Best Hokkaido Ski Resorts: Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro, Furano & Tomamu
Boasting a very long season and some of the best snow in the world, the resorts of Hokkaido are fantastic and for many, offer the best skiing and snowboarding in Asia. On this page you will find the following information:
— Hokkaido Ski Resorts: The Stats & Facts
— Where to Stay When Visiting the Resorts
— Japan Ski Resorts: Everything You Need to Know
Sitting to the north Japan’s main island of Honshu, Hokkaido lies a significant distance from Tokyo and the popular ski fields of Central Japan. Despite that added distance, the resorts of Hokkaido have no trouble attracting international visitors. But when researching which resort to visit in Hokkaido, you might at first be underwhelmed by the stats. Compared to European and North American ski resorts, the resorts of Hokkaido appear small and with little elevation. Indeed it’s a fact that even the largest resorts in Japan would rate as medium-sized resorts in Europe or North America, while Hokkaido’s highest chairlift only reaches an uninspiring 1200 metres – low by even Japanese standards!
So why does everyone rave about it and why do they bother covering the extra distance to get there? That’s easy to answer. Hokkaido is blessed with some of the worlds deepest and best powder. That isn’t an exaggeration. Hokkaido’s location to the north of Japan’s main island subjects it to constant blasts of extremely cold weather which dumps metres and metres of dry, light and fluffy powder on the local resorts, that in turn enjoy very long seasons and are known for their year-in, year-out reliability. The powder can be off the charts and when combined with some of Japan’s best facilities for international visitors in resorts such as Niseko and Rusutsu, you’ll soon discover just why the resorts of Hokkaido are so popular.
HOKKAIDO SKI RESORTS: THE STATS & FACTS
Hokkaido is home to a large number of resorts including some of the most popular ski areas in Japan. In this section, we’ll breakdown the stats, facts and positives of the best resorts i.e. those that we consider best-suited to international visitors including:
NISEKO UNITED SKI RESORT — RUSUTSU SKI RESORT — KIRORO SKI RESORT — FURANO SKI RESORT — HOSHINO RESORTS TOMAMU
Sitting to Japan’s main island of Honshu, Hokkaido lies a significant distance from Tokyo and the popular ski fields of Central Japan. Despite that added distance, the resorts of Hokkaido have no trouble attracting international visitors. The reason? It’s simple. Hokkaido is blessed with some of the deepest and best powder in the world. That isn’t an exaggeration. While the resorts listed below differ in size and character, they all boast massive snowfall and fantastic powder. Let’s get started with the largest of them the combined ski fields of:
NISEKO UNITED SKI RESORT
Niseko United is the most popular and famous resort in Hokkaido, and rates among Japan’s best. It is comprised of four connected resorts – Hanazono, Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Annupuri – covered by an all-mountain pass, with a fifth area – Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort – accessible via sidecountry. Niseko is without doubt Japan’s most international and high-end ski resort, attracting visitors from all over the world. Large by Japanese standards, it offers 325 hectares of terrain, fantastic powder (and huge amounts of it), and some of Japan’s best accommodation, nightlife and plenty of facilities targeted solely and foreign visitors. If you want an ‘authentic’ feeling Japanese resort, then Niseko isn’t for you. However, if you don’t mind the crowds and the cost – it really can get busy and is usually notably more expensive than other resorts in Japan – and want the seductive combination of world-class skiing/boarding, accommodation and restaurants, then Niseko United is your best option in Hokkaido. For more information, see our ’25 Things to Do Around Niseko & Where to Stay’ page.
Operating Dates & Times
Dependent on snow conditions, Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu is typically open from the beginning of December and as late as early-May, with most lifts operating from 08:30 to 16:30 and with night-skiing from 16:30 to 19:00; Niseko Hanazono is typically open from the beginning of December until early-April with lifts operating from 08:30 to 16:30 and night-skiing until 19:00; Niseko Village Ski Resort is typically open from the beginning of December until the end of April with lifts operating from 08:30 to 16:30 and night-skiing available until 19:00; while Niseko Annupuri Kokusai is typically open from late-November until as late as early-May with lifts open from 08:30 to 16:30 and night-skiing until 19:30.
