Meet the finalists of the 2025 Ski Asia Awards

Voting is now open.

April has arrived, bringing with it warmer temperatures, thinning snow, and the reluctant acceptance of the season’s end. Fortunately, it’s now the perfect time to reflect on some of this year’s industry success stories, of which there have been plenty.

Today, we’re excited to announce the finalists of the sixth annual Ski Asia Awards. Our nominees include ski resorts, hotels, lodges, travel agents, ski schools and tour operators, all of which contributed to a massively successful – and undeniably busy – winter season.

Our readers are invited to cast their votes here, which also comes with the chance to win a $150 eGift voucher from backcountry.com.

Ski resorts

Japan’s Best Ski Resort (overall)

This year’s list of nominees features some increasingly familiar names including last year’s winner, Niseko Hanazono, and 3-time champion Arai Mountain Resort. Hanazono’s stocks have continued to rise with the opening of Nikko Style Niseko Hanazono, while Arai’s powder credentials are as strong as ever thanks to its unique freeriding zones, which account for 80% of the resort’s terrain.

Just a 30 minute drive from Niseko, Rusutsu Resort is the second and only other Hokkaido-based nominee, known equally for its beginner-friendly groomers and technical tree skiing. Rounding out the list are two high-profile Nagano resorts, Hakuba’s Happo-One and Nozawa Onsen, plus one Iwate resort, Appi Kogen. Hakuba enjoyed a particularly enviable winter season, with more than 780cm of snowfall recorded at base level – the most in 13 years of recorded snowfall data.

Japan’s Best Family Ski Resort

Beyond world-class skiing, Japan’s best family resorts offer a range of experiences for all ages. Central Hokkaido’s Hoshino Resorts Tomamu, one of four nominees, features the world’s first story-based ski slope, providing an immersive, game-like experience for young learners. Niseko Hanazono earns another nomination, this time for its family-friendly facilities, which include the Hanazono Zipflight, Asia’s longest zipline.

On the main island, Nozawa Onsen is popular with families seeking a well-rounded cultural experience plus some of the best beginner terrain in the country. The resort is unique in that some of its gentlest slopes are found towards the top of the mountain, allowing beginners plenty of long, spacious greens. Rounding out the list is Palcall Tsumagoi, a hidden gem with a quiet reputation for perfectly-manicured groomers. No fewer than 23 of its 24 runs are rated green (beginner) or red (intermediate).

Japan’s Best Ski Resort for Powder

This past season, Japan’s mainland, in particular, was blessed with some of the best conditions for powder in recent years. Plenty of resorts reaped the benefits of a La Niña-affected ski season, none more so than Hakuba Valley, which logged almost 8m of snowfall at the base of Happo-One. Nearby Arai Mountain Resort, known for its freeriding zones, earns its 6th consecutive nomination in this category after 5 consecutive wins, while Appi Kogen, popular for its tree run zones, is the last of the Honshu resorts to earn a spot.

Hokkaido’s resorts didn’t see quite the same powder boost from La Niña, but there’s never a shortage of snow in Japan’s far north. This season, Niseko Hanazono introduced its Early-Bird pass, allowing extra keen skiers the first chance at fresh tracks. The resort is also home to Hanazono Powder Guides, who offer tours of Hanazono’s substantial backcountry.

China’s Best Ski Resort

China’s Xinjiang region continues its rise in popularity as a winter sports destination, with Jikepulin Ski Resort in Hemu hosting several Freeride World Tour Qualifier events this past season. Silk Road, also in China’s remote west, earns its second nomination after its win in this category last year. Yabuli Ski Resort, which in January hosted the 2025 Asian Winter Games, is another resort that has seen a surge in numbers, partly thanks to the recent tourism boom of Harbin, Heilongjiang’s capital. Finally, Beidahu in Jilin Province is the last of this year’s nominees.

