Niseko

If you love your powder then there's simply no better place in the world in January than Niseko... Right off the lifts you're getting great turns - knee deep every second day, waist deep in between!

While inbounds in Japan you won't find the same kind of steeps you'll find in say Jackson Hole, the steeps are there, you'll just have to hike for them. There's also a good park, a huge FIS Superpipe, very cool people and great food... but you'll go to Niseko for the powder and you'll be blown away.

Look around and you'll find there's a wide range of accommodation options - it isn't all luxury package tours! Japan is actually quite reasonably priced, but you can't get around the fact that you do have to fly a long way. It's only a touch further flying to Tokyo than to Whistler, but it's such a very different experience that it's really worth it.

And ask around... no-one goes to Japan just once. It's the kind of place that once you've been once you can't wait to get back to. There's two big differences between Niseko and everywhere else in Japan. One is how easy it is do everything... English works pretty much everywhere, meaning you find your challenges on the hill instead of at your hotel check-in. The other big difference is Niseko's attitude to backcountry. It rocks compared to the rest of Japan, which is often fairly restrictive. You can see the pow, it's just there on the other side of the rope... but duck a rope and you will get chased and have your lift pass pulled. Not fun. Niseko is very different...

Check the mags and search the websites, watch almost any video from the last ten years and you'll read about Niseko and see the powder for yourself.

This is somewhere you've really got to check out yourself... powder heaven, reasonable prices, and a great culture and people as well.

The greatest powder is on the Hanazono side, and no lift lines. Great and reasonable lodging at Freedom Inn (www.freedom-inn.jp) very close to the slopes.

Been there 3 times and the powder skiing is awesome, in particular skiing through the trees - check out Strawberry and Blueberry fields.

Check out Wild Bills for a good night out.