Ski Runs
Comprised of four resorts on the eastern and southern flanks of Mt Niseko Annupuri (1308m), Niseko United offers visitors 325 hectares of connected terrain accessible via around 80 ski runs using 30 chairlifts and gondolas. Added to that, Niseko provides access to plenty of fantastic backcountry which totals to one of Japan’s largest ski areas. Marketing often positions Niseko as the largest ski resort in Japan however it isn’t quite the case, with Shiga Kogen Ski Resort in Nagano taking that title by some margin. But regardless of that, Niseko is Japan’s most popular resort. Here’s a breakdown of the four areas:
Niseko Hanazono Resort offers 11 ski runs serviced by 1 gondola and 3 chairlifts. The official breakdown lists trails as: beginner 22% / intermediate 66% / advanced 12%. The resort sits between 308 to 1040 metres and offers a decent 732 metres of vertical, with the steepest pitch hitting 30°. The longest run is 3.3KM. Niseko Hanazono connects to:
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu is the largest of the four areas, boasting 30 ski runs serviced by 1 gondola and 11 chairlifts. The official breakdown lists trails as: beginner 30% / intermediate 38% / advanced 32%. Sitting 260 to 1200 metres and offering an attractive 940 metres of vertical, with the steepest pitch hitting 40°. The longest run is 5.6KM. Niseko Hirafu connects to both Hanazono and:
Niseko Village Ski Resort is the second largest area, offering 27 ski runs serviced by 3 gondolas (2 of which are quite short) and 5 chairlifts. The official breakdown lists trails as: beginner 36% / intermediate 32% / advanced 32%. The resort sits between 280 to 1170 metres above sea level, which adds up to 890 metres of vertical, with the steepest pitch hitting 35°. The longest run is 5KM. Niseko Village connect to Hirafu and:
Niseko Annupuri Kokusai Ski Area offers 13 ski runs serviced by 1 gondola and 5 chairlifts. The official breakdown lists trails as: beginner 30% / intermediate 50% / advanced 20%. The ski fields sit between 400 to 1156 metres, adding up to 756 metres of vertical with the steepest pitch hitting 34°. The longest run is 4KM.
Highlights
Plenty of people rate Niseko as the best resort in Japan and do so for lots of reasons. Firstly, it’s one of the largest resorts in the country offering plenty of terrain and modern infrastructure making it quick and easy to move around. A large variety of groomed runs cater to all levels – from absolute newbies to advanced skiers and boarders – while easy access to backcountry lets you slip easily into some of Japan’s best powder. In addition, Niseko boasts some of Japan’s best alpine and tree skiing and boarding with twelve terrain parks to round-out what ranks as one of Japan’s best all-round resorts. But this just tells half the story… Niseko is Japan’s most international resort, offering the most services and business aimed solely at foreign visitors and non-Japanese speakers including a huge range of excellent accommodation, restaurants and nightlife. All of this comes at a cost as Niseko is also notably more expensive than most other resorts in Japan and given its popularity, you’ll be sharing it with many, many people. But if you can handle the crowds and cost, then Niseko won’t disappoint.
Tickets & Passes
Niseko United ranks as Japan’s most expensive resort, with lift passes costing as much as double some other resorts in Japan. The all-mountain day pass covering the four resorts of Niseko United costs: Adults (16+): JPY8100 / ES-aged Children (7-12): JPY4900 / JHS & HS-aged Children: JPY6500 / Seniors (60+): JPY6500. Day passes included night-skiing. A range of other tickets are also available including multi-day and points-based tickets.
Rental & Ski School
You won’t have any trouble arranging rental in Niseko. All four ski areas have ski and snowboard rental outlets with staff by English-speakers. Plenty of hotels also offer in-house rental, with prices and quality of gear varying across the various outlets. It’s a similar story when it comes to arranging lessons. Ski and snowboard schools cover all four areas, with lessons available in English and other foreign languages.
Kids & Families
Niseko is a good resort for children and families. There are kids’ activity parks in all four areas of the resort, in which children can enjoy activities including snow rafting, tubes and sledding. Ski and snowboard lessons are available for kids while areas including Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko Village have paid daycare for children aged 1 year and above.
