Ski Jam Katsuyama
Ski Jam Katsuyama in Fukui Prefecture is popular as a day trip resort for locals and visitors from Kyoto, Osaka and Nagoya, as well as Kanazawa. Or Ski Jam might hit your radar if you’re in the land of dinosaurs to visit the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, the Katsuyama Dinosaur Forest Nagaoyama Park, one of the dinosaur theme parks, or Katsuyama Castle.
Katsuyama is a mountain of katsu curries – yum! My Japanese skills are pretty poor, but Katsu yama is probably more likely to mean “victory mountain” or “winner mountain”. Anyhow, Ski Jam Katsuyama is a reasonable ski resort, especially for intermediates, but we probably wouldn’t call it a winner. If you’re an international powder hound and have got the opportunity to head further north to bigger and better ski resorts, you probably should.
Pros and Cons of Ski Jam Katsuyama
Pros
- It’s within easy day trip distance for those in the Kansai region and parts of Chubu.
- It’s one of the larger ski resorts in the region, which isn’t necessarily saying much.
- There is a nice ski-in ski-out hotel at the base of Ski Jam.
- Ski Jam Katsuyama aka Jamkatsu is very good for intermediate cruisers.
- Whilst in the area you can check out the reconstructed Katsuyama Castle, which is the tallest castle in Japan, the dinosaur museum and theme parks, and Shindaiji Temple with its big Buddha statue (Echizen Daibutsu) and 5-storey pagoda.
- Ski Jam is popular with families due to combination of the slopeside hotel, the dinosaurs, and kids park.
Cons
- Like other ski resorts within day trip distance of big cities in Japan, crowds descend on Ski Jam Katsuyama on weekends.
Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective
- Whilst not in the same league as powder hound faves further north, Ski Jam has a bit of tree skiing and better powder opportunities compared to the ski areas in the Kansai region.
Ski Jam Katsuyama Ski and Snowboard Terrain
The Katsuyama Ski Resort is larger than other ski resorts in western Japan, but small to medium sized on a Japanese ski resort scale, and petite on an international scale. Ski Jam has 12 courses plus 3 designated tree runs, and 6 lifts (3 quads, 1 triple, 2 doubles, plus magic carpets).
The ski area has 3 distinct sections, and the transitions between them can feel very flat if the snow is soft. The Variety Site (610 to 960m) at the base is mostly for beginners and is where the weekend crowds mostly hang out. Fantasy Site (960 to 1,240m) is an intermediate zone and it has a terrain park. Further on is Illusion Site (960 to 1,320m) which is an intermediate to advanced zone and relatively quiet compared to the oft crazy base area. Whilst it may take a while to get lifts to the top, once you’re there you can just lap that zone as there are facilities and an eatery there.
Ski Jam has only one proper beginner run which is mellow yet it starts out narrow and winding, so it’s OK for beginners but not ideal, especially if there is congestion. Other green runs necessitate a descent down a slightly steeper run, and there are beginner/intermediate runs so it’s ideal for confident beginners. Intermediates are well catered for, whilst there are only a couple of short advanced piste which are good if you love moguls. Ski Jam has a few official tree run courses, 2 of which are mellow with wide trees, whilst Tree Run Course B is pitchier and has a maximum gradient of 37 degrees. Other treed areas within and outside the resort are up for your interpretation of the rules. It’s difficult to be discrete and in some zones the trees have tight spacing.
Ski Jam Katsuyama Snow
Ski Jam often gets decent snow, although the seasons at this latitude seem to be getting more inconsistent, and the elevation of the ski resort isn’t particularly high. Usually the snow base hits about 2 metres by mid-season and the ski resort uses a lot of snowmaking to get the season started.
The predominant aspect of the slopes is west facing, and the best tree run off the top lift has a NW aspect.
Where is Katsuyama?
Ski Jam Katsuyama is located in the rural city of Katsuyama which is known for its many dinosaur fossil digs. Ski Jam is in the northeast corner of Fukui Prefecture (west of
Gifu Prefecture) and not far from Fukui City.
Road distances from Ski Jam:
- Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum – 9.5km
- Katsuyama – 11km
- Fukui City – 38km
- Kanazawa – 77km
- Kyoto – 186km to the southwest
- Tokyo - 422km to the east
There are buses from Katsuyama Station which take 20 minutes, and on peak days there are options for overnight and day buses from Osaka.
If driving to Ski Jam Katsuyama, it’s not too far from Katsuyama IC, and the section from Fukui Kita JCT and Katsuyama IC is free.
Ski Jam Accommodation
Hotel Harvest Skijam Katsuyama sits in a ski-in ski-out position at the base of the ski area. It’s a reasonably modern hotel and has Western, Japanese and combo rooms, and there is a special dinosaur room which is highly coveted. The hotel also features indoor and outdoor onsen baths.
Otherwise you could stay in Katsuyama or Fukui.
Ski Resort Facilities
The amenities are well developed, and as to be expected, Ski Jam has a kids’ park which is very popular.
Ski Jam offers private ski and snowboard lessons in English.