CENTRAL Hokkaido

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Asahidake Central Hokkaido
Asahidake Central Hokkaido
Deep Central Hokkaido Snow
Deep Central Hokkaido Snow
Central Hokkaido Powder
Central Hokkaido Powder
Kurodake Hokkaido
Kurodake Hokkaido
City of Asahikawa
City of Asahikawa
Tomamu: South Central Hokkaido
Tomamu: South Central Hokkaido
Central Hokkaido Snow
Central Hokkaido Snow
Central Hokkaido Backcountry Skiing
Central Hokkaido Backcountry Skiing
Tomamu Japan
Tomamu Japan
Asahidake Japan
Asahidake Japan
Furano Backcountry
Furano Backcountry
Central Hokkaido Powder Skiing
Central Hokkaido Powder Skiing
Furano Hokkaido
Furano Hokkaido
Asahidake Ropeway
Asahidake Ropeway
Delightfully Deep
Delightfully Deep
Central Hokkaido offers lots of backcountry touring opportunities
Central Hokkaido offers lots of backcountry touring opportunities
Powder Skiing Central Hokkaido
Powder Skiing Central Hokkaido
The quality of the Central Hokkaido snow is generally amazing
The quality of the Central Hokkaido snow is generally amazing
Asahidake, above the ropeway
Asahidake, above the ropeway
The Powderhounds love Central Hokkaido!
The Powderhounds love Central Hokkaido!

CENTRAL Hokkaido

Central Hokkaido Skiing

So you’ve probably heard by now how fabulous the snowboarding and skiing in Hokkaido is, and how amazing the Hokkaido snow is? And undoubtedly you’ve heard of Niseko in Hokkaido?! Sure, the snow at Niseko and other ski resorts near the coast is superb and absolutely abundant, but in Central Hokkaido the quality of the snow is generally even more superb and offers the best snow in Japan.

There are a few destination ski resorts in Central Hokkaido where you could hang out for a week such as Furano, Tomamu and Sahoro, but particularly for powder hounds, you’ll definitely want to sample several ski areas. And the Central Hokkaido backcountry skiing and splitboarding is out of this world when it comes to chasing the famed Hokkaido powder.

If you asked us where our best days of powder skiing in the world have been, the answer is Central Hokkaido. We probably don’t have a specific favourite ski resort or backcountry area, as it’s really the combination of multiple spots in the region that makes it fabulous.

Pros & Cons of Central Hokkaido

Pros
  •  The quality of the Central Hokkaido snow is generally off the powdomoter scale!
  • There is a good selection of different ski resorts within easy driving distance of each other.
  • Much of Central Hokkaido isn’t westernised and you can choose from different cultural experiences including onsen villages, modern kitsch resorts, old school ski resorts, city life and rural Japan.
  • Central Hokkaido skiing and accommodation is typically much cheaper than what you’ll find at Niseko, Rusutsu and Kiroro.
  • The region is quickly becoming more popular, but you’ll still find that Central Hokkaido skiing is rather uncrowded and freshies are reasonably easy to come by.
Con
  • Like many other Japanese ski resorts, some of the Central Hokkaido ski resorts will only hold the attention of experienced riders for a couple of days. You’ll probably want to do a road trip and head to multiple ski areas to keep the stoke high.

Central Hokkaido Snow

A few of the Southwest Hokkaido ski resorts near the coast get such massive snowfalls, that they are up there as some of the highest for ski resorts in the world. Examples include Kiroro, Niseko and Sapporo Kokusai. By the time the storms make it further inland to Central Hokkaido, some of the moisture has already dropped onto the coastal mountains, so the Central Hokkaido ski resorts don’t tend to get as much snowfall but the quality is superior.

Part of this is guess work because measuring snow volumes is probably more of a westernised concept, and many of the ski areas don’t cite a snowfall statistic. Nevertheless the estimates would suggest that the volumes of Central Hokkaido snow are nothing to be sniffed at, and would still make many of the North American ski resorts very jealous.

And the high elevation areas in the Daisetsuzan National Park such as Asahidake, Kurodake and Tokachidake receive big dumps of snow. The translation of Daisetsuzan means “mountains of big snow” or “big snowy mountains”. Either way it’s indicative that there’s plenty of the highly renowned Hokkaido snow.

I recall one day skiing neck deep powder at Furano (yes neck deep – not exaggerating!), over the shoulder Hokkaido powder in the backcountry, and nipple deep at Kamui, and plenty of other deep days, so I don’t think you need to worry about there being enough snow!

Chasing the Central Hokkaido Powder

So you’ve probably got the message by now that if you want to chase the snow storms (or avoid them if it results in a ropeway being closed) and score plenty of terrain variety, you don’t want to go to just one ski resort.

You’ll find information on Powderhounds.com for each ski resort regarding how to get to nearby ski areas, but in essence it’s very clunky to get between the Central Hokkaido areas unless you have a rental car and self-drive, or a guide who will drive you around.

Unless you’re very experienced at route finding and negotiating the backcountry, we’d highly recommend getting a guide. Day guiding is available out of Furano (and Asahidake and Asahikawa to a lesser degree) or you can go on a multi-day tour that includes guiding, accommodation, and all transport. Guiding can cover the off-piste zones, lift accessed sidecountry, and/or the backcountry via skinning or snowshoeing.

Where are the Central Hokkaido Ski Resorts?

The central part of Hokkaido is to the northeast of Sapporo. There are multiple places you could base yourself, but two common choices are Furano (the belly button of Hokkaido) and the city of Asahikawa. Furano provides easy access to both the southern and northern ski areas in the region, whilst Asahikawa is really only ideal for the northern ski areas.