Accommodation & Village Info
Niseko boasts the best accommodation of any resort in Japan with high-end hotels, apartments and chalets attracting visitors seeking comfort and enjoyment. The greatest concentration of accommodation, restaurants and bars is found in Hirafu Village, with most options being with 5 to 10-minutes walk of the lower Hirafu ski fields. Located at the base of the Niseko Village ski fields, Niseko Village also offers plenty of high-end options along with dining and nightlife. You’ll find plenty of large, upscale hotels in the area – including the Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Hilton Niseko, The Green Leaf and others – making it hugely popular. The Hanazono area includes options such as the Park Hyatt and other high-end options Annupuri offers the fewest options. There’s no escaping the fact that Niseko is expensive, with hotel prices maxing-out over the popular Christmas and New Year period and weekends and public holidays throughout winter. However there’s enough reasonably priced accommodation dotted through the area providing enough mid-range and budget options if you’re looking to visit without breaking the bank – see our ‘Best Places to Stay in Niseko’ page for more details and links to accommodation listings.
Getting to Niseko
Distance to New Chitose Airport: 115KM / approx. 2.5 to 3 hours.
Most people heading to Niseko – or any of the Hokkaido resorts – will do so via New Chitose Airport. There are plenty of options to get there from the airport, with multiple companies operating bus services to Niseko and rental cars also being a good option. Visitors heading to Niseko from Sapporo have the option of bus, train or again, to drive themselves – see ‘3 / How to Get to the Resorts’ below for more information.
RUSUTSU SKI RESORT
Located 40-minutes to the east of Niseko, Rusutsu is often rated Hokkaido’s best ski resort. Spread across three small mountains – they really are small, each under 1000 metres – Rusutsu is a low-lying resort but one that receives a huge amount of snow each year, which thanks to its inland location is dry and light. Many people will tell you it’s blessed with Japan’s best powder and added to that, Rusutsu is Hokkaido’s largest standalone resort with around 236 hectares of terrain – with lots more accessible off-piste. A resort in every sense of the word, Rusutsu attracts even more visitors outside of winter with an outdoor amusement park – only operating in summer – and multiple large hotels catering well to foreign visitors, families and high-end market.
Operating Dates & Times
Dependent on snow conditions, the resort is typically open from late-November until early-April with lifts operating from 08:30 to 16:30. The resort is divided into three areas – Mt Isola, East Mt and West Mt – with lift times varying however typically running from 09:00 to 16:00 or 16:30, and with night-skiing available until 20:00 in the West Mt area.
Ski Runs
Rusutsu offers skiers and snowboarders 37 ski runs serviced by 4 gondolas and 14 chairlifts – and a total of 236ha of terrain*. The official breakdown lists trails as: Beginner: 30% / Intermediate 40% / Advanced 30%. Rusutsu offers some beautiful groomed runs with easy access to sidecountry, tree zones and backcountry – all easily accessible without the need for long traversing. The resort is at low altitude – from 400 to 994 metres – and offers a conservative 594 metres of vertical. The steepest pitch hits 40° but there’s also plenty of mellow areas for beginners and intermediates to dive into the deep stuff. The longest run is 3.5KM.
*You might read elsewhere that Rusutsu offers a very large 820ha of terrain – which would make it Japan’s largest resort by a huge margin – however this claim is somewhat misleading as it factors in all possible terrain you could access from the resort, including backcountry and heliskiing on Mt Shiribetsu. In truth, Rusutsu offers 210ha on-piste, which is very decent by Japanese standards. The resort operates a certified ski school including group and private lessons with instruction available in English.
Highlights
Rusutsu wins lots of fans and even awards as one of Japan’s best resorts. While this stems from a range of things – including modern infrastructure, fun terrain and without the crowds of Niseko – basically it comes down to one thing – powder! Plenty of people rate Rusutsu’s powder as the best in Japan – and by saying that they are saying up there for best powder in the world – with terrain, including fantastic tree zones, that make it accessible for just about anyone. Combine that with plenty of fun stuff on-piste over a decent 210 hectares and the added attractive to fantastic backcountry and Japan’s best heliskiing, then you get an idea why Rusutsu tops plenty of peoples lists as the best resort in Hokkaido, if not Japan.
