Located in Nagano prefecture just a few hours from Tokyo, sprawling Hakuba Valley encompasses 10 different resorts and some of the best groomed runs in the country. The largest of those 10 resorts, Happo-One, hosted events for the 1998 Winter Olympics, and guests today can still ski the same courses as Olympic athletes once did.

A word of caution: Happo-One and the village at its base can get fairly crowded, particularly on weekends, but you’ll have more than enough room to spread out at the other resorts. Since Hakuba Valley receives more than 11 meters of snow per year on average, there’s something for everyone here — park rats can head to Hakuba 47, home to one of the top terrain parks in Nagano, and night owls will enjoy skiing after dark at nearby Goryu. Devoted powder hounds, meanwhile, should brave the crowds at Happo to gain access to untracked snow in Hakuba’s backcountry and sidecountry. Even beginner skiers will find more than enough runs to go around at Tsugaike Kogen.

Thanks to Hakuba Valley’s popularity, the area is English-friendly on and off the slopes, ideal for international travelers with rudimentary Japanese skills. Families traveling with kids will also love the many local activities available for little ones, including an indoor trampoline park, snow tubing, and children’s play areas.