Leading ski holiday company Inghams has joined the small number of British companies offering ski holidays to Japan.
Inghams made the announcement as they launched their main 2019-20 ski holiday brochure.
“Japan sits on many skiers’ bucket lists for its incredible snow and skiing possibilities, blended with fascinating ancient culture, wonderful sights and mouth-watering cuisine,” a company spokesperson enthused.
Unusually, compared to existing British operators to the company, Inghams have opted to sidestep the most common Japanese destination for international skiers of Niseko on the northerly island of Hokkaido, and have instead gone for two of the country’s biggest and longest established ski areas on the largest island of Honshu, where capital Tokyo is located, a direct flight from the UK.
The Hakuba Valley was a key location ion the 1998 Nagano Olympics and spans 10 diverse ski areas, all included in one lift pass (included in the price of an Inghams holiday). Inghams guests will be able to stay in the main resort of Happo-One, with easy bus links accessing the other resorts.
Nozawa Onsen is a delightful resort, which started life as a hot spring village for resting travellers, with the first onsen (traditional Japanese bath house) constructed in the 16th century. Today, the onsens are still managed by the local people and are very much part of their culture. Skiing was introduced to Japan at Nozawa in the 1930s by pioneering Austrian skier Hannes Schneider from the Arlberg region.
Accommodation in these resorts range from more Western in style to traditional Japanese-style hotels with communal onsens, offering a choice for all who seek convenience, comfort and an authentic, cultural stay.
This forever-evolving, vibrant country offers plenty to discover beyond the ski runs: guests can lose themselves in fascinating experiences such as getting sucked into the bright lights of Tokyo or the tranquillity of the temples in Kyoto, paying their respects in Hiroshima, and spotting the Snow Monkeys at Jigokudani.
Inghams’ ski holidays to Japan therefore also encompass an immersive city break. Combinations and durations are flexible, with the option to ski in either one of Inghams’ ski resorts and add on Kyoto, which was the Imperial Capital of Japan for over a thousand years. All trips start with at least one night in Tokyo.
Inghams offers a five-night trip to Tokyo and Hakuba from £1,869 per person based on two sharing. Price includes return flights (direct from London Heathrow), coach transfers, accommodation with en-suite facilities, five breakfasts and a lift pass. The package is valid for travel departing on 14th December 2019, 29th February 2019, and 7th or 14th March 2019.
