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Riding Japanライディング・ジャパン

Plan & book your trip to Japan.

Look up any ski area, bike route, onsen or town from Aomori to Kagoshima and see how the train gets you there with a board or a bike. Give the planner your dates and it lays out each day, from the first lift to the last soak, with what to book along the way.

Plan a tripFind snowRide Japan
90 ski resorts24 cycling routes83 hot springs144 towns and neighbourhoods283 places to stay
The snow-covered Hakuba range rises behind a groomed run at Hakuba47

Nagano

Hakuba47

Hakuba47ウィンタースポーツパーク

36°41′ N 137°50′ E794 m vertical

苗場山 / Wikimedia Commons

1 / 5Hakuba47

01

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  1. 01Tohoku11 mountains · 1 route
  2. 02Nagano34 mountains · 4 routes
  3. 03Niigata14 mountains · 1 route
  4. 04Gunma10 mountains
  5. 05Tochigi and Nikko3 mountains
  6. 06Ibaraki and Tsukuba1 route
  7. 07Kanto and Boso2 routes
  8. 08Izu and Fuji3 routes
  9. 09Gifu and Hida8 mountains
  10. 10Hokuriku and Noto2 mountains · 1 route
  11. 11Nagoya and Ise2 routes
  12. 12Shiga and Lake Biwa1 route
  13. 13Kansai4 mountains · 1 route
  14. 14Setouchi2 routes
  15. 15San'in and Tottori4 mountains · 1 route
  16. 16Shikoku1 route
  17. 17Kyushu3 routes

Sister guides

02

Find ski resorts across Japan

All ski resorts
A wooden lift hut with Olympic rings stands on the groomed upper slopes of Hakuba Happo-one
Riders cross the upper slopes of Hakuba Happo-one as cloud lifts off the Northern Alps

Hakuba Happo-one

Hakuba · Nagano

1,071 m vertical16 runs32.5 km

A lone skier descends a Yamabiko run near the top of Nozawa Onsen between rime-coated trees in fog
Snow piled metres high on the roofs and walls lines a quiet street in Nozawa Onsen during a heavy fall
Night riding

Nozawa Onsen

Nozawa Onsen · Nagano

1,087 m vertical40 runs41.9 km

Rime-encrusted juhyo trees loom out of the mist like giant figures near the top of Zao Onsen
Last light turns the frosted trees orange above Zao Onsen with the Yamagata basin fading below.
Night riding

Zao Onsen

Zao Onsen · Yamagata

881 m vertical26 runs39.3 km

Riders stop on a Higashidateyama run facing the long trails of Mount Yakebitai across the valley
Skiers cross the lower slopes below the open runs of Mount Yakebitai in Shiga Kogen
Night riding

Shiga Kogen Yakebitaiyama

Shiga Kogen · Nagano

445 m vertical20 runs15.6 km

A snowboarder rides a sunny run at Akakura Kanko above the wide Takada plain
The Myokokogen Skycable climbs past Akakura Kanko Hotel toward the snowy Myoko peaks

Akakura Kanko Resort

Akakura Onsen · Niigata

760 m vertical10 runs9.4 km

Ski touring tracks cross the snowfield below a rime-covered peak of the Hakkoda range in Aomori
Rows of snow-crusted juhyo climb toward a white summit dome in the Hakkoda mountains under deep blue sky.

Hakkoda

Aomori

Ropeway657 m vertical2 runs2.4 km

Skiers spread across the wide lower slopes of Naeba under a line of chairlifts
Two blue Dragondola cabins pass a lift tower between tall cedars at Naeba in February
Night riding

Naeba Ski Resort

Yuzawa · Niigata

889 m vertical24 runs19.4 km

A snowcat parks beside the snowed-in base lodges at APPI with the hotel tower behind.
Skiers and snowboarders spread across the APPI base slopes as snow blows in under Mount Maemori.
Night riding

APPI

Iwate

708 m vertical21 runs33.8 km

03

Find cycling routes across Japan

All cycling routes
The three Kurushima-Kaikyo bridges cross the strait to Imabari, seen from Kirosan on Oshima.

Shimanami Kaido Cycling Road

Hiroshima

68.1 km · 514 m up · 39% quiet roadsModerateRoad bike, Touring

An autumn sunset burns orange over Lake Biwa from Matsubara beach in Hikone

Biwaichi

Shiga

186.5 km · 396 m up · 50% quiet roadsHardRoad bike, Touring

The Norikura Echo Line loops through forest in full October colour on the Nagano side of the mountain.

Norikura Echo Line from Sanbondaki

Nagano

13.9 km · 899 m up · 1% quiet roadsHardRoad bike, E-road bike

Snow-capped Mt. Fuji rises behind the cliffs and coves of the west Izu coast at Nishiizu.

Izuichi Izu Peninsula Loop

Shizuoka

229.7 km · 3,650 m up · 21% quiet roadsEpicRoad bike, Touring

Grass-covered folds of the Aso outer rim roll away under a pale sky near the Milk Road.

Aso Daikanbo and Milk Road Loop

Kumamoto

35.9 km · 566 m up · 26% quiet roadsModerateRoad bike, Touring

The low Sada sinking bridge crosses the still, green Shimanto River in Kochi in May

Shimanto River Sinking Bridges from Ekawasaki

Kochi

18.4 km · 244 m up · 93% quiet roadsEasyCity bike, E-bike

Mt. Fuji rises with a snowy summit above the deep blue water of Lake Motosu.