South Korea’s Best Ski Resort

Once again, Pyeongchang resorts dominate the list of nominees, with Mona YongPyong, Phoenix Snow Park, and High1 Ski Resort all earning repeat call-ups. YongPyong, South Korea’s biggest and oldest resort, is a perennial favourite, while Phoenix Park is popular for its slopestyle courses and Olympic-standard half-pipe.

Accommodation

Japan’s Best Ski Hotel

As is common in this category, Niseko leads the field with three nominees including Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, Nikko Style Niseko Hanazono and Setsu Niseko. Nikko Style is Hanazono’s newest addition, having opened in December 2024. It features both a large indoor onsen and open-air bath, a café-bar, club lounge, and ski-to-door access. Luxury options Setsu and Park Hyatt Hanazono were among the first group of hotels to be awarded one Michelin Key in 2024.

Arai Mountain Resort returns to the list of nominees after a win in this category last year. HakuVillas, which features three full-floor villas and a three-story penthouse, is the sole Hakuba nominee, while Hotel Taiko represents the best of Myoko.

Japan’s Best Ski Lodge / Chalet

Last year’s winner, Moiwa Lodge is once again nominated on the back its social atmosphere, budget-friendly dorms, and expert team. The lodge recently added a café-bar, The Chairman’s Lounge, which regularly hosts live music and trivia nights. Also representing Niseko is Central Hirafu’s Hinzan, a luxury apartment complex that houses one of Niseko’s finest sushi and kaiseki restaurants, Sushi Kato. Furano Lofts & Chalet rounds out the list of Hokkaido-based nominees.

The Brueys, a relative newcomer to the Tangram/Madarao scene, is one of three mainland picks. Pinchi’s Place, the lodge’s bar & restaurant, offers a menu crafted from locally sourced produce, with a unique range of house cocktails. Also based in Nagano prefecture is Hakuba Powder Mountain, located on the doorstep of Happo One. Each of its three units features a full-sized kitchen and living area, with direct views of the slopes. The family-operated Lodge Scole, a long-established presence in Zao Onsen, is the last of the Honshu picks.

China’s Best Ski Hotel

Large-scale luxury hotels are a staple of the Chinese ski experience. Club Med Beidahu, our first nominee, is one of the country’s most famous slopeside accommodations, with Club Med also operating at Yabuli and Changbaishan. The second and final contender for 2025 is another well-established favourite, Hyatt Regency Changbaishan, which enjoys direct slopeside access to Changbaishan Wanda International Resort, just steps away from the ski lifts.

South Korea’s Best Ski Hotel

South Korea’s ski resorts are typically destination-style resorts, offering extensive hotel complexes with a wide range of entertainment options. This year’s nominees for best ski hotel include High1 Palace Hotel, Dragon Valley Hotel and IHG’s InterContinental Alpensia. YongPyong’s Dragon Valley Hotel looks directly onto the slopes, with easy access to bars, restaurants and sports facilities via the nearby Dragon and Tower plazas.

Services

Japan’s Best Snowsports School

Last year’s winner, Myoko Snowsports, leads a strong lineup that includes two Yuzawa-based schools – Snow Country Instructors and Canyons, the official international snowsports school for GALA Yuzawa and Naspa Ski Garden. Evergreen International Ski School, our final Honshu nominee, services four Hakuba resorts with a team of highly qualified instructors, some of whom come through Evergreen’s Alpine Academy.

Our Hokkaido-based nominees include Miura Snowsports School at Kamui Ski Links, led by Olympic mogul skier and mountaineer Gota Miura. This long-established family operation is in the process of adding options for skiers with disabilities and longevity-focused lessons for older skiers. Lastly, Niseko International Snowsports School (NISS) is one of the oldest and largest schools in the region, while Rhythm Rides, now in its fourth year, offers a mix of private lessons, guiding, kids programs, and backcountry touring.

Japan’s Best Ski Travel Agent

Last year’s winner, Japan Ski Experience, is nominated once again for its seamless one-stop service, covering accommodation, itineraries and travel arrangements. Our second pick is a Nagano-based operation, La Colina Outdoor, specialising in bespoke snow adventures and tailor-made nature and outdoor tours.

