Average House Price: Y 50,000 (£292,000)

Average Snow to Surf Distance: 2 hours drive

Did you know that Japan has both waist-deep powder and cruisy beach breaks to surf?

If you want a slice of both, Niseko is perfectly positioned to cater for mountain and beach lovers.

It’s tucked up on the north island of Hokkaido with a solid reputation for amazing powder skiing and snowboarding in the winter.

It snows pretty much constantly from December through to May – and locals prefer to stick to the pistes, leaving hundreds of acres of untouched snow for you to ride.

There’s dozens of surf breaks within reaching distance – for hardy winter surfers and fair-weather summer sliders.

One of the closet to Niseko is Shioya. Just under two hours drive away, it’s a popular beach break, ideal for all levels of surfers. Alternatively, check out Hamaatsuma on the island’s south coast.

If you’re looking for something a bit more challenging, head over to Rishiri Island by ferry from Wakkanai. There’s dozens of perfect point breaks to surf, but it’s probably a good idea to get a local guide to show you the ropes.