15 Recommended Ski Resorts in Hokkaido
If you travel to Hokkaido during winter and spring, one experience you cannot miss is the snow activities.
Hokkaido ski resorts are famous for their powder snow, and There are many ski resorts around Sapporo or other main cities, they provide various of ski equipment rental services, so you can make just a day trip without bringing anything. For young children and adults who have never skied before, the sledding and snow-tubing are recommended.
Here we collected some recommended ski resorts for your reference.
1. Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort
Near the Jozankei hot springs, this resort is home to 7 runs covered with the finest powder snow. The 2.2km downhill trail can be enjoyed for its steep slopes and deep snow, with the best powder snow, makes this resort one of the most popular.
Address: Jozankei 937-banchisaki, Minami-ku, Sapporo
Access from Sapporo:
* 60 minutes by car from downtown Sapporo
* Buses from city hotels and Sapporo Station (subway and JR lines)
General Season: Early December to Early March
General Opening Hours: 09:00 – 17:00 weekdays/ 8:30 - 17:00 weekend& holidays
General Ticket: 4600JPY/PP
2. Sapporo Teine Ski Resort
This resort is popular for its top quality powder snow with a variety of excellent runs. At the elevation over 1,000 meters, visitors can enjoy powder snow conditions overlooking lshikari Bay. There is even a Dinosaur Park for kids. Rental-free sleds and snow tubes are available for the whole family to enjoy!
Address: Teine-hon-cho 593, Teine-ku, Sapporo
Access from Sapporo:
* Around 40 minutes by car from central Sapporo
* Buses from city hotels and Sapporo Station (subway and JR lines)
General Season: Late November to Early May
General Opening Hours: 9:00-16:00
General Ticket: 4800 JPY/PP
3. Sapporo Moiwayama Ski Area
There are 10 runs for skiing only, and the 2.6km long sightseeing Road Course offers a spectacular night view of the city. You can enjoy skiing until 9:00 at night, since eight courses have night-skiing facilities.
Address: Moiwashita 1991, Minami-ku, Sapporo
Access from Sapporo:
* Around 30 minutes by car from central Sapporo
* From Makomanai Station on the Subway Namboku Line, take the Jotetsu Bus
General Season: Mid December to 31th,March
General Opening Hours: 9:00-21:00
General Ticket: 3800JPY/PP
4. Sapporo Bankei Ski Area
This ski resorts is easy for beginners to enjoy, and there is “Wakuwaku Snow Land” for kids. The snow escalator makes it easy to get on the hill, The “Fuwafuwa Peace Dog” is a popular attraction that enables kids to play without worrying about the cold.
Address: Bankei 410, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
Access from Sapporo: Around 25 minutes by car/bus from central Sapporo
General Season: Early December to Early April
General Opening Hours: 9:00-22:00
General Ticket: 4600JPY/PP
5. Takino Suzuran Hillside Park Snow World
Short and gentle courses here are perfect for people who are trying to ski or snowboard for the first time. You can also enjoy other fun snow activities with your family, such as tube sledding and snowshoeing.
Address: Takino 247, Minami-ku, Sapporo
Access from Sapporo: Around 40 minutes by car/bus from central Sapporo
General Season: End of December to End of March
General Opening Hours: 9:00-16:00
General Ticket: 2040JPY/PP
6. Fu’s Snow Area
You can experience the luge and baseboard here, since this resort is the only place having luge in Hokkaido. Actually, the luge stadium was built as a practice course for the 1972 Sapporo Olympics.
Address: Takino 247, Minami-ku, Sapporo
Access from Sapporo: Around 40 minutes by car/bus from central Sapporo
General Season: End of December to End of March
General Opening Hours: 9:00-16:00
General Ticket: 2040JPY/PP
7. Otaru Tenguyama Ski Resort
Located on northern slope of Tenguyama, a seaside town of Otaru, this Ski Resort is small, but do not dismiss it though. You can have a lot of fun for a day trip from sapporo, with its steep tree skiing, and make it your own private ski resort on weekdays, and the feature in family-friendly. It also can be a good option when the land storms are blowing, while nearby ski areas such as Kiroro have the main lifts closed.
