Niseko Ski Resort

Niseko is the most famous ski resort in Japan due to almost non stop powder conditions. The snow just never seems to stop! Riding is permitted pretty much anywhere so it is easy to get powder on almost any given day. It is also the largest ski resort in Hokkaido.

Rusutsu Ski Resort

Rusutsu is one of the best places in Japan for tree runs in deep powder. Easy access straight of the lifts mean that you can do ride them over and over till your legs are ready to fall off. Once you have been once then it's hard to go anywhere else. It's only an hour from Niseko.

Furano Ski Resort

Furano is one of Japan's biggest resorts and has one of the biggest vertical drops of nearly 1,000 mtrs. It is more known for it's leg testing long groomers than anything else but does have great backcountry and side country runs too if you know where to look.

Sapporo Teine Ski Resort

Teine is only an hour from Sapporo and is not a large area. It has a range of terrain suiting beginners to expert riders although not too much in between. It has breathtaking views from the top.

Kamui Ski Resort

Kamui is close to Asahikawa city, and has 2 benefits. Firstly, you will see very few westerners there, making your day seem more culturally authentic and secondly, there are no real off limit areas.

Hokkaido, Japan Ski &

Snowboarding Resorts

Most people who go to Hokkaido just go to Niseko and maybe Rusutsu, but with over 100 ski resorts Hokkaido has much more to offer than that. This page has a summary of the main resorts or you can go straight to each resort’s webpage via the quick links below.

Tomamu Ski Resort*

This resort is only an hour from the international airport. It is a small resort but rarely gets crowded. The cable car gets you to the top lift which provides some great tree runs. There is a great snow park.

Kurodake Ski Resort*

Kurodake is on the other side of Asahidake, and again it is not really a resort, rather a mountain with rope way access. Best run is straight under the ropeway with some of the steepest skiing in Hokkaido.

Saporo Kokusai Ski Resort*

Kokusai is about an hr from downtown Sapporo and can get a little crowded. The groomers are nothing to write home about but the sidecountry tree runs will keep all but the most expert riders happy.

Kiroro Ski Resort*

Kiroro is close to both Sapporo and Niseko, and has great tree runs (albeit not too steep) with reliable snow. Has great lift infrastructure and will suit beginners and intermediates.

Asahidake Ski Resort

Asahidake is not really a ski resort, more like a mountain with a ropeway to give you access. It is not especially steep but gets lots of extremely dry snow (driest in Japan?) and is an all natural terrain.