Tickets & Passes
Day passes for Rusutsu cost: Adults (13+): JPY6500/ Children (4-12): JPY3500 / Infants (0-3): Free / Seniors (60+): JPY5500.A range of other tickets are also available including half-day, multi-day and spring-skiing special while Rusutsu is also covered by the EPIC Pass.
Rental & Ski School
Rusutsu offers plenty in the way of rental including three stores inside the Rusutsu Resort Hotel and a fourth inside nearby The Westin Rusutsu Resort. All stores stock both ski and snowboard gear, including premium models by Salomon and Atomic. Stores are usually open from 08:15 to 18:00 (or as late as 19:00). The resort operates a certified ski and snowboard school including group and private lessons with instruction available in English. Lessons can be arranged through the hotels.
Kids & Families
As a resort in every sense of the word, Rusutsu provides an excellent range of activities and services for families and children, including plenty of services for English-speakers. The Crayon Shin-chan Hiroba area is located at the base West Mt ski fields and offers activities such as snow-biking and tubing of kids of all ages, while day-care services are available inside the hotel from 08:30 until 18:30 (advanced booking is required / JPY1200 per hour) along with an indoor wave pool and game arcade (with the resort’s famous outdoor amusement park only operating in summer).
Accommodation & Village Info
Rusutsu includes multiple large hotels including Rusutsu Resort Hotel, The Vale Rusutsu and Westin Rusutsu Resort. The Rusutsu Resort Hotel is well-suited to families with both Japanese and Western-style rooms available, while The Vale Rusutsu offers luxury 1 to 4-bedroom suites and condos. Westin Rusutsu Resort is a 24-storey tower hotel well-suited to groups and families, with rooms accommodating 4 to 7 guests. All three hotels are conveniently located nearby the ski fields. Nightlife at Rusutsu is largely limited to the restaurants and bars inside these hotels, with a couple of small venues located around the base the resort. As such, Rusutsu can’t match Niseko for nightlife. For some people that’s a negative, while for others it’s a positive feature of the resort – see our ‘Best Places to Stay in Rusutsu’ page for more details and links to accommodation listings.
Getting to Rusutsu
Distance to New Chitose Airport: 90KM / approx. 2 hours.
Most people heading to Rusutsu will do so via New Chitose Airport. There are plenty of options to get there from the airport, with express buses running directly to Rusutsu – with some then heading onto Niseko – and rental cars also being a good option. Visitors heading to Rusutsu from Sapporo have the option of bus or to drive themselves, There are no train stations nearby the resort therefore traveling by rail isn’t an option – see ‘3 / How to Get to the Resorts’ below for more information.
KIRORO SKI RESORT
Located 60-minutes to the north-east of Niseko, Kiroro Ski Resort or ‘Kiroro Snow World’ is spread across two mountains and four ski areas that enjoy some of the deepest snow in Hokkaido. It is a medium-sized resort with good infrastructure and a number of high-end hotels. The resort offers some fantastic sidecountry and backcountry, lots of kids activities and family-oriented services, and good accommodation options making it an excellent all-rounder with lots of powder.
Operating Dates & Times
Dependent on snow conditions, the resort is typically open from the late-November until late-April or into early-May, with most lifts operating from 09:00 until 15:30 (and until 16:00 in April and May). Night-skiing is available in the resort’s central area until 19:00.
Ski Runs
Kiroro has 23 ski runs serviced by 2 gondolas and 8 chairlifts, offering 150ha of terrain. The official breakdown lists trails as: beginner 38% / intermediate 29% / advanced 33%. Known for its huge snowfall and truly excellent quality of its powder, Kiroro is all about getting off-piste – which can be a little tame – and into the trees to enjoy some of the best and deepest powder in the world. Like most resorts in Hokkaido, Kiroro is a low-lying, sitting between 610 to 1180 metres and only offering 570 metres of vertical with the steepest pitch hitting 37°. The longest run is 4KM.
Highlights
Kiroro is all about the powder. The resort has a good mix of groomed and ungroomed runs, with terrain suitable for anyone from absolute newbies to advanced skiers and snowboarders. While advanced skiers and boarders might find the on-piste action a little mellow, the resorts forested off-piste areas allow easy access to the resort’s deepest powder with four separate gates providing access to backcountry and ridge line for anyone who really wants to get into. Blessed some Hokkaido’s deepest – and many people will say best powder – Kiroro offers some of the best snow in the world with excellent facilities.