Road distances to ski resorts from Furano are as following.
To the south: To the north: Road distances to ski areas from Asahikawa are as following.
Central Hokkaido Ski/Snowboard Tours

Safari (Road Trip) Tours

Hokkaido Storm Chaser
GUIDED STORM CHASING SAFARI
7 Days | 6 Nights | 6 Ski Areas
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Chase the storms and access the deepest and best quality snow conditions on the day in the Otaru area and Central Hokkaido's world famous deep dry powder.
Price p/p Displayed price may cary slightly due to exchange rates fluctuations
Base/invoice currency is JPY
Price includes 13% tax.
Base/invoice currency is JPY
Price includes 13% tax.
USD 2,807
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Hokkaido Backcountry Powder Quest
GUIDED BACKCOUNTRY TOUR
7 Nights | 8 Days
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Jump on the Hokkaido Backcountry Powder Quest tour & experience the magical powder wonderland Hokkaido is famous for along with its rich culture & incredible cuisine. Join as a solo, couple or small group; max 6 guests per tour & guaranteed departures.
Price p/p Price per person, based on 2025 group tour
USD 4,499
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Hokkaido Powder Belt
GUIDED SIDECOUNTRY & BACKCOUNTRY
7 Days | 6 Nights | 5 Days Guided Skiing
Ability: Advanced to Expert
The Powder Belt Tour is a multi-area safari staying in one base, incorporating a mixture of lift assisted sidecountry plus backcountry touring. Based in Central Hokkaido, the tour heads to ski areas that are renowned for the abundant dry powder.
Price p/p Price is per person based on min 2 in group for 2024 season.
Base/invoice currency is in Japanese Yen
Displayed price may vary slightly to actual due to currency fluctuations
USD 2,680
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See all Safari (Road Trip) tours that visit CENTRAL Hokkaido here

Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area Tours

Furano/Central Hokkaido Experience
LOCAL GUIDED & HOSTED TOUR
7 Nights | 5 Days Guided | 1 Unguided free day | Furano + 4
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Advanced
Experience the best powder that Furano & the Central Hokkaido region has to offer. Venture off-piste in Furano, Kamui, Tomamu, Sahoro & Asahidake with some local guides for the total Central Hokkaido ski/board adventure. It’s their passion to show you what skiing/riding in Japan is all about!
Price p/p From price based on twin/triple-share room for 2024 season.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY inc. taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 1,729
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Central Hokkaido Tour
FULLY GUIDED & HOSTED TOUR
10 Nights | 8 Days Skiing/Riding
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Avoid the crowds and revel in the renowned high quality Central Hokkaido powder at Furano, Asahidake, Kamui Links, and hidden gems such as Pippu, Sahoro and Tomamu. Mostly lift accessed powder hunting, plus the option to do a little hiking to get more goods.
Price p/p From price based on twin/double-share group option for mid season 2024 tours per person.
Base/invoice currency is in Japanese yen inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,848
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Guided Day Tours
CENTRAL HOKKAIDO GUIDED DAY TOURS
For private groups of up to 6 participants
Ability: Intermediate to Expert
Looking for a guide for a day or more for yourself and up to 5 other friends from Furano? Terrain focus is off-piste, sidecountry & backcountry at destinations include Furano, Kamui, Asahidake, Tomamu, Pippu & Sahoro. Touring options at Furanodake, Tokahidake & Kurodake available. Enquire for details.
Price p/p
USD 84
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See all Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area tours that visit CENTRAL Hokkaido here

Single-Base, Single-Ski-Area Tours

Hokkaido Northside
GUIDED SIDECOUNTRY & BACKCOUNTRY
7 Days | 6 Nights | 5 Days Guided Skiing
Ability: Advanced to Expert
The Hokkaido Northside Kurodake Tour incorporates a mixture of lift assisted sidecountry plus backcountry touring, with a focus of riding at the famed Kurodake, renowned for being steep & deep. You will be rewarded with face shots of the deepest & driest powder on planet earth!
Price p/p From price is based on per person min 3 people on tour
Bas/invoice currency is JPY
Displayed price in other currencies may vary slightly to actual due to exchange rate fluctuations.
USD 2,580
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See all Single-Base, Single-Ski-Area tours that visit CENTRAL Hokkaido here

Backcountry Skiing Tours

Hokkaido Backcountry Tour
GUIDED BACKCOUNTRY TOURING
9 Nights | 8 Days Touring
Ability: Expert
Earn your turns with backcountry touring. Flexibility is the key & the trip will go where the best untouched lines are, from the Daisetsu National Park in the North to the crater of Mt Yotei near Niseko.
Price p/p From price based on twin share option for group tour for 2024 season. Min 3 guests required to run tour.
Base/invoice currency is in Japanese yen inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,915
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Hokkaido Unlocked
BACKCOUNTRY TOURING
7 Days | 6 Nights | 5 Days Guided Skiing
Ability: Advanced to Expert
This backcountry bonanza takes in the best Hokkaido backcountry zones in Central Hokkaido and the famed Niseko area. Whilst a lift may be used at times to gain initial vertical, you'll mostly be earning your powder turns yet the rewards will be sweet
Price p/p Price is per person based on min 2 in group for 2024 season.
Base/invoice currency is in Japanese Yen
Displayed price may vary slightly to actual due to currency fluctuations
USD 2,680
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Powder Belt Backcountry Tour
BACKCOUNTRY TOURING WITH LIFT ASSIST
9 Nights | 7 Days Skiing/Riding
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Explore Central Hokkaido's endless backcountry under your own steam as well as using the lifts. Perfect for those that don't want to hike all day and/or those relatively new to backcountry touring. Based in Furano, explore different ski areas each day.
Price p/p From price based on twin/triple-share option for group tour for 2024 season. Base/invoice currency is in Japanese yen inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,814
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See all Backcountry Skiing tours that visit CENTRAL Hokkaido here