3 underrated ski resorts in Canada, Japan and Italy to visit in winter 2026

A ski trip is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with loved ones, hit the slopes, engage in wellness activities and practise an active hobby or two. Around the globe, there are spectacular destinations well known for skiing, including several in western Europe and Japan, but there are also a few underrated gems. Here are three recommendations. Courmayeur, Italy, and beyond The Dolomites are part of the Alps in Italy and are listed as a Unesco World Heritage site for outstanding universal value, from geography to wildlife and human history. Northern Italy has been getting a fair bit of buzz recently, since it will be hosting the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Milan and Cortina in February. There are plenty of ski destinations to love near this adventurous region of Italy, and one of them is Courmayeur. The region has a long-standing tradition of winter sports activities and is celebrating the 90th anniversary of its Monte Bianco Ski & Snowboard School. The region, located near the French border, allows access to Mont Blanc and offers some amazing places to ski for skiers of any level. Courmayeur is also a stylish place, known for high-end dining. One great hotel option is the Grand Hotel Courmayeur, which has dramatic views of Mont Blanc and is easily accessible from Turin, Milan and Geneva. After a long day spent on the slopes, guests can recover in the Erre Spa with its indoor heated pool, sauna, Turkish hammam, sensory showers and more. Even better, the five-star property matches many travel budgets, with rates starting at less than US$300 a night. Culture lovers will enjoy visiting the region of South Tyrol, a decidedly German part of Italy. Travellers might lose track of where they are, as its jagged mountain peaks, bucolic farms and charming villages often look more like something from Switzerland or Austria than Italy, but this multicultural gem is also home to some amazing ski resorts. Hokkaido, Niigata and Nagano in Japan Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s major islands, is well known for its ski areas, and it is not hard to see why: besides having the mountains that are required for skiing, it also gets a ton of snow. Sapporo, the island’s largest city, gets about 130 days of snowfall a year, contributing to an annual total of more than 19 feet (5.8 metres). The flight from Tokyo to Sapporo is just over 90 minutes, making Hokkaido a convenient location to enjoy some incredible skiing, snowboarding and winter travel experiences, whether you are a diehard black diamond skier or want to integrate some active wellness experiences into your trip. Not too far from Sapporo is Niseko Village, home to several properties that can become a great base camp for a ski trip and often cost about 30 per cent less than most ski resorts in Europe or the United States. Known for its dry, fluffy powder snow called “Japow”, the region is a wonderful place to ski, with its Niseko Village Snow School, opportunities for guided runs and more. “Beyond the snow, Niseko has transformed from a once-sleepy ski town into an international melting pot,” says Stephanie Chai, founder and CEO of the travel website The Luxe Nomad. “When I’m there in winter, I can walk on the street or sit at a bar and count at least 10 different languages from visitors from all over the world. “The cuisine is also phenomenal: not only are there top Japanese restaurants, but internationally acclaimed ones as well, and world-class accommodation from ski-in, ski-out condo hotels to luxury chalets. Not to mention Japanese onsen culture – the perfect way to end a day up in the mountains.” If you are visiting Japan during the winter and do not need to visit the most popular ski destination in the country, where would you go? There are two special places: Niigata prefecture and Nagano prefecture. Located not too far from Tokyo, both are easily accessible and provide great skiing and active winter experiences. Nagano is home to what is called the “Japanese Alps”, and is known as the place where Japanese macaques, or snow monkeys, warm up during winter in natural hot springs at the Jigokudani Monkey Park. Beyond that adorable natural wonder, Nagano offers Japow snow, hot-spring villages, historical temples and international-friendly tourism infrastructure, including ski schools. Niigata, located just two hours away from Tokyo by bullet train, is another wonderful ski resort destination. The region’s snowfall comes from the wind blowing from the Sea of Japan against the Echigo Mountains, creating a snowier climate than other cities of the same latitude. This year is particularly special for the prefecture, as 2026 marks the 115th anniversary of skiing being introduced in the mountains of Echigo. Niigata is also home to respected cultural practices, such as the 1,200-year-old Echigo Jofu, a Unesco-listed textile-making tradition that uses snow to refine hemp fabric, which is then made into summer kimonos. Niigata also has the highest number of sake breweries in Japan, in large part due to its significant rice production. “Niigata prefecture is one of Japan’s leading ski resorts, highly accessible from Tokyo Station by Shinkansen in as little as 70 minutes [to Echigo-Yuzawa],” says Kenichi Shirai, executive vice-president of the Niigata Prefectural Tourism Association. “The Yuzawa and Myoko areas, in particular, have a high concentration of ski resorts and their appeal lies in the combination of abundant natural snow and well-equipped surrounding areas with hot spring towns and resort hotels.” Quebec, Canada Quebec might be best known for its French-Canadian culture and Unesco-listed Old Quebec City, but venture further afield and you will find ample ski resorts and opportunities to hit fresh powder. Travellers can find plenty to do, see and love in ski towns such as Mont-Tremblant – named for the way the mountain sometimes trembles with geological activity – and Charlevoix, located between the beautiful Laurentides Wildlife Reserve and the scenic St Lawrence River. Le Massif de Charlevoix offers amazing skiing east of the Rocky Mountains. Skiers can enjoy 53 runs of all levels as well as 98 acres (40 hectares) of off-piste skiing. This Canadian winter wonderland enjoys a stunning 254 inches of snow annually, which is over 21 feet or 6.4 metres. One recommendation for staying in Quebec is the Club Med Quebec Charlevoix, the brand’s first four-season mountain resort and the first Club Med in Canada, offering an easy all-inclusive ski resort option. Travellers can easily rent their gear, take lessons for all levels, employ a guide and enjoy sledding with the children at the mountain’s 7.5km (4.7-mile) sledding track. Located an hour from Quebec City, it is a great option for those who want to combine skiing with an exploration of the charming and historical Quebec City, which is its own brand of winter wonderland.

3 underrated ski resorts in Canada, Japan and Italy to visit in winter 2026

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Ski in sight of Italy’s Mont Blanc, go from piste to onsen in Niigata and Nagano in Japan, or hit the snow at Quebec’s Club Med in Canada

Courmayeur, Italy, and beyond

Ski in sight of Italy’s Mont Blanc, go from piste to onsen in Niigata and Nagano in Japan, or hit the snow at Quebec’s Club Med in Canada