Tickets & Passes
Day passes for Kiroro cost: Adults (19+): JPY5900 / Children (6-12): JPY3100 / JHS & HS Students (13-18): JPY5200 / Seniors (65+): JPY5200. A range of other tickets are also available including half-day, multi-day and spring-skiing specials.
Rental & Ski School
Located on the first floor of the Mountain Center building, Kiroro Rental is open from 08:30 until 30-minutes after the final lift of the day. Offering a big range of ski and snowboard gear, it stocks standard gear and premium models for both adults and children. Kiroro has multiple ski and snowboard schools also catering to both adults and children. Prices and times vary between schools with lessons in English available at a couple of them.
Kids & Families
Annie Kids Ski Academy caters exclusively to the little ones while there is also a children’s snow park where kids and families can enjoy tubing and arrange snowmobile rides. Game Park Granship is an indoor activity area welcoming kids and families who need a break from the snow. Kiroro also runs a kids care program for children aged 2 to 7. Available from 09:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:00, advanced booking is required with half-day costing JPY2800 and a full day costing JPY5200.
Accommodation & Village Info
Visitors headed to Kiroro have a limited number of accommodation options but that includes some good ones. The resort doesn’t have a village to speak of but instead has a couple of large hotels offering ski in/out convenience and a good range of facilities including ‘onsen’ (hot springs). The Sheraton Hokkaido Kiroro Resort is located at the base the main ski field while The Kiroro Tribute Hotel is located a little further away and connected to the ski fields by a chairlift. Yu Kiroro is a condo hotel offering high-end comfort, also within easy reach of the slopes. Without a central village, Kiroro certainly doesn’t have the nightlife of Niseko however there are some fantastic restaurants located in the hotels named above – just make sure you’ve got a decent chunk of change in your pocket as enjoying them comes at a cost – see our ‘Best Places to Stay in Kiroro’ page for more details and links to accommodation listings.
Getting to Kiroro
Distance to New Chitose Airport: 110KM / approx. 2 hours.
Express buses run directly from New Chitose Airport and Sapporo to the resort. Visitors heading to Kiroro can also consider the option to drive themselves, There are no train stations nearby the resort therefore traveling by rail isn’t an option – see ‘3 / How to Get to the Resorts’ below for more information.
FURANO SKI RESORT
Lying around 115km / 2 hours to the east of Sapporo, putting it more than 200km / 4 hours from the hugely popular Niseko, Furano is many people’s favourite resort in Hokkaido. Sitting further inland than Niseko, Rusutsu and Kiroro and being at low altitude, Furano doesn’t receive as much snow however still boasts a very healthy season average of 9 metres, and being located away for the coast, the snow is typically dry powder allowing for fantastic skiing and snowboarding. With a decent amount of terrain and long runs, Furano offers something for everyone including excellent side and backcountry. Less-developed than resorts such as Niseko, Furano retains a local character without the high-end developments of Niseko and at which the focus is what happens on the slopes and in the trees.
Operating Dates & Times
Dependent on snow conditions, the resort is typically open from the second-half of November until early-May with lifts operating from 08:30 to 16:30. The resort is divided into two zones: the Furano Zone – open from mid-November until May – and the Kitanomine Zone – open mid-December until March. The zones are connected at the top and both have night-skiing available in limited areas until 20:00.
Ski Runs
Furano has 28 ski runs serviced by 1 ropeway, 1 gondola and 7 chairlifts across 194ha of terrain. The official breakdown lists trails as: beginner 40% / intermediate 40% / advanced 20%. The resort is known for its long, groomed runs with terrain suitable to all levels, along with fantastic side and backcountry. Although located very low altitude – 235 to 1074 metres – Furano offers a pretty decent 839 metres of vertical including some steep terrain. The longest ski run is 4KM.
