For a quiet slice of powder paradise, head a few hours outside of Tokyo to Shiga-Kogen in Nagano prefecture. Though it served as one of the venues for the 1998 Nagano Olympics, Shiga-Kogen remains much less crowded than many other Nagano resorts — and indeed, than most other Japanese resorts in general — and it ranks as the country’s largest interconnected ski area. Visitors can ride between 16 of Shiga-Kogen’s 18 individual resorts without ever clicking out of their skis, and can access the other two by shuttle bus.

Those 18 resorts are divided into northern and southern sides, with hot springs along the slopes of the southern area. However, both halves of Shiga-Kogen provide some of the best beginner and intermediate skiing in Nagano. Serious adrenaline junkies may find the terrain a bit too mellow, but if you’re happy to cruise your way down relaxed, gentle slopes, the powder and tree skiing here are also top-notch since Shiga-Kogen receives a high amount of reliable snowfall each year.

If there’s one complaint to be had about Shiga-Kogen, it’s that the resort lacks a traditional village at the base and most hotels and restaurants are spread out instead along a winding road between ski areas. Mostly frequented by Japanese skiers, it’s also one of the least Westernized ski resorts in the prefecture, with few English speakers and fewer Western-style amenities. But that’s just part of Shiga-Kogen’s unique appeal, and visitors who aren’t deterred by that can often get powder runs all to themselves.