Here's How Much It Really Costs To Ski In Japan

A Japan ski trip is a dream for many, but the expenses required to get there, stay there, eat there, and travel around can seem extremely intimidating. German ski instructor Marius Quast broke down the expenses for a trip when flying from Europe, but the costs don’t differ much if you’re traveling from the United States or North America in general.

As he explains, flight from Europe to Japan generally cost around ¥180,000-250,000 (~$1,145–$1,590 USD), and flights from the U.S. to Japan are generally around the same, depending on the time of year. Once you get there, the costs obviously won’t differ if you’re coming from Europe or North America.

Transport in Japan can cost between ¥5,000-10,000 (~$30-$60 USD) to get from Tokyo to major ski resorts, while a rental car costs around ¥15,000 per day (~$100). Budget accommodations, especially those around ski resorts, tend to cost up to ¥10,000 (~$60 USD), while luxury hotels can cost closer to ¥20,000+ (~$120 USD).

Food and drinks on ski resorts are super cheap, with smaller ski areas charging around ¥1,000 (~$6 USD) for a meal and larger resorts charging around double that. Beer often costs around ¥500 (~$3 USD) or cheaper, even on the mountain (beer vending machines keep it cheap).

Once you’re actually in Japan, the costs are significantly cheaper than most ski trips around the world, whether you’re headed somewhere in Europe or North America. Plus the experience is truly like no other.