Hokkaido
Hokkaido Skiing
Hokkaido skiing is incredibly rewarding for powderhounds. Hokkaido, the north island of Japan, is geographically ideally located in the path of consistent weather systems that bring the cold air across the Sea of Japan from Siberia. This results in many of the resorts being absolutely dumped with powder that is renowned for being incredibly dry. Some of the Hokkaido ski resorts receive an amazing average of 14-18 metres of snowfall annually!
Hokkaido Ski Resorts
Niseko is the powder capital of the world and as such is the most popular international ski destination in Japan. It doesn’t seem to stop snowing in
Niseko, which is the major drawcard. Other famous resorts include
Rusutsu and
Furano, and
Tomamu is gaining more notoriety amongst international holiday makers. Hokkaido also has many ski resorts that are somewhat off the beaten track for international tourists.
Ski Hokkaido or Ski Honshu? How Do They Compare?
Hokkaido snow is generally superior to the powder in Honshu, the main island of Japan. Even though many of the ski resorts west of
Sapporo (such as
Niseko,
Sapporo Kokusai and
Kiroro) are in close proximity to the ocean, the cold temperatures tend to keep the powder dry. The volume of snow that dumps on these coastal mountains is also generally higher than that in Honshu (with exceptions such as the snow factory at
Hakkoda in the far north of Honshu). Further inland in central Hokkaido there’s slightly less snowfall, but the quality of the powder is even better. Not surprisingly our ski resort ratings indicate that Hokkaido comes up trumps when it comes to destinations for powderhounds.
Hokkaido has a reputation for being deep not steep, and whilst this is true of some of the Hokkaido ski resorts, places such as
Sapporo Teine and
Kurodake blow this myth out of the water. As a generalisation, Hokkaido ski resorts are less steep than many of the Honshu ski resorts, but when you compare skiing in Japan to some of the gnarly North American ski resorts such as Silverton, Whistler, Jackson Hole and Kicking Horse, all the Japan ski resorts seem really mellow!
Hokkaido is not densely populated and has more of a rural feel to it than Honshu. Generally everything is cheaper in Hokkaido than Honshu (Niseko is an exception), and the more you get off the beaten track, the cheaper it is. The cuisine is also somewhat different to other regions of Japan, with much more emphasis on ramen and seafood specialties such as crab.
Hokkaido provides a great taste of Japan, but if you want to combine a ski holiday with some historical sightseeing, temple hopping, traditional Japanese architecture spotting, and generally just absorbing the Japanese culture, then Honshu is better than Hokkaido.
Where are the Hokkaido Ski Resorts?
Many of the ski resorts are close together so you can easily sample multiple resorts during your ski holiday. The following are some of the ski resorts in Hokkaido, grouped according to location:
West of Sapporo
- Niseko – 100km southwest of Sapporo and the New Chitose Airport (2.5 hours drive)
- Moiwa – next to Niseko
- Chisenupuri - next to Moiwa
- Rusutsu – 75km southwest of Sapporo (90 minutes) and 89km west of the New Chitose Airport
- Kiroro – 43km west of Sapporo
Near Sapporo
- Sapporo Teine – 20km northwest of Sapporo (45 minutes)
- Sapporo Kokusai – 46km west of Sapporo (1 hour)
- Kiroro – 43km west of Sapporo
East of Sapporo
- Furano – 113km northeast of Sapporo (2:15 hours)
- Tomamu – 150km east of Sapporo (1:20 hours by train from Sapporo; 1 hour by train from the New Chitose Airport)
- Sahoro – 179km east of Sapporo (3 hours)
- Mount Racey (Yubari) – 77km east of Sapporo (1.5 hours)
Near Asahikawa (Central Hokkaido)
Family Friendly Hokkaido Ski Resort
Some of the Hokkaido ski resorts are very no-frills so they don’t cater particularly well to international families. Many of them don’t have child care or ski lessons in English, and a few don’t have kids’ rental equipment. Niseko and
Furano are an exception to this whilst
Tomamu is particularly great for families, with lots of activities to keep the little nippers entertained.
However if you want the ultimate family friendly ski holiday in Hokkaido, consider Club Med at Sahoro Ski Resort. You’ll pay a pretty penny, but if you want great programs for kids and the opportunity for some parent-only ski time, this place is a great holiday destination. Unfortunately they only provide childcare for kids over 2 years of age.
Otherwise head to Honshu ski resorts that are incredibly family oriented such as
Appi Kogen or
Naeba.
Getting to Hokkaido Japan
For information on getting to Hokkaido, see our
travel to Hokkaido page, which includes tips on flights to Sapporo and Asahikawa, as well as info on cheap domestic flights within Japan. It’s also possible to catch a train from Tokyo to Sapporo, with the option of stopping en-route at various Honshu ski resorts.
Tour Operators, Packages & Tours
Key Transport Operators
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Hokkaido Resort Liner - Bus Transfers
The most economical & efficient way to get to and from Sapporo / Airport to Hokkaido resorts including Niseko, Rusutsu, Furano, Kiroro, Kokusai, Sahoro & Tomamu.
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