Kurodake
Kurodake Ski Area Hokkaido
The Kurodake ski area forms part of the Daisetsuzan National Park. The translation of Daisetsuzan means “mountains of big snow” or “big snowy mountains”. Either way you get the picture that Kurodake is a fabulous spot for powderhounds looking for a challenge. The area is home to the tallest mountains in Hokkaido that are blessed with approximately 15 metres of snowfall each season. One look at all that powder will get a powderhound drooling!
Kurodake Ski and Snowboard TerrainHokkaido skiing is renowned for the deep not steep, yet Kurodake breaks the mould of Hokkaido ski resorts. Kurodake has the joys of the legendary Hokkaido powder, and combines this with steep gnarly terrain, the type that can keep dentists in business. And unlike many other Japan ski resorts, the patrollers won’t chase you for ducking ropes to sample the off-piste. Kurodake is an off-piste paradise akin to the ultimate slackcountry experience.
Best of all – there are no crowds. When you drive up to the ropeway and see the absence of cars in the car park, it’s a dead give away that powderhounds are in for a treat.
See the
Kurodake ski terrain page for more information.
Where is Kurodake?
Kurodake is located in the Daisetsuzan National Park in north central Hokkaido Japan. Kurodake is very close to
Asahidake as the crow flies, and it shares many similarities with this ski area.
Kuro-dake rises up from the town of Sounkyo which is situated on route 39, the main road between
Asahikawa (67 km – 1:30 hours) and Obihiro (122 km). The trip from
Furano takes about 2:45hours and from
Sapporo about 3 hours.
If you don’t have your own set of wheels it’s possible to get to Sounkyo via a bus from Kamikawa train station (check train schedules
here). Alternatively there are buses from Asahikawa.
The other option to get there is to go with
Black Diamond Tours.
Sounkyo Accommodation
Sounkyo is an onsen resort town so it has the typical multi-storey hot spring hotels, some with rotenburo outdoor baths and others with indoor onsens. Most of the large hotels are western style, but Sounkyo also has ryokan style hotels, a few pensions, and a youth hostel (only open in summer).
Sounkyo accommodation is not ski-in ski-out, with many of the hotels a reasonable walk to the ski area. However the Black Mountain Lodge, a basic and cheery ski lodge, is located opposite the Kurodake ropeway.
The other option for accommodation is to stay in one of the many
Asahikawa hotels (about 1.5 hours away).
Activities and Facilities
Other than skiing and snowboarding, the main winter activities in Sounkyo include a soak in one of the many onsens or ice climbing. Also popular is the Sounkyo ice festival, which runs from January through to mid March and features impressive ice sculptures.
Sounkyo has a few restaurants and bars. The Beer Grill Canyon in particular is an institution.
Why Ski or Snowboard at Kurodake?
The skiing and boarding at Mount Kuro is not well suited to beginners, intermediates or families, but is superb for hardcore riders who love long vertical, plenty of pow, and challenging terrain.
Tour Operators, Packages & Tours
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Black Diamond Tours - Multi Resort Tours
Combine Niseko with a couple or several other great ski areas in Hokkaido. Travel with the experts who can take you to secret powder stashes not commonly accessed by the masses.
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