Accessible by train from Tokyo, Hakuba is made up of nine ski resorts. Kids over five will be zipping about on skis in no time with the help of the friendly instructors at Hakuba Snow Sports School, while children over seven can begin to master snowboarding. A day trip to see the snow monkeys soaking at Jigokudani Yaen-koen is a must.

This family-oriented ski resort in Hokkaido offers calm weather and less hype than some of the larger resorts, but still has 12 lifts and plenty of beginner and intermediate runs. Night skiing up to 8pm is well worth doing for its views over picturesque Furano Town as you ski (or even ride the gondola) down from an elevation of 1209 metres. Daycare and ski lessons are available for kids of all ages.

The popular Niseko Ski Resort in Hokkaido is actually made up of four resorts, with an abundance of powder snow making for easy learning and soft landings from December to April. It’s never too early to start kids on their skiing journey and Niseko is well set up for all ages. Kids as young as one can take part in the Niseko Kids Snow School, where multilingual instructors make lessons a delight.

With average annual snowfall of 21 metres and a ski season that stretches from November to May, kids of all ages can ski, snowboard and toboggan themselves silly at this outdoor adventure playground. Kiroro is a ski-in-ski-out resort on the island of Hokkaido. There are nine lifts taking skiers up two pristine peaks and 122 skiable hectares, with runs ranging from beginner-level to advanced. Ski lessons are available for kids over three.

Aside from incredible skiing and snowboarding in the heart of Hokkaido’s powder belt, Tomamu offers fine dining, fancy digs and activities beyond the slopes. The region’s icy temperatures between December and March set the scene for outdoor ice skating at the Ice Village, where everything – chairs, tables, glasses, and even a hotel and chapel – is made of ice. When the kids need to thaw out, ditch snow gear for swimmers and head to Japan’s largest indoor wave pool, Mina-Mina Beach.

Families wanting a Japanese cultural experience as well as great skiing will find it in this historic resort on the main island of Honshu. While many other resorts are considered overly westernised, Myoko Kogen offers authentic onsens (hot springs), cuisine, and traditional accommodation options. Beginners can build their confidence on the gentle and uncrowded slopes of Myoko Ski Park before tackling other runs, including some of the longest in Japan.