Ski Japan from Bangkok: Direct to Hokkaido or Honshu?

Thai Airways’ route map lists a direct Bangkok–Sapporo (CTS) flight, as well as Bangkok–Tokyo (HND/NRT) and Bangkok–Osaka (KIX). That makes Hokkaido a one-flight destination from Bangkok, or you can fly to Tokyo for the deeper snow of Nagano and Niigata.

The direct routes

Thai Airways’ official route map shows Bangkok to Sapporo, Tokyo and Osaka. The Tokyo entry covers both Haneda and Narita; the Osaka entry is Kansai.

• Thai Airways, route map

Schedules are seasonal; confirm yours on the route page before booking, including whether a service runs only in winter. We have not stated a season for the Sapporo flight because the route map does not give one.

Hokkaido: the direct option

From Bangkok, Hokkaido is the simplest long-haul ski trip: one flight to New Chitose, then a transfer to the resort. Our 12-winter averages put Kiroro and Sapporo Kokusai at 331 cm, with Niseko Grand Hirafu at 289 cm. The snow is colder and drier than in Honshu.

Sapporo Kokusai and Kiroro are closer to the airport; Niseko is further west.

Tokyo: the deeper snow

Tokyo is the gateway for Nagano and Niigata. Nozawa Onsen averages 450 cm in our data, Hakuba Happo-One 414 cm and Hakuba Cortina 635 cm. That is more snow by volume than the Hokkaido areas above. Shiga Kogen sits lower in our figures (255 cm), though its altitude and long season are advantages of their own.

The trade-off is the transfer: Tokyo is further from the mountains than New Chitose is from the Hokkaido resorts. Transfer times are left out because we have not verified them against an official source.

Osaka: the lower hills

Kansai’s hills are reached from Osaka. In our data they get roughly half of what Nagano and Niigata do: 235 cm a winter at Hachikita and 194 cm at Okuibuki. They suit a day or two added to a city trip rather than a week built around the snow.

From tropical heat to snow

Bangkok is hot and humid; the mountain will be much colder, and the wind on a lift makes it feel colder still. Pack for layers, not for one heavy coat:

• A shell that keeps out wet snow, plus gloves that stay waterproof.
• A fleece or down mid-layer over a quick-drying base.
• Goggles, a warm hat, and socks that fit without folds.

Rent skis, boots and a helmet at the resort. Our resort pages list rental and family facilities where we have confirmed them.

Before booking

Check the opening date and the snow, not only the fare. Dates confirmed from official announcements are in the 2026/27 opening list; where it is snowing now is updated daily.

Good to know

Is the Bangkok–Sapporo flight year-round? The route map does not say. Check Thai Airways’ timetable for your dates.

Can I reach Nagano without a connection? No. Tokyo is the gateway; from there you travel onward to Nagano or Niigata.

Is Hokkaido colder than Honshu? Yes. The snow is drier, but the air is colder; layers matter more than a single thick jacket.

How much snow will there be? Our numbers are 12-winter averages, not a forecast. Check the daily snow page before you fly.

About the figures

The snowfall numbers in this article are December–March totals from ERA5, the reanalysis distributed by Open-Meteo, averaged over 2014/15–2025/26. They are modelled rather than measured at the resort. The model captures roughly 60% of gauge totals in Japan, less in Hokkaido. Route information comes from Thai Airways’ official route map; we have not added a season or a frequency that the map does not show.

Sources: Thai Airways, route map / Open-Meteo (ERA5, Copernicus Climate Change Service)