski resorts in Japan,’ benefits from the same Central Hokkaido conditions as its better known neighbour, Furano. Resorts in this region are blessed with some of the lightest, driest powder in the world, and Kamui is no exception, receiving over 8 m annually. While the drawcard for most is the exceptional snow quality, the resort is equally suited to beginners thanks to the generous number of green runs on offer (9 of 25 runs), including a 4,000 m bunny slope that spans the length of the gondola.

Seki Onsen (Myoko Kogen, Niigata)

Price: ¥3,900 (AU$37) / day ticket

Image: Rei Takeda

Seki Onsen is a pint-sized, family-run ski resort, known to receive more snowfall than any other resort in the famously snowy Myoko region. According to its owner, Inoue-san, this is is thanks to Mount Kanna, which sits below Mount Myoko and directs seasonal winds in such a way that it blesses the area with “more powder snow than one could hope for”. Despite its modest size (2 lifts and 4 runs), the resort attracts a steady flow of foreign skiers, who appreciate its laissez-faire approach to grooming as well as its rustic, old-school charm.

It’s also worth noting that Myoko’s two most popular ski resorts, Akakura Onsen (¥5,500 / AU$52) and Akakura Kanko (¥5,300 / AU$50), only slightly exceed this list’s ¥4,800 price threshold.

Minowa (Aizu, Fukushima)

Price: ¥4,500 (AU$42) / day ticket

Named last year as one of ‘5 tiny Japanese ski resorts that you’re guaranteed to fall in love with’, Blue Resort Minowa is a small but charming gem in the Aizu region of Fukushima – a powder paradise and one of Japan’s “last secret spots”. With a top elevation of 1,500 m, “Minowa” is the highest of the Aizu resorts and, as a result, enjoys some of the best powder in the region. While 80% of the resort is considered beginner or intermediate terrain, the 2022-23 season saw the official launch of a new ‘D course’ tree area, which drops in to the now defunct Yokomuki Onsen ski resort, offering some excellent in-bound tree skiing.

Moya Hills (Aomori City, Aomori)

Price: ¥3060 (AU$29) / day ticket

Moya Hills is found at the found at the northern entrance of the Hakkoda Mountains, just 12 km from Aomori, Japan’s snowiest city. With just 6 runs and 264 m of vertical, the resort is best suited to beginner and intermediate skiers. However, a fresh dump of Aomori powder is enough to completely transform this ski hill into a powder playground for more seasoned riders. Nearby Aomori city also serves as an excellent “ski town,” offering a fantastic après-ski experience.

Another 12 km south of Moya Hills is the Hakkoda Ropeway, a legendary backcountry ski area for “people that read topographical maps like the bible and grease their hands with ski wax,” according to Ski Asia writer Hanni Steppan. For only ¥1,180 yen (less than AU$12) per one-way trip, skiers can access some truly epic backcountry routes.

Hakuba Cortina & Norikura (Hakuba Valley, Nagano)

Price: ¥5,200 (AU$49) + ¥4,800 (AUD $45) for additional days

Both Cortina and Norikura belong to the legendary Hakuba Valley resort, a world-renowned winter sports hub comprising 10 individual ski areas, 109 lifts and 960 hectares of skiable terrain. While an all-mountain pass sells for ¥8,500 (AU$80), individual lift tickets are also available at more affordable rates.

Cortina and Norikura, found at the snowier northern end of Hakuba Valley, are accessible via a combined lift ticket for ¥5,200 (AU $49) per day. While this slightly exceeds our $46 threshold (just barely), the discounted cost of additional days (¥4,800) – and the fact that it’s a 2 for 1 deal – has seen it added to this list.

Cortina, in particular, is a “powderhounds dream”, offering plenty of opportunities for steep, off-piste tree skiing, both inbounds and via the resort’s easily-accessed backcountry. Similarly, Norikura boasts some serious powder credentials, but the terrain on offer is mellower, making it a good spot for those still honing their powder chops.