Skiers urged to try Japan

People planning skiing holidays have been encouraged to sample the affordability and easy access that is reportedly on offer in Japan.

The country's tourist office has recently launched a new information website offering guidance on Japan's "world class slopes", which are reportedly cheaper and more accessible than ever before.

There are more than 30 separate resorts in Japan's mountainous areas, including Hakuba Happo-one, which hosted the 1996 Winter Olympics in Nagano.

Other options include Niseko Grand Hirafu in Hokkaido, which is reportedly popular with tourists from Australia, and Alts Bandai, which will host next year's FIS Freestyle World Championship.

Resorts such as these offer single-day lift passes for around 4,000 yen (£28), which is reportedly cheaper than major skiing destinations in the USA and Europe.

One of the big advantages of Japan for holidaymakers is the country's bullet train transport system, which allows visitors to go skiing in Nagano and enjoy the nightlife in Tokyo on the same day.

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