Hokkaido (Japan)

jaPOW!

TYPE OF TRIP: Adventure + Nature
WHY FEBRUARY: For snow lovers, it is the best time to enjoy the powder snow.
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE: -7ºC / -14ºC
RECOMMENDED MINIMUM STAY: two weeks

WHAT TO DO

Siberian snowstorms sweep across the west of the island to fill Niseko with world-class powder snow. There are three great ski areas and plenty of off-piste to explore and enjoy with skis, boards or snowshoes. If you have time and money, it could be a round trip to visit Tokyo first for a couple or three days and finish the trip full of powder.

AVERAGE PRICE OF COFFEE: 3€

CURIOSITIES

In Hokkaido you can find unique species of animals that only live there such as the Ezo Momonga (a flying squirrel), the red fox, the Lizuna (a subspecies of the weasel that has the ability to change its coat from brown to white to camouflage itself in the snow of predators) and many more.

MISS WOOD TIPS

We only recommend it at high levels of skiing to go and enjoy the powder snow but with full equipment (arva, shovel and probe) and take a guide.

@elimelero TIPS

Watch out! Leaving tips in Japan is considered rude. Make sure you carry enough cash as not all ATMs allow withdrawals with foreign cards.

If you've been, what would you advise someone to go for the first time?