Fuji Five Lakes from Lake Yamanaka to Lake Motosu

Yamanashi

67.9 km · 688 m up · 24% quiet roadsModerateRoad bike, Touring

The white arch of the Naka-no-Seto Bridge rises against citrus slopes on the Tobishima Kaido.

Akinada Tobishima Kaido

Kure · Hiroshima

33.7 km · 295 m up · 27% quiet roadsModerateRoad bike, Touring

04

Find hot springs across Japan

All hot springs
The road into Nyuto Onsen runs through a tunnel of beech trees in October colour.
Deep snow banks and a snow hut line the lane past the thatched lodgings of Tsurunoyu Onsen.

Nyuto Onsen

Akita

Onsen town

Snow falls over the gas lamps and footbridges along the river between the wooden inns of Ginzan Onsen
Snow lies on the tiered wooden facade of Notoya Ryokan beside the river at Ginzan Onsen.

Ginzan Onsen

Yamagata

Onsen town

Lit wooden channels steam across the Yubatake in Kusatsu Onsen at night
Steam rises past a stone lantern on the rocks at the edge of Kusatsu's Yubatake

Kusatsu Onsen Yubatake

Kusatsu Onsen · Gunma

Onsen townFree

The wooden Oyu bathhouse stands at the centre of Nozawa Onsen with its curved gable roof.
Two bathers in yukata walk past the lit Oyu bathhouse in Nozawa Onsen on a rainy night.

Nozawa Onsen Oyu

Nozawa Onsen · Nagano

Public bathFree

Lit windows glow across the wooden tiers of Dogo Onsen Honkan in Matsuyama at blue hour.
Dogo Onsen Honkan's tiled roofs and red-and-white bunting sit at a street corner in Matsuyama.

Dogo Onsen Honkan

Matsuyama · Ehime

Public bath¥700, about CAD 6.30 or USD 4.40 (October 2026 rates)

A stone path leads down to a tiled timber bathhouse among the inns of Kurokawa Onsen.
Bamboo lanterns glow along the Tanoharu River through Kurokawa Onsen on a winter night.

Kurokawa Onsen

Kumamoto

Onsen town¥1,500, about CAD 13 or USD 9.50 (October 2026 rates)

An iron lantern hangs in front of the lit wooden storeys of the Kanaguya inn at Shibu Onsen.
Lamps light the empty stone-paved main street of Shibu Onsen at night.

Shibu Onsen

Nagano

Onsen town¥800, about CAD 7.20 or USD 5.10 (October 2026 rates)

Deep snow banks the Takaragawa river below the wooden Osenkaku inn at Takaragawa Onsen in January

Takaragawa Onsen

Minakami · Gunma

Ryokan¥1,500, about CAD 13 or USD 9.50 (October 2026 rates)

05

Find towns and neighbourhoods across Japan

All towns and neighbourhoods
Snow dusts the stone walls and rope-braced pines below the keep of Tsuruga Castle in February.
The red-tiled keep of Tsuruga Castle rises above pines and autumn maples in Aizu-Wakamatsu.

Aizu-Wakamatsu

Fukushima

CityPop. 117,924Tohoku

A skier walks a lane cut through head-high snowbanks between inns at Akakura Onsen
A pastel lodge sits half buried in deep snow under laden trees at Akakura Onsen

Akakura Onsen

Niigata

Onsen townNiigata

Hondo's rooftops and harbour spread along the shore below Jumanyama with the sea and distant peaks beyond.
The stone piers of Gion Bridge carry its flat deck across the Machiyamaguchi River in Hondo.

Amakusa (Hondo)

Kumamoto

CityPop. 74,861Kyushu

A wooden Boramachi Yagura fishing lookout stands in the calm blue water of Anamizu Bay in May
A Noto Don rice bowl in Anamizu comes piled high with seafood from the local bay

Anamizu

Ishikawa

TownPop. 6,486Hokuriku and Noto

Aomori Bay Bridge arcs over a small city beach with snowy mountains across the bay in March.
Gulls float in the harbour below Aomori Bay Bridge beside the red ribbed walls of Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse.

Aomori

Aomori

CityTohoku

A snowcat parks beside the snowed-in base lodges at APPI with the hotel tower behind.
Skiers and snowboarders spread across the APPI base slopes as snow blows in under Mount Maemori.

APPI

Iwate

Ski villageTohoku

Riders bootpack up the wind-sculpted snow ridge of Mount Ohkenashi above Arai in January
Yellow hotel wings with grey mansard roofs frame the courtyard at Arai Mountain Resort

Arai

Niigata

TownNiigata

Steam rises from the Nakadake crater above green slopes and a winding mountain road on Mount Aso.
Grass-covered folds of the Aso outer rim roll away under a pale sky near the Milk Road.

Aso

Kumamoto

TownPop. 24,820Kyushu

06

Practical guides

Sort out the details before you go

All guides

Guide · 5 min read

Can you do the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage by bike?

Yes. The temples' association lets pilgrims choose how they travel and in what order, and riders follow the roads round about 1,400 km of island. Arrive at each temple as a pilgrim: bow at the gate, worship before the stamp and leave the camera away while people pray.

Guide · 10 min read

Can you go in an onsen in Japan with a tattoo?

Some of Japan's baths take tattoos, some want them under a cover sticker, and most publish no rule at all. Here is the routine at the taps and in the tub, the baths that say yes, and the ones that say no.

Guide · 7 min read

Can you take a bike on the Shinkansen?

Every Shinkansen takes a bike packed as rinko, wheels off and fully bagged, up to 250 cm and 30 kg. West of Tokyo you should book the seat with the space behind it, and north of Tokyo there is nothing to book.