First Snow
First Snow and Sledding With Kids: Family Hotels for a Snow Debut at Ages 0 to 3
Short bursts of snow play, then hot springs and a kids' room back at the hotel, from the highlands near Tokyo all the way to Hokkaido
22 areas ยท 670 hotels (total listings across these areas)
You want your child's first sight of snow to include a sled and a snowman. But ski areas can feel like places for grown-ups, and the cold and the travel are a worry. What matters most for a snow debut between ages 0 and 3 is being close enough that you can wrap up the snow play after 30 minutes and get straight back to the hotel to warm up. At a hotel with a snow play area or a sledding slope next door or on the grounds, you can enjoy the snow without skiing at all.
In this collection we have lined up the areas with a good cluster of hotels near somewhere to sled and play in the snow, ordered by how easy they are to reach from the Tokyo area and by how much snow they get. On each area page you can filter by "near snow play and ski slopes" plus the conditions that matter once the snow play is over, such as a kids' room, a reservable private bath, a bath in the room, and loaner baby beds.
Whether there is a sledding slope or a kids' park, and whether sleds and snow wear can be rented, varies by facility and by ski area. Before you leave, check the operating season and what is available to rent with your hotel and with the nearest ski area.
Features to look for in this collection
Highlands close to Tokyo (a snow debut within day-trip range)
Two to three hours by car, or a little over an hour by bullet train. Lots of clear days, and many facilities have their own snow play areas.
the Fuji Five Lakes
Sledding with Mount Fuji in view. Easy to reach by car from the Tokyo area, and a popular pick for a first time in the snow
Yatsugatake
The highlands of Kiyosato and Nobeyama. Plenty of sunny days, which makes the cold easier to play through
Kita-Karuizawa
Quiet highlands at the foot of Mount Asama. Good for sledding and snowmen
Kusatsu Onsen
From the hot-spring town to the slopes nearby. After the snow play, the hot springs of the Yubatake
Nasu Kogen
Family-friendly ski slopes and a zoo, all close to the hotels
Gunma
All of the prefecture's hotels near snow play and ski slopes in one place
Tochigi
All of the prefecture's hotels near snow play and ski slopes in one place
Shinetsu (into snow country by bullet train)
Deep snow, so sledding and snowmen are a sure thing. Keep the travel short with the bullet train and a hotel shuttle.
Echigo-Yuzawa
The slopes are close to the bullet train station. The classic snow debut with a baby or toddler
Hakuba
At the foot of the Northern Japan Alps, with many ski areas that have a kids' park
Myoko Kogen
Deep-snow highlands. For families who want their snow play quiet
Nagano
All of the prefecture's hotels near snow play and ski slopes in one place
Niigata
All of the prefecture's hotels near snow play and ski slopes in one place
Tohoku (fewer crowds)
Pair a snow-view hot spring with an unhurried snow debut.
Appi, Hachimantai & Shizukuishi
The big resort at Appi Kogen has an extensive kids' park
Zao
Highlands famous for their snow-covered "snow monster" trees. Snow play close to the hot-spring town
Urabandai & Inawashiro
The snow and lakes of Urabandai and Inawashiro. Some hotels offer farm experiences
Iwate
All of the prefecture's hotels near snow play and ski slopes in one place
Hokkaido (the best snow, with airport shuttles)
Light snow that sleds glide over beautifully. The big resorts have indoor play spaces too.
Niseko
A world-class resort with well-equipped snow play facilities for kids
Furano
Ski-in hotels plus the hot springs of the town
Tomamu
Snow play and an indoor pool, all on the grounds
Asahikawa
Pair it with Asahiyama Zoo in winter. Close to hotels in the city
Hokkaido
All of Hokkaido's hotels near snow play and ski slopes in one place
Tips for traveling with kids
- checkKeep snow play to 20 or 30 minutes at a time. Plan around a cycle of heading back to the hotel before anyone gets cold and warming up in the hot spring or the bath
- checkMany hotels and ski areas rent sleds, snow wear and boots on site. Children's sizes are limited in number, so check in advance
- checkFor a snow debut, choose on closeness to the hotel rather than on how much snow falls. The highlands near Tokyo are plenty of fun
- checkOn days with a blizzard or heavy snow you cannot go outside. At a hotel with a kids' room or a reservable private bath, you can spend the whole day inside
- checkIf you are not confident driving on snow, choose an area you can cover entirely by bullet train and hotel shuttle, such as Echigo-Yuzawa, Karuizawa or Nasu
Recommended hotels in this collection (44)
Selected automatically from the top-ranked hotels in each area.
