Lifts & Terrain
Tomamu Ski Resort
Tomamu is a truly liberated ski resort with the introduction of the "Advanced Liberation Area". Whilst some other ski resorts in Japan ban off-piste and tree skiing, Tomamu's jewel-in-the-crown is the permission to ski off-piste and anywhere amongst the well gladed trees. You can get in amongst the Hokkaido powder instead of being teased by it from afar. The only downside of the Advanced Liberation Area is that you have to complete a consent form each day, and wear a helmet and a poxy-looking coloured bib, but powderhounds don't seem to mind.
In addition to the off-piste areas,
Tomamu has a variety of pistes suitable for most levels of riders except experts. The face above the sky-scraping towers is most suited to intermediates, whilst the area above the resort center (serviced by the gondola) has pistes for a range of abilities as well as a great terrain park and a kids-specific play area.
Tomamu Lifts
The resort has 11 lifts. There are a couple of quad chairs with hoods for ugly weather days and a 4-person gondola (or gondora as the Japanese like to call them). The rest of the chairs are very slow single and double chairs.
Night skiing is available on a couple of the beginners' lifts.
Lift tickets
Single ride tickets are available (although three tickets are required to ride the gondola) as well as 12 ride tickets. A one day lift pass for an adult costs 4,800 yen (
convert here) and 3,600 yen for children (2008-09 prices). Discounts apply on multi-day tickets.
Snow and weather conditions
Temperatures at Tomamu remain fairly low with an average of minus 10 degrees celsius during winter, so the 8m of annual snowfall generally remains in good condition. In typical Hokkaido fashion, the powder is generally very light and dry. However one of the negatives of the resort is that most of the slopes within the resort face south. After a few days of sun, the off-piste slopes can become a bit crusty.
Ski Terrain For the Beginner
The bottom third of the vertical of the mountain is very gentle so there are various easy slopes on which beginners can practise. Most of the bunny slopes are located near the Resort Center and the Villa Sports Hotel, and for more adventurous beginners there is a winding slope that travels from the top of the gondola down to the base.
Intermediate Ski and Board Terrain
The mountain has eight good intermediate groomed runs which are just adequate to keep an intermediate rider entertained. For intermediates wanting to experiment off-piste there are lots of spots where they can dabble in the powder without being too far away from the safety of the groomer.
For the Family/Kids
Tomamu has gone to great-lengths to develop a family friendly resort. It has an entire 27 hectare area on the gentle slopes at the lower end of the resort called “Adventure Mountain”. It is basically a giant Winter fun-park that the big kids will enjoy too. There is also a little kids park.
For The Shredder
The resort has a very well maintained half-pipe, the terrain park and some great jumps for those that who like to get a bit of air.
Advanced Skiing and Boarding
Tomamu has some black courses (ie runs) that are ungroomed and often develop into bump runs. The real joys for advanced riders are the off-piste areas which are absolutely awesome. Generally these have well gladed trees as well as some bamboo to add some fun obstacles. In a few places the trees are really, really tight but the powder rewards are worth the effort of having to do all those turns.
Expert Ski and Snowboard Terrain
Tomamu rates all their off-piste areas as "expert", although considering none of the areas are super steep and there are no drop-offs or cornices, they are more aptly rated as advanced. Whilst there are no palm-sweating runs at Tomamu, most experts are just happy ripping up the powder.
Skiing and Snowboarding for the Powderhound
Whilst the snow within the resort is sometimes sun-baked, there is very good news for powderhounds at the back of the resort outside of the resort boundary. Patrollers may not be happy about you entering this area, but the temptation for pristine powder amongst the trees may be too great. You can get fresh tracks in here days after a snow fall, and the snow stays very dry. You may only get about 150m of vertical before a long traverse out to the right to return to the double chair, but it's worth it just for the beautiful powder.
There are also back-country opportunities to the skiers' right of the resort, but scope your line well or you may end up down at the train station.