Japan

For years it has had been little more than a rumour, but the recent decision by big-hitting tour operators such as Inghams to throw their weight behind this emerging market has suddenly made it a very viable option for the skier serious about experiencing one of the best destinations out there. And once you've experienced the conditions in the Far East for yourself, it is easy to see what all the fuss is about. Skiing Japan is truly unique, from the food you'll eat to the bottomless powder you'll undoubtedly find yourself skiing much of the time. For beginners, too, it is fantastic thanks to wide, frequently fluffy pistes and some truly slick infrastructure that some European resorts would do well to pay attention to. Yet it is the metres of snow that silently fall each winter, and the perfectly spaced trees, that are the real reason for visiting this country. Throw in the long opening hours, the opportunity to ski powder under floodlights (a true once in a lifetime experience that is not to be missed) and the famous cultural diversity of the place, and you'll wonder why nobody told you about this skiing wonderland earlier.

• The Mountains