There is no place quite like Japan. It is a kaleidoscope of colour and a playground of ever-changing landscapes.

While Japan’s fast-paced cities are a veritable playground for travellers keen on bar-hopping, fine dining and vintage shopping, the quieter corners of Japan offer a peaceful getaway from Japan’s well-trodden urban centres and tourist hot spots. Here are some top escapes ideal for indulging in lo-fi pleasures (sans the crowds).

“Planning skiing holidays for families can be fraught – when I find a location that works I am keen to stick to the proven formula. Having experienced a superb ‘skiing in Japan with Kids’ holiday in Hakuba, I could see no reason not to return. Yet my husband has other ideas – friends report that Nozawa Onsen is the place to ski next…”

After a dozen winters skiing Japan I have a confession to make: for the past couple of years, as I start to dream about the next “Japowder” mission, I actually find myself dreaming more about the onsen (hot spring baths) than the actual skiing.