When it comes to snow resorts in Japan, the first places that come to mind for many Australian ski and snow fans are popular areas such as Hokkaido, which is home to Niseko, and Nagano, where you can find Hakuba and Nozawa. But the truth of the matter is that there are many people in search of new ski areas that are away from those very resorts overflowing with Aussie visitors. One particular area that is likely still relatively unknown to readers out there is Gifu. This area has earned itself much-deserved popularity in the domestic market due to it being the closest locale to the Chubu (where Nagoya is found) and Kansai (home to Osaka and Kyoto) areas where highquality powder snow can be enjoyed. Despite its popularity in Japan, it is barely known amongst skiers and snowboarders from overseas. Western Japan is bursting with popular tourist destinations such as Kyoto and Osaka and that’s possibly why it’s not particularly known for its snow resorts. Yet, contrary to its international image, it is home to a plethora of fantastic ski areas waiting to be discovered. I visited Gifu myself to showcase its wonders in a previous edition of jSnow, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic immediately after its publication meant that the spread of the information was unfortunately muted and delayed. This time around will bea refresher for some and a brand-new eye-opener e4for others.
