Japan is a country beautiful in all four seasons. If you visit Japan in winter, it’s good to visit warm Okinawa, but you’ll also want to enjoy winter sports that are unique to winter.
Hokkaido, located at the northernmost tip of Japan, has powder snow that is perfect for skiing and snowboarding. Therefore, Hokkaido is the perfect place to enjoy winter sports. In this article, we will introduce 7 recommended ski resorts near Sapporo – Hokkaido’s tourist hub.
Characteristics of ski resorts near Sapporo
When you think of Hokkaido in winter, it’s all about snow, as exemplified by the Sapporo Snow Festival. There are many wonderful ski resorts near Sapporo where you can enjoy Hokkaido’s high-quality snow. Skiing or snowboarding on the finest powder snow will make you feel like you’ve improved your skills a notch compared to skiing on wet snow, and it’ll be twice as much fun.
Hokkaido’s ski season usually runs from early December to early May of the following year.
When you visit Hokkaido in winter, be sure to visit the ski resorts and enjoy skiing and snowboarding.
Recommended ski resorts near Sapporo
Recommended #1: Niseko United
Niseko United (ニセコユナイテッド) is Japan’s leading ski resort. It is a collective name for the four ski resorts in Niseko Annupuri (Niseko Hanazono Resort, Niseko Tokyu Grand HIRAFU, Niseko Village Ski Resort, and Niseko Annupuri International Ski Area). These four ski resorts are connected at the top and are one of the largest ski resorts in Japan.
Niseko United’s large scale allows you to enjoy a variety of courses. All courses are covered with high-quality powder snow from Hokkaido, so you’ll have the best skiing experience no matter which course you ski. Additionally, many nearby hotels have staff who can speak English and other foreign languages. Therefore, a big feature is that you don’t have to worry about language.
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| Opening hours | Please refer to the official website for details. |
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| Official website | https://www.niseko.ne.jp/ja/ |
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Great value “ONLINE LIFT PASS” are now on sale that include a one-day lift ticket and shuttle bus fare from Sapporo. Please refer to the official website for details.
Recommended #2: Rusutsu Resort
Rusutsu Resort (ルスツリゾート) is a huge ski resort with 37 courses and a total skiing distance of 42km. The transportation capacity, including four gondolas, can transport 30,000 people per hour, making it the largest ski resort in Hokkaido, which boasts many large ski resorts.
The superb powder snow is highly praised by skiers from overseas, and even top professional athletes come to enjoy the snow at Rusutsu Resort. If you want to enjoy skiing and snowboarding in Hokkaido, you can’t go wrong with Rusutsu Resort.
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| Opening hours | Please refer to the official website for details. |
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| Official website | https://rusutsu.com/ |
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“Rusutsu 100 days Music Live” is held from mid-December to mid-March every year. Live performances have been held for 100 consecutive days, from people who are active in Hokkaido to famous people from Japan and abroad. Please refer to the official website for details.
Recommended #3: Kiroro Snow World
Kiroro Snow World (キロロスノーワールド) is a ski resort that is easily accessible not only from Sapporo but also from Otaru and New Chitose Airport. Therefore, it will be very useful if you want to enjoy skiing while sightseeing. It is a large ski resort with a total of 21 courses, consisting of three areas: Asari, Yoichi, and Nagamine.
The Yoichi area mainly has gentle slopes for beginners, while the Asari and Nagamine areas have difficult courses for intermediate and advanced skiers. The base area also has plenty of facilities for families, including a snowmobile land and a kids park. As a result, it is a ski resort that meets the needs of everyone from beginners to advanced skiers, from solo travelers to families.
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| Opening hours | Please refer to the official website for details. |
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| Official website | https://www.kiroro.co.jp/ |
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Located just about 30 minutes away from the historic port town of Otaru, it boasts a prime location, making it easy to visit for sightseeing in Otaru. Furthermore, with many staffs fluent in foreign languages, you can enjoy skiing and snowboarding with confidence.
Recommended #4: Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort
Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort (札幌国際スキー場) is conveniently located within 60 minutes from Sapporo, making it easily accessible. Furthermore, it is also known as a ski resort where you can enjoy Hokkaido’s powder snow to the fullest.
There are courses depending on the level, so everyone from beginners to advanced skiers can enjoy it. The downhill course, especially for advanced skiers, is also popular as a course where you can enjoy powder snow to the fullest.
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| Opening hours | Please refer to the official website for details. |
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| Official website | https://www.sapporo-kokusai.jp/ |
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It is easily accessible within 60 minutes from Sapporo city, and day-trip buses from Sapporo run every day. It is within 30 minutes from Jozankei Onsen (定山渓温泉), so we recommend staying at Jozankei Onsen and taking a day trip.
Recommended #5: Sapporo Teine Ski Resort
Sapporo Teine Ski Resort (サッポロテイネスキー場) is a ski resort located in a very accessible location, about 40 minutes by car from Sapporo city. Furthermore, it is a famous ski resort that was once used as a venue for the Winter Olympics.
The Eight Gondola, Japan’s fastest gondola, is a very convenient way to travel between the Olympia area, which is for beginners and intermediates, and the Highland area, which is for advanced skiers. The peak is over 1,000m above sea level, and you can enjoy the highest quality powder snow.
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| Opening hours | Please refer to the official website for details. |
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| Official website | https://sapporo-teine.com/snow/ |
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The Kitakabe course is known as the most difficult course in Japan. If you are confident, please give it a try.
Recommended #6: Hoshino Resorts Tomamu Ski Area
Hoshino Resorts Tomamu Ski Area (星野リゾート トマムスキー場) is a ski resort operated by Hoshino Resorts. There are 29 courses ranging from beginners to advanced in two areas: Tomamu Mountain and Tower Mountain.
There are academy lessons and ski courses where children can enjoy skiing while improving their skills. In addition, there are many other attractions such as “Muhyo Terrace” (霧氷テラス) which can be accessed by the Unkai Gondola, and “Ice Village” which is a fantastic ice town. There are plenty of things to enjoy besides skiing, making it a ski resort recommended for couples and families.
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| Opening hours | Please refer to the official website for details. |
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| Official website | https://www.snowtomamu.jp/winter/ski/ |
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The Muhyo Terrace, which can be accessed by the Unkai Gondola, is a recommended spot where anyone can easily enjoythe spectacular view in a relaxed atmosphere. Every year, it is lit up at night from early December until Christmas, creating a magical atmosphere. Please refer to the official website for details on the event period.
Recommended #7: Sapporo Moiwayama Ski Resort
Sapporo Moiwayama Ski Resort (札幌藻岩山スキー場) is the closest ski resort to Sapporo city. Snowboarding is completely prohibited on the slopes, making it a ski resort that is friendly to beginners. Of course, there is a difficult course at the top that will satisfy even advanced skiers, so anyone can enjoy it.
On a clear day, you can see Sapporo city clearly. The night view of Sapporo city is especially spectacular during night skiing, making it the perfect ski resort for couples to enjoy. Another great thing is that you can enjoy skiing without having to worry about the tricky movements of snowboarders.
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| Opening hours | Please refer to the official website for details. |
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| Official website | https://www.rinyu.co.jp/moiwa/ |
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The biggest attraction of Sapporo Moiwayama Ski Resort is the night view of Sapporo city. Night skiing while looking at the night view of Sapporo on a clear night will be the best memory you have at a ski resort in Japan.
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