If you're looking for something beyond and away from the mainstream ski options, you might want to consider the following.

Heli-skiing

Aizu Kogen Takatsue Ski Resort, Minami Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture
A helicopter takes you to an elevation of 1,600 meters, and then all you've got to do is cover the 5-km course back to the bottom. This service is available on Saturday, Sunday and national holidays throughout March. The cost is 6,000 yen per person (includes one-day ski pass). For inquiries, call (0241) 78-2220.

Sapporo Bankei Ski Resort, Hokkaido
At 1,255 meters the elevation is lower here, but the course is longer -- 8 km, with a maximum gradient of 26 degrees. It's available from late-March to mid-April and costs 15,000 yen per person (maximum eight people per flight). For inquiries, call (011) 641-0071.

Telemark skiing

Lodge Manten Boshi, Kayano, Nagano Prefecture
This is a good course for beginners, available from Dec. 22-23 or 22-24, Dec. 29-30, Jan. 5-6, and Jan. 12-13 or 12-14. Each course costs 12,000 yen for one night, 20,000 yen for two nights (insurance, school fee, and dinner and breakfast included). Rental fees are 3,000/4,000 yen for one or two days. For further information, call (0266) 67-3100.

T.M.N. Ski School, in Nagano
Lessons (also available in English) are held Dec. 15-March 31. The courses (1 1/2 hours) cost 4,000 yen per person (or for two people, 3,000 yen each; three people, 2,500 yen). Ski rentals (boots and skis only) cost 3,000/2,000 yen per full/half day. Reservations are required.

The company's tours, called Powder Camp, take you to Niseko, Hokkaido. This intermediate-level tour, for which experience of telemark skiing is essential, is available Feb. 8-11 (available to first 20 people only). It costs 55,000 yen (dinner and breakfast included), while rental fees for one day are 3,000 yen (ski and boots). For inquiries about lessons and the tour, call (0268) 74-2729. Although lessons are available in English, fluent Japanese speakers are preferred for the Niseko tour.

Pension Yama no Asa, Tateshina Kogen, Nagano Prefecture
The season starts at the end of December and ends in March. Rental costs are 3,000 yen per day. For inquiries, call (0266) 67-4640.

Cross-country skiing

Kohan no Mori Cross Country Course, Inawashiro, Fukushima Prefecture
Available from late December through March, this includes a variety of courses ranging from beginners to advanced (distances range from 3 km to 7 km), and costs 1,000 yen. Rental skis are available. Call (0242) 65-2811.

Grandeco Ski Resort Cross Country Course, Inawashiro, Fukushima Prefecture
Available from late December through late March, there are four course lengths -- 1 km, 1.5 km, 3 km and 5 km. There is no charge for the use of the course, although renting skis costs 3,500 yen per day. For inquiries, call (0241) 32-2530.

Minakami Kogen Ski Area Cross Country Course, Minakami, Gunma Prefecture
Available from late December through March, there are three courses -- 1 km, 3 km and 5 km. There is no charge for the course, but ski rental costs 4,000 yen. For inquiries, call (0278) 75-2222.

Snowscoot

A cross between BMX bikes and snowboards, snowscoots only recently hit Japan's slopes. If you have one, check out Yanoba Sports Park, (0261) 23-1123, in Nagano Prefecture, and Okutone Ski Resort, (0278) 72-8101, and Caetla Ski Resort, (0278) 58-4111, both in Gunma Prefecture. If you don't own one, you can even rent one for around 2,000 yen per half-day.