Iwate, Japan

Capital City: Morioka
Closest Airport: Hanamaki Airport
Population: 1,420,000
Resort Area: Ou Mountains
Snow Season: Dec - April
Main Language: Japanese
Currency: Yen

The Iwate prefecture is blessed with Japan's pristine 'white stuff', and plenty of it too.

We're sure many of you have seen big dumps with several feet of fresh, but it's not often that this quality of snow falls from the gods on a regular basis. We're talking three or four times a week...

In the centre of the prefecture lies Mt Iwate, an active volcano that is home to Iwate skiing. So if you've riden Etna and Ruhapehu, what are you waiting for?

Most of the major resorts are with in an hour and a half's drive from the capital Morioka, offering action for beginners through to winter junkies.