Highlights
While Furano’s stats somewhat underwhelm, the resort ranks among Japan’s best thanks to the reliability of its snow, the resorts size, mix of terrain and solid amount of vertical – reflected in the fact that Furano has hosted the FIS Downhill World Cup ten times. It is also a beautiful resort. Bordered by the Daisetsuzan National Park, Furano feels remote and wild, attracting the devotion of plenty of advanced skiers and snowboarders who come (and often stay) for the fast groomers and epic powder in the trees.
Tickets & Passes
Day passes for Furano cost: Adults (13+): JPY6000 / Children (0-12): Free / Seniors: JPY5400. A range of other tickets are also available including half-day, multi-day and spring-skiing specials.
Rental & Ski School
Operated by the Prince Hotels group, it’s no surprise to find two large Prince Hotels at the base of both the Furano Zone and Kitanomine Zone. Each hotel has its own large rental store offering ski and snowboard gear – open 08:00 to 19:30. You will also find rental stores inside the Furano Ropeway Terminal – 08:30 to 16:30 – and Kitanomine Gondola Terminal – 08:30 to 19:30. The resort includes multiple ski schools providing instruction in English, including the Furano Snow School and Furano International Snowsports School (FISS). Lesson types, prices and times vary by school.
Kids & Families
Furano is a good resort for children and families due to a policy that allows children aged up to 12, to ski and snowboard for free. At the base stations of both the Furano ropeway and Kitanomine gondola, children’s activities areas with moving carpets can also be used for free. Kids and families can enjoy activities such as sledding and tubing in these areas. Daycare services are also available in both buildings, with daycare and ski/snowboard lessons available in English.
Accommodation & Village Info
Visitors to Furano have a couple of distinct accommodation options. Firstly, being owned and operated by the Prince Hotel groups, it is no surprise that both areas of the resort are serviced by two large Prince Hotels offering many types of rooms, multiple restaurants, shops and a full-suite of services. Away from those hotels, there is also a large range of self-contained options including houses and apartments, while Furano village – located around 20-minutes walk from the base of Kitanomine zone – boasts lots more accommodation, restaurants and bars. The village is actually at its busiest outside of winter when it attracts thousands of visitors for the areas famous flowers. In winter, there’s some nightlife to enjoy but nothing like Niseko – see our ‘Best Places to Stay in Furano’ page for more details and links to accommodation listings.
Getting to Furano
Distance to New Chitose Airport: 130KM / approx. 2.5 hours.
Visitors heading to Furano have the option of flying into New Chitose Airport or the smaller but closer Asahikawa Airport. Express buses operate from both airports while anyone coming from Sapporo, might want to consider using the train to Furano Station and then taking the short shuttle bus journey onto the resort. As always when it comes to the Hokkaido resorts, renting a car and driving yourself can be a good option – see ‘3 / How to Get to the Resorts’ below for more information.
HOSHINO RESORTS TOMAMU
Lying around 1.5 hours to the south-east of Furano Ski Resort, Tomamu is a medium-sized resort with excellent snow and facilities well-suited to families. Operated by the Hoshino Resorts group, Tomamu is a ‘resort’ in every sense of the word. Large hotel towers including high-end restaurants and indoor 50 metre wave pool reflect the fact that Tomamu isn’t just about the snow, and is an all-year-round resort catering to a high-end crowd. This will appeal to some while turn others off but shouldn’t distract from the fact that Hoshino Resorts Tomamu is another Hokkaido resort blessed with amazing powder.
Operating Dates & Times
Dependent on snow conditions, the resort is typically open from the beginning of December until the first week of April with lifts operating from 09:00 to 16:00. Night-skiing is available from 16:00 to 18:00 from late-December until the end of March.
Ski Runs
Tomamu has 29 ski runs serviced by 1 gondola and only 5 chairlifts, providing access to 124 hectares of terrain. The official breakdown lists trails as: beginner 30% / intermediate 40% / advanced 30%. While the resort is known for its glitz and glam, it also offers some truly fantastic action on and off-piste, with the resort’s side and backcountry providing lots of motivation to visit. Tomamu sits between 586 to 1171 metres above sea level, with a modest 585 of vertical with the steepest pitch hitting 35°. The longest run is 4.2KM.
