Appi Kogen is a compact purpose built resort in the north-eastern part of Japan’s main island, Honshu in the Tohoku Region. Boasting perfectly groomed long runs, this modern resort is ideal for beginners and intermediates. If you’re an advanced skier you’ll find opportunities to challenge yourself on some slopes that are as steep as 32 degrees, and, if you try cat-skiing in the untracked powder. Appi Kogen has night skiing and convenient access to the smaller ski fields of Shimokura (known for its powder) and Matsukawa.

Tokyo, Japan’s busy capital, mixes the ultramodern and the traditional, from neon-lit skyscrapers to historic temples. The opulent Meiji Shinto Shrine is known for its towering gate and surrounding woods. The Imperial Palace sits amid large public gardens. The city's many museums offer exhibits ranging from classical art (in the Tokyo National Museum) to a reconstructed kabuki theater (in the Edo-Tokyo Museum).