Mashike Choei Shokanbetsudake

Shokanbetsudake Ski Resort is a small, inexpensive, local town-operated ski area on the Sea of Japan coast in Northern Hokkaido (Dohoku). It’s operated by the town of Mashike, hence the “chōei” in the full name of Mashike Choei Shokanbetsudake.

Like many other little ski areas in Hokkaido, Mashike is a community ski hill rather than a standalone international ski destination or a key freeride spot. If you like exploring quiet local ski-jos and you’re in the area, it’s worth checking out for half a day and combining with another nearby choei ski area. Or check it out whilst waiting for a weather window for some backcountry touring on Shokanbetsudake.

Pros and Cons of Shokanbetsudake

Pros

• It offers unique local ski-jo vibes.
• The slopes offer views across the Sea of Japan, that’s of course if there’s fine weather to appreciate them.
• Whilst you don’t get a lot of ski terrain for your yen, lift passes are cheap, and food at the cafeteria is also inexpensive.
• Shokanbetsudake Ski Area opens at a leisurely 10am, so you can have a sleep in and still get there for “first lifts”, not that there’s much competition for the powder if you missed the first lift.
• Mashike Choei Shokanbetsudake scores a lot of snow.

Cons

• Shokanbetsudake is a very small ski area with 2 fixed grip chairlifts. It is unlikely to keep strong intermediate and advanced piste skiers entertained for more than a few hours.
• The ski hill is not very steep, whilst at the other end of the spectrum, it’s not ideal for newbies or nervous beginners either.

Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective

• Mashike Choei Shokanbetsudake is in a remote location, so it takes plenty of commitment to get there, with a major upside being that there are no crowds.
• Shokanbetsudake is a low elevation ski area, so whilst it receives considerable snowfall, the snow quality can be vulnerable to temperature fluctuations. One plus for the low elevation is that the ski area is not exposed and wind blown, unlike the backcountry terrain further up the mountain.
• It’s a very low frills ski area, little to no English is spoken, and you’ll get a genuine ski-jo experience.

Shokanbetsudake Ski and Snowboard Terrain

As is somewhat common to town operated ski hills in Hokkaido, it’s small, with just 2 double chairlifts and 6 runs (courses), with 190 metres of vertical (126 – 316m).

The lower section serviced by the first chair is more mellow and has highway-wide runs. The Snowboard Course is best for beginners and has some fun banks, whilst the Seagull Course is more suited to confident beginners. The Connection Course has some flat spots in it, so it’s not ideal for snowboarders on deep days. If you’re super keen, there is night skiing at the Shokanbetsudake Ski Resort on weekends.

The top lift has a couple of groomed runs that are suitable for intermediates, that usually have ungroomed opportunities on the sides. The Challenge course is generally left fully au naturale, and for advanced skiers and riders, it’s not really much of a “challenge”, with the maximum gradient hitting 30 degrees.

“Officially” skiing is not permitted off-course, yet the locals go off-piste, and the local rule seems to be “just don’t let the kids do it”. Most of trees are deciduous and there’s the odd evergreen, and the trees are well spaced, so it’s easy to keep up plenty of momentum towards the base.

Mt Shokanbetsu rises up to 1,491 metres. When it’s not blowing a gale or socked in, it offers good backcountry ski touring and splitboarding.

Shokanbetsudake Snow

Shokanbetsudake receives substantial snowfall from the Sea of Japan weather systems, and at the peak of the season, the base sits at about 1.8 metres on average. As to be expected, the ski area receives very coastal snow. The primary slope aspects are west through to northwest and they don’t get that much sun during winter, yet considering the low elevation of the ski area, it doesn’t take much for the snow to set up hard.

Conversely, when the snow is fresh it can be light and fluffy, thanks to classic Hokkaido cool temperatures and its northerly position with a latitude of 43.81°, making it amongst one of the most northerly ski areas in Japan.

Where is Mashike Choei Shokanbetsudake?

Mashike Choei Shokanbetsudake is about 6km south of the town of Mashike, which is a historic fishing town on the west coast of Hokkaido in the Rumoi subprefecture. The ski area sits on the lower flanks of Mt Shokanbetsu (ie Shokanbetsu-dake).

Shokanbetsudake Ski Resort is 21km southwest of the town of Rumoi, 95km west of Asahikawa (a 1.5 to 2 hour drive), and 120km north of Sapporo. The drive from Sapporo is approximately 2 hours via the Fukagawa-Rumoi Expressway or 2.5 hours if you take the scenic coastal road.

There’s a free ski bus from Rumoi to Shokanbetsudake on weekends which is probably only useful for the locals, so you’d want to have a car to travel there. There are no major Hokkaido ski resorts in the vicinity of Shokanbetsudake, yet there are various other little community ski areas in the region.

Accommodation

There is no accommodation at the ski hill, so if you wanted to stay in the area, there is very affordable lodging in the town of Mashike. Auberge Mashike is a nice option and has onsen facilities. Or you could stay in nearby Rumoi.

Ski Resort Facilities

The amenities and services at the ski area cover the absolute basics so don’t be expecting an international snowsports school, a day spa, sleigh rides, or even equipment rentals. Of course, being Japan, you can expect a vending machine!

The day lodge is relatively new by Japanese ski resort standards, and houses a rest area upstairs, the ticket office and a cafeteria downstairs, that serves up classic fare such as udon, ramen and curry rice at rock bottom prices.