Address: Otaru, Hokkaido
Access from Sapporo: 1 hour from Sapporo by car or bus
General Season: December to March
General Opening Hours: 9:00-16:00
General Ticket: 4000 JPY/PP
8. Niseko Grand Hirafu Ski Resort 
This world-class ski resort is the largest resort of Niseko United’s four ski resorts, is known for its 5600 m slope. Niseko is famous for the fine quality powder snow, especially this one has attracted nemurous foreign visitors. The atmosphere is international and unique, the staff could speak English. It is worth visiting once.
Address: Niseko, Hokkaido
Access from Sapporo: 110 minutes from Sapporo by car
General Season: Late November to Early June
General Opening Hours: 8:30-20:30
General Ticket: 4300 JPY/PP
9. Niseko Village Ski Resort
It is the second largest ski resort in Niseko, beside the steeply slopes and wild courses for skilled skiers, a new ski area for beginners has been opened, so now everyone can enjoy skiing and finest powder snow here!
Address: Niseko, Hokkaido
Access from Sapporo: 110 minutes from Sapporo by car
General Season: Early December to Early April
General Opening Hours: 9:00-16:00
General Ticket: 5500 JPY/PP
10. Furano Prince Snow Resort
The scale is a bit smaller than the most popular resorts, though it is still a great ski resort with the same quality of fine powder snow and much more moderate weather here. Plus,
The beautiful views of Furano and Daisetsu are indeed something others can’t compete.
Address: Furano, Hokkaido
Access from Sapporo: Around 130 minutes from Sapporo by car, 3hours by railway.
General Season: Late November to Early May
General Opening Hours: 8:30-19:30
General Ticket: 5500 JPY/PP
11. Rusutsu Resort
Enjoy the top quality powder snow in vast snowfields with splendid landscape of mountains, a true paradise for Skiers and Snowboarders, Rusutsu Resort is the biggest ski resort in Hokkaido. Spending 2 or3 days here is easy, since the resort provides various of facilities such as hot spring, restaurants, and shops. Plus it is easily accessible to many main tourist areas in Hokkaido, like Sapporo, Otaru, Lake Toya, etc.
Address: Rusutsu, Hokkaido
Access from Sapporo: 80minutes from Sapporo by car
General Season: Late November to Early April
General Opening Hours: 9:00-21:00
General Ticket: 6200 JPY/PP
12. Kiroro Ski Resort
Just like other famous ski resort in Japan, the quality of powder snow in Kiroro Ski Resort is top-level. This resort has fantastic lift facilities, is a good choice if you plan skiing early in the season. With offering many none-skiing activities, kids and adults who live a kid inside or travelers in budget could enjoy winter activities here, in other words, this resort is very family-oriented.
Address: Akaigawa, Hokkaido
Access from Sapporo: Around 70 minutes from Sapporo by car
General Season: Late November to Early May
General Opening Hours: 9:30-16:30
General Ticket: 4500 JPY/PP
13. Hoshino Resorts Tomamu Snow Park
Be undisputed, this resort has the top quality powder snow, except this factor, This resort is also famed for its inland location creates the ideal conditions for dry powder snow, its range of snow activities and large hotel. Their runs are well-balanced for all level skiers , the one gondola and five lifts elevate you up to hill. With an Ice Village and the Terrace of Frost Tree, it is family-friendly ,especially for children, there is plenty to do for first-time snow travelers.
Address: Tomamu, Hokkaido
Access from Sapporo: Around 120 minutes from Sapporo by railway
General Season: December to April
General Opening Hours: 9:00-22:00
Lift Ticket: 5900 JPY/PP
14. Hakodate Nanae Snow Park
In this resort, you can enjoy magnificent views of Mount Komagatake and waters, plus the Hakodate city. Beside the 4 kilometers runs , there are also 2-kilometer ski runs with wide and gentle slopes for families. It is an ideal place for all levels, and is uncrowded.
Address: Hakodate, Hokkaido
Access: Around 25 minutes from Hakodate station(4 Hours by railway from Sapporo)
General Season: Mid December to Early April
General Opening Hours: 9:00-22:00
General Ticket: 5800 JPY/PP
15. Kamui Ski Links
“Kamui” means “divine being” or “god” in Ainu mythology, this resort is definitely blessed by the powder gods and a divine place where you can have an all-you-can-eat powder buffet. It is indeed small, but really a fantastic ski resort with little cheap prices, and it offers plenty of opportunities for skiing and snowboarding.
Address: Asahikawa, Hokkaido
Access from Sapporo: Around 2 hours from Sapporo by car
General Season: December to March
General Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00
General Ticket: 3000 JPY/PP