Highlights
There’s no escaping the fact that the resort is aimed at the high-end market, wanting a full ‘resort’ experience with just as much to do away from the slopes as on them. All of things come at a price meaning that Tomamu is an expensive resort to stay at, however it should also not distract from the fact that it’s a good resort with plenty to offer – especially for the powderhounds among us. The on-piste action caters well to beginners and intermediates, with a couple of decent mogul courses for advanced skiers. For those wanting to get off-piste, Tomamu offers some epic powder and easily accessible side and backcountry, including the resort’s ‘Experts Only Powder Area’ – a restricted area for advanced skiers and boarders only, for which you are required to register and comply with safety requirements. The resort’s inland location means it is subject to very cold temperatures – as low as -30 °C at night – keeping the powder in fantastic condition. So remember to dress warmly and get stuck right in!
Tickets & Passes
Day passes for Tomamu cost: Adults (13+): JPY5900 / Children (6-12): JPY3900 / Seniors (55+): JPY5300. A range of other tickets are also available including half-day, multi-day and night ski passes.
Rental & Ski School
The resort has multiple ski and snowboard rental outlets, open from 08:30 to 16:00 (or end of lift operations). For guests staying in either of the large hotel towers, rental can be arranged within the hotel making it quick and easy. Prices vary depending on what you need and the quality of gear that you’re after. Snow Academy provides both group and private ski and snowboard lessons. Lessons can be arranged for both adults and children, with tuition available in English. Prices vary depending on the type of lesson, and length of time, you want to book.
Kids & Families
Tomamu is an excellent resort for children and families. The resort includes multiple snow activity areas for kids with plenty of activities to keep them smiling including snow buddy and snowmobiling tours, snow rafting, banana boats, horse-riding, snowshoeing and plenty more. GAO Nursery & Snow Play provides daycare services from 08:30 to 17:00 daily – advanced booking is required / JPY6000 for 2 hours – while facilities including an indoor craft room, the indoor ‘Mina-Mina Beach’ wave pool, and evening outdoor ‘Ice Village’ provides families plenty of entertainment.
Accommodation & Village Info
Accommodation at the resort comes in the form to two huge tower hotels – RISONARE Hotel and The Tower Hotel. Both offer high-end and spacious Western-style rooms and boast multiple restaurants. The hotels also offer ski in/out convenience and full concierge services. Club Med Tomamu is another option for visitors really wanting a full resort experience while a couple of smaller accommodation options are located nearby. If none of this appeals to you, consider staying around Furano Ski Resort and visiting Tomamu as a day-trip – see our ‘Best Places to Stay in Tomamu’ page for more details and links to accommodation listings.
Getting to Tomamu
Distance to New Chitose Airport: 110KM / approx. 2 hours.
Visitors headed to Tomamu have quite a few options, with express bus services running to the resort from New Chitose Airport, Asahikawa Airport and Sapporo. Alternatively, traveling by train from either New Chitose Airport or Sapporo is also straight-forward and quite time effective, with car rental offering another good option – see ‘3 / How to Get to the Resorts’ below for more information.
WHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING THE RESORTS
Each resort offers world-class skiing and snowboarding with the combined resorts of Niseko, offering the most accommodation and best setup for international visitors. Rusutsu and Tomamu also feature high-end accommodation while Kiroro and Furano offer large hotels targeted at the Japanese market. Our ‘Best Places to Stay’ pages for NISEKO / RUSUTSU / KIRORO / FURANO / TOMAMU pages include information about the best areas to stay at each resort and links to accommodation listings.
HOW TO GET TO THE RESORTS
Our ‘How to Get to the Hokkaido Ski Resorts’ page has everything you need to know about how to get to the resort or resorts of your choice, including bus, train and rental car information from New Chitose Airport, Asahikawa Airport and Sapporo.
JAPAN SKI RESORTS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Did you know that the resorts of Hokkaido are just some of the hundreds spread throughout Japan? Needless to say, when you choose Japan for your winter getaway you are spoiled for choice! Our ‘Japan Ski Resorts’ page has everything you need to know to start planning your ski and snowboard adventure including: LATEST NEWS & DEALS, THE BEST RESORTS IN NAGANO & JAPAN, FAQs and of course OUR SKI PACKAGES, ACCOMMODATION, TRANSPORT & TOURS.
