There’s a city in Japan giving Salt Lake City, Denver, Vancouver and Boise a run for their ski city titles. Asahikawa is the second largest city in Hokkaido, behind Sapporo, boasting over 300,000 residents and, like their North American counterparts, easy access to some of the best powder skiing in the world.
With a plethora of resorts on the city’s door step from little boutique fields to some of the best backcountry skiing in Japan, all within an hour’s drive or shuttle from the city, simply fly into Asahikawa airport direct from Tokyo and settle in.
You’ll find Kamui Ski Links (the only ski area in Dohoku with a gondola) a forty minute drive or shuttle away. Nearby lower elevation (and smaller) Pippu Ski Resort offers night skiing and the vistas and elevation of Kurodake is worth the 90 minute drive for the quality of snowfall alone.
If you love backcountry skiing then Asahidake’s famed volcanic geysers are also an hour shuttle away, take a guide and a camera. The Tokachi-dake mountains in the Daisetzusan National Park are also famed for deep deep snow, again take a guide and earn your turns. The team at Alpine Backcountry Guides are some of the best in the business, founded by Aussie legend John Morrell.
If you prefer the comfort of motorised uphill then Tengu Cat Skiing have a great reputation as members of the North American Heli & Cat Association and IFMGA certified guides. You’ll find it on the former Kitataisetsu ski resort site just over an hour from Asahikawa.
You can even spend a few days in Asahikawa then head to Furano or Tomamu to mix it up.
One savvy Japan hotel brand has made time in Asahikawa even easier for skiers and snowboarders. OMO7 is an urban hotel by Hoshino Resorts that features OMO Base, where “powder info of the day” can be found to help you decide which ski resort to visit based on the conditions, plus live cameras from five nearby ski resorts.
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- OMO7 free waxing Asahikawa
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- Free Shuttle Bus, OMO7
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- OMO7 Ticket counter Asahikawa
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- OMO7 Mountain City Pub
Gusts can purchase ski resort lift tickets and vouchers at the hotel and there’s even a free shuttle bus to Kamui Ski Links, Santa Present Park, Pippa Ski Resort and Daisetsuzan Asahidake.
The OMO Powder Snow Sessions are also held every Saturday at OMO Base, featuring professional skiers and local field guides. Together with OMO Rangers, they will share the allure of Asahikawa’s powder snow, the unique features of each snowfield, and tips for après-ski enjoyment – though you could just pull up a seat at the hotel’s Mountain City Pub and stumble back to your room.
But wait, there’s more. OMO7 Asahikawa is equipped with a secure dry room near the main entrance where all ski and snowboard gear can be dried and stored. The OMO WAX BAR provides 30 types of snow wax for free.
