Where is the Best Place to snowboard in Japan? -

I have been thinking about where in Japan I should go to go Snowboarding. I have Intermediate Abilities and would like to find the best place with steep hills and Nice Snow fall with not alot of people around. I would also like to experience Japanese culture and it not to be not overly Western. I was thinking of Niseko or Possibly one of the mountains in nagano. To sum it up I want the best open spaced snowboard territory.

I am a hardcore snwboarder. Been riding since before the days snowboards were allowed on all resorts in the US. I have donw my homework and have my expereince when it comes to snow parks in Japan. I have been to Hokkaido and Nagano and the Yuzawa areas. compared to any mountain in North America, there is no comparison. Crowded is the word and the norm. Now of course Hokkaido is the best place to find the best snow and the most open area. especially compared to Nagano and Yuzawa areas. Usually, I take the family to Hokkaido from Tokyo every year just before Christmass, we do a 4 day stay and enjoy everything. Sometimes with my friends and wife, we do day trips to Gala-Yuzawa. Caution point about Gala and most Japanese resorts, the ratings are overrated. Meaning, I have not found a black diamond run worthy of the rating in Japan. So for an intermediate, you should have no problem. As afar as powder goes, nothing in Japan beats Hokkaido snow. The only problem is they seem to close of the tree sections where the waste deep powder is. As far as experiencing culture, any snow resort will have that. I must give props to the terrain parks in Japan. There are some serious jumps ramps and pipes. Lastly, it seems that most Japanese youth love to snowboard, they buy up the gear and hit the mountains. There are some really freaking awesome freetylers in Japan. Good luck and happy riding.

Niseko has the best powder snow!!! It is definitely the best for snowboarding!

probably in Hokkaido, but you also have Nagano prefecture, as was mentioned previously. Both areas have hosted the Winter Olympics. In Nagano, Karuizawa　and Hakuba are great. That being said, you can find good skiing as far south as Hyogo prefecture, so you will have plenty of choices to choose from .

of course hokkaido! http://www.skijapan.com/