Lifts & Terrain
Kamui Links Ski and Snowboard Terrain
Kamui Links is a little heaven for powderhounds with dry powder and plenty of fresh tracks.
The highlight of the terrain at Kamui Links is the off-piste and out-of-bounds areas that are very easily accessed. Best of all, off-piste skiing is permitted, unlike some neighbouring resorts where it is heavily policed (see Japan off-piste overview). The in-bounds off-piste is predominantly tree skiing (and some bamboo skiing), and the out-of-bounds area are a combination of open areas and tree skiing.
Kamui Links is only a small to medium sized resort, but it offers adequate variety to entertain most levels of skiers and boarders. There are a few great cruising runs from top to bottom (see video). None of the on-piste terrain is particularly steep, and the bottom half of the mountain is very gentle in pitch and suited to beginners.
This resort has a reputation for being quiet which it generally is, but occasionally there is an in-flux of ski school participants who form moving obstacles (see the video). Off the groomed runs, it is generally very quiet with plenty of potential for fresh tracks.
Kamui Links Lifts
The main lift is a gondola, and there are 7 other lifts. They are fairly easy to navigate, and the only downside is that the double chair used by powderhounds is painfully slow. On the plus side, you might appreciate the rest? If skiing out-of-bounds you’ll also need to keep an eye on the time for the last lift.
Lift Tickets
Cheap, good value for money, inexpensive, budget – call it what you like, the lift passes will not break the bank. The only downside if that they don’t accept plastic fantastic for lift tickets.
Snow Conditions at Kamui Links
We were quite impressed with the snow conditions at Kamui Links. After a huge dump it was awesome, and even when there wasn’t fresh snowfall, the powder remained very dry and fluffy, especially when compared to conditions at nearby resorts.
Beginner and Intermediate Ski and Board Terrain
With 40 and 30 perfect of the in-bounds terrain dedicated to beginners and intermediates respectively, there’s plenty on offer for those on the L and P plates. The grooming is of good quality. The only limitation can be all the other punters on the slope.
For intermediates wanting to progress the turns, the top half of the mountain has a reasonable pitch.
For the Family/Kids
The bottom half is quite flat which is ideal for children learning to ski and board, so Kamui is reasonably popular with the Asahikawa locals. However the facilities are somewhat limited for international families. Equipment rental is limited, ski school is only for those fluent in the Japanese language, and child care is not available.
For The Shredder
There is a small park with jumps and kickers, but by no means is this a training ground for the next up and coming world freestyle champion.
Advanced Skiing
There are no steep pitches at Kamui Links, but as a result of the very relaxed approach to off-piste skiing, there is plenty to entertain the advanced rider with some good powder stashes and tree skiing within the resort. The tightness of the trees varies significantly between areas, so there is something for everyone. An enjoyable area is the semi-gladed zones under the gondola, although beware that not all valleys lead down. When we visited Kamui Links, the base cover was not great so there was some bamboo poking through, providing some more obstacles to ski around (or occasionally trip over!).
For the Powderhound
There are some easily accessed out-of-bounds areas that require no hiking, which is great for lazy powderhounds. With few riders venturing out-of-bounds, the powder found here can be very deep and there’s beautiful wide spacing between the trees. There’s not much vertical so the runs are short, and it requires a decent traverse out to return to the No. 5 double chair lift. The slow traverse may be somewhat frustrating for snowboarders. Thankfully some generous tour guides mark the lowest access trail with fluorescent ribbons to aid your traverse.
As with any backcountry skiing, the usual precautions apply. The resort provides various signs to remind you that “ski here and you may die”!