Blanche Takayama, one of our six ski resorts, has been featured in The New York Times article titled “A First-Timer’s Guide to Skiing in Japan.”
The article highlights an ideal itinerary: skiing at Blanche Takayama, staying at Ikenotaira Hotel, and exploring the other five ski resorts in the area. But this isn’t just for first-timers—it’s the perfect destination for beginners to intermediate skiers, and especially for families looking for a great ski vacation.
If you’re considering your first ski trip in Japan, 8 Peaks Resort is the perfect place to start!
Blanche Takayama Although Blanche Takayama enjoys cult status among Japanese skiers, few Westerners know about it. Three hours from Tokyo by train and taxi, it’s a ski-only resort — no snowboarding allowed (though that ban is tentatively scheduled to be lifted on March 17), much to the chagrin of ski purists. The resort provides an intimate atmosphere, with only five lifts. Gently sloping, powder-covered runs through dense forest offer a serene playground for those seeking solitude. Passes: ¥4,000 a day. Where to stay and eat: Shirakabako Ikedaike Hotel is an elegant resort six miles from Blanche Takayama. It straddles an enormous indoor-outdoor onsen and features an exquisite nightly Western and Japanese dinner buffet. Rates start at ¥27,000 a night, with breakfast.
The New York Tmes