Lastly, We Are Sno, an international training provider, earns a nomination for its travel agency service, which supports not only participants of their ski instructor internship programs but also their friends and families.

Japan’s Best Backcountry Guiding

Niseko’s Rising Sun Guides is an experienced backcountry operation with an expert team of internationally certified ski and splitboard guides. Also operating out of Niseko are Hanazono Powder Guides, offering exclusive “First Track” access to Hanazono, and Rhythm Rides, which ran over 700 backcountry guiding and touring experiences throughout the 2024-25 season.

Based in Tsugaike, Hakuba, with easy access to some of Japan’s best treeline and alpine touring, Evergreen Backcountry Guides is a Canadian-run operation whose expertise saw 200 backcountry recreationalists trained in AST courses this season. Meanwhile, the Japan Outdoor Institute (JOI) expanded into the Yuzawa and Tohoku regions, while continuing to offer its excellent range of training programs, including avalanche courses, winter wilderness first aid, and youth programs.

Japan’s Best Ski Tour Operator

This season was a significant one for last year’s winner, Alpine Backcountry Guides, who welcomed more than 300 visitors over a 3 month period, while also acquiring a new base of operations in Yamabe, Furano. We Are Sno earns a repeat nomination for its ski instructor internships, while Imagine Japan earns its spot on the list as a Hokkaido specialist, with a big team of multi-lingual instructors, a range of accommodation options and a thorough knowledge of the island’s must-visit spot.

2025 Ski Asia Awards Finalists

Ski resorts

Japan’s Best Ski Resort (Overall)

APPI Kogen
Arai Mountain Resort
Hakuba Happo-One
Niseko Hanazono Resort
Nozawa Onsen
Rusutsu Resort

Japan’s Best Family Resort

Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU
Niseko Hanazono Resort
Nozawa Onsen
Palcall Tsumagoi

Japan’s Best Ski Resort for Powder

Arai Mountain Resort
APPI Kogen
Hakuba Happo-One
Niseko Hanazono Resort

South Korea’s Best Ski Resort

High1 Ski Resort
Phoenix Pyeongchang Snow Park
Mona Yong Pyong

China’s Best Ski Resort

Beidahu Ski Resort
Jikepulin Ski Resort
Silk Road Ski Resort
Yabuli Ski Resort (Sun Mountain)

Accommodation

Japan’s Best Ski Hotel

Arai Mountain Resort
HakuVillas
Hotel Taiko
Nikko Style Niseko HANAZONO
Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono
Setsu Niseko

Japan’s Best Ski Lodge / Chalet

The Brueys
Furano Lofts & Chalet
Hakuba Powder Mountain
Hinzan
Lodge Scole Zao Onsen
Moiwa Lodge – Niseko

South Korea’s Best Ski Hotel

Dragon Valley Hotel (Yongpyong)
High1 Palace Hotel
InterContinental Alpensia Pyeongchang Resort

China’s Best Ski Hotel

Club Med Beidahu
Hyatt Regency Changbaishan

Services

Japan’s Best Snowsports School

CANYONS
Evergreen International Ski School
Miura Snowsports School
Myoko Snowsports
Niseko International Snowsports School (NISS)
Rhythm Rides
Shiga International Ski School
Snow Country Instructors

Japan’s Best Backcountry Guiding Operation

Evergreen Backcountry Guides
Hanazono Powder Guides
Japan Outdoor Institute (JOI)
Rhythm Rides
Rising Sun Guides

Japan’s Best Ski Travel Agent

La Colina Outdoor
Japan Ski Experience
We Are Sno

Japan’s Best Ski Tour Operator

Alpine Backcountry Guides
Imagine Japan
We Are Sno

The 2025 Ski Asia Awards aim to recognise the best ski resorts, hotels and service providers in Asia’s ski industry​. More information about the awards can be found on the Ski Asia Awards website.

Public voting is now open until 22 May 2025. Voters will have the chance to win a $150 eGift voucher from Backcountry.com. Vote here: skiasia.com/vote