Winter is coming, and it's time to bring out the inner skier in you! There are plenty of ski resorts in Asia, but we have decided that these 6 are the best ones. Do consider these resorts if you are planning to go skiing this winter.
1. Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan
Thanks to bouts of winter storms off Siberia, the Niseko resort area ranks among the snowiest resorts in the world. It's also one of the few ski resorts in Japan with boisterous nightlife, which perhaps explains why it's the most popular ski destination in Japan among Aussies.
Niseko has four ski resorts, each with separate, but interlinked, ski areas. The terrain adds up to 2,191 acres and can be accessed with one ski pass.
Niseko Hirafu is the largest resort of the four and has a small town at its base, with two fun parks, snowmobiling courses, onsens, and massage facilities.
See more: 7 places to visit during winter in Japan
2. Alpensia Resort, Pyeongchang, South Korea
Seoul has been building ski venues to qualify as a host for the Winter Olympics for years. The Alpensia Resort in Pyeongchang hosted the recent Winter Olympics in early 2018.
The Alpensia Resort was completed in 2009 and covers 4.9 square kilometers of terrain. Alpensia's sports park has cross country and biathlon ranges, as well as two international-standard jump slopes.
The 160-meter tall ski jump tower offers great views of Daegwallyeong at the top and can be reached by monorail for 2,000 won. The resort is close to the Odaesan National Park and the Samyang Ranch.
3. Yongpyong, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Yongpyong Ski Resort is the oldest ski resort in South Korea and remains one of its most popular -- not only because of the superb skiing, but also because Winter Sonata, arguably the most beloved TV drama of the soap-obsessed country, was filmed there.
Yongpyong has 1,620 hecatares of ski terrain with 31 groomed slopes adding up to 25 kilometers. The 5.6-kilometer Rainbow Paradise is the resort's longest run and can be accessed by a 3.7-kilometer gondola that takes visitors up from the base. Yongpyong is frequently chosen as the site for international tournaments, including the Asian Winter Olympics in 1999.
See more: Best winter activities in South Korea
4. Gulmarg, Kashmir, India
In the 19th century Gulmarg was a hill station for British colonials to escape the summer heat. These days, it's a world-class ski resort blanketed with fresh, light powder from the Himalayas, attracting ski bums tired of Alpine lift queues and fondues.
The resort's claim to fame is the Gulmarg Gondola, the highest ski lift in the world at a dizzying 3,979 meters. At the top station, skiers can take on challenging runs with Nanga Parbat, the world's ninth-highest peak, as a backdrop.
5. Yabuli Ski Resort, Heilongjiang, China
Yabuli Ski Resort is China's largest ski domain with ski slopes that add up to roughly 30 kilometers. And while it's the main training venue for the Chinese national skiing teams, it also has plenty to offer adrenalin seekers.
Yabuli has 18 runs of different levels of difficulty. The 3-kilometer A1 is the longest intermediate ski trail in China and is nicknamed the "Trail to Happiness." Experienced skiers may want to have a go at the 2.7-kilometer A5, known as the "Road for Brave."
6. Appi Kogen, Tohoku, Japan
Appi Kogen, or just Appi to regulars, has 282 hectares of ski area and 21 ski trails with an average run of two kilometers, Japan's longest average. Many of them are empty even during high season, and carpeted with fresh dry powder. Seasoned skiers can whiz down the ungroomed steep slopes on Mount Nishi Mori while the kids can stay on the gentle 5.5-kilometer Yamabato run.
Appi also offers plenty of off-piste options, including an on-site dairy farm that produces ice cream and cheeses, snowmobile and sledding courses, and onsens. Tots won't want to leave the Spongebob Kids Park, which has mini ski areas for first timers.
Source: cnn
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