Mars Garden Wood Gotemba
Fujilake Hotel
Kids Pension Maple
Grand Mercure Yatsugatake Resort & Spa
Dormy Club Karuizawa
Karuizawa Prince Hotel West
Hotel Green Plaza Karuizawa
Karuizawa Club Hotel Karuizawa 1130 / Hewitt Resort
Hotel Sakurai
Kusatsu Onsen Kusatsu Now Resort Hotel
See all hotels in this collection (44)expand_more
- Mars Garden Wood Gotemba
- Fujilake Hotel
- Kids Pension Maple
- Grand Mercure Yatsugatake Resort & Spa
- Dormy Club Karuizawa
- Karuizawa Prince Hotel West
- Hotel Green Plaza Karuizawa
- Karuizawa Club Hotel Karuizawa 1130 / Hewitt Resort
- Hotel Sakurai
- Kusatsu Onsen Kusatsu Now Resort Hotel
- Grand Mercure Nasu Highlands Resort & Spa
- Hotel Epinard Nasu
- Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Matsunoi
- Hotel Matsumotoro
- Kinugawa Onsen Hotel
- Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Nasu
- Atema Kogen Resort Belnatio
- Angel Grandia Echigo Nakazato
- Hotel Sierra Resort Hakuba
- Hakuba Mominoki Hotel
- Akakura Onsen Akakura Kanko Hotel
- Lime Resort Myoko
- Shirakaba Resort Ikenotaira Hotel
- Hotel Cypress Karuizawa
- Tsukioka Onsen Shiratama no Yu Kaho
- Echigo Yuzawa NASPA New Otani
- ANA Crowne Plaza Resort Appi Kogen
- ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort by IHG
- Zao Liza Woody Lodge
- Mercure Miyagi Zao Resort & Spa
- Hotel Listel Inawashiro Wing Tower
- Bandai Atami Onsen Hotel Hananoyu
- Hotel Shidotaira
- Musubino Yado Airinkan
- Ki Niseko
- Setsu Niseko
- Hotel Naturwald Furano
- Chalet Fuyuri Furano
- Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu
- Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU The Tower
- Asahikawa Takasago Onsen
- Hotel WBF Grande Asahikawa
- Toyako Manseikaku Hotel Lakeside Terrace
- Chateraise Gateaux Kingdom Sapporo
Frequently Asked Questions
From what age can a child go sledding?
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Once they can walk, children can enjoy being pulled on a sled by an adult and playing in the snow on a gentle slope. At ages 1 and 2 that usually means sitting on a grown-up's lap; from around age 3, more children ride the sled themselves. Kids' parks at ski areas each set their own minimum ages, so check their information.
Where should we go for a first time in the snow?
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Put having the snow play close to the hotel, and somewhere to warm up right away, ahead of how much snow there is. From the Tokyo area, the highlands of the Fuji Five Lakes, Yatsugatake, Karuizawa and Nasu are popular picks, and Echigo-Yuzawa if you are taking the bullet train. Hokkaido has the best snow quality, and its big resorts have indoor facilities as well.
Can we rent snow gear once we arrive?
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Most ski areas and resort hotels rent snow wear, gloves, boots and sleds. Children's sizes are limited in number, so it is worth checking in advance what they carry and whether you can reserve it.
What should we watch out for when staying somewhere snowy with a baby?
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Keep an eye on dry air in the room and on temperature swings, and check whether the hotel lends humidifiers and how well the heating works. Keep the snow play short and choose a hotel where you can warm up in a reservable private bath or a bath in the room, and your child is less likely to get run down. You can also filter for loaner baby beds and baby futon bedding.
What can we do on days when snow play is not possible?
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At a hotel with a kids' room, an indoor adventure course or an indoor pool, you can spend the day inside the building. Choosing a hotel with a reservable private bath or meals served in your room also lets you take it slow in the room on the days you cannot go out.