Most rental gear you will find in Japan is of great quality and well maintained. However, if you plan on staying for more than a day or two, it is definitely worth bringing your own gear with you. Sizes used to be a big problem, but nowadays most resorts have a large enough variety of gear to fit most people. That being said, if you do need overly large sized equipment or ski-ware, it would be much easier to bring your own stuff.

Night skiing is usually limited to a few floodlit runs (not all of the resort) and in some cases just one run. It can be great fun, but after a particularly sunny day, the conditions can resemble an ice rink. Another good thing about a "nighter" is it is a good way to avoid any crowds. Although some resorts have restricted access to snowboarders in the past. Times are changing and resorts are quickly learning that they cannot compete unless they welcome snowboarders unconditionally. There are resorts that still won’t allow snowboarders on all of their slopes (and a few that still ban them altogether), but you will find that it is now the exception rather than the rule.

Transportation is not cheap in Japan. The high-speed trains are especially expensive. If you are arriving by train, many of the popular resorts have shuttle buses running from the major stations, which can take you to your chosen slopes, and most resorts have car parks (although you might have to pay 1000 yen to park). It’s a good idea to look into package deals that include transportation to and from the resort.

Some ski resorts are now offering other new facilities to attract more visitors. Families with children will be pleased to know that some resorts offer childcare facilities and ski lessons in English. Snow Tubing is also becoming more popular at some resorts. Other resorts offer snowmobile rides. There are also companies that specialize in backcountry ski and snowboard tours, snowshoeing and even snow rafting. Many of these companies specialize in white water rafting and other adventure sports in the warmer months and have recently begun expanding their services year round.

One way to cut down on expenses is to join one of the many packaged ski tours. It’s impossible to miss all the colorful brochures that appear in huge racks outside travel agencies and train stations each fall. Most travel agencies offer ski packages to popular resort areas. Although foreigners generally scorn package tours in Japan because are restrictive and pricey, most package ski tours are fairly unobtrusive and normally just include transportation, accommodation and lift tickets. Meals are often included as well, so if you don’t want to eat at the hotel all weekend, it may be worth asking about. If you don’t feel comfortable making travel plans in Japanese, some agencies have English-speaking staff, and there are smaller agencies that specialize in foreign customers as well. It just takes a bit of looking around.