Asahikawa Ski Areas

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Asahikawa Hokkaido
Asahikawa Hokkaido
Furariito Alley Asahikawa
Furariito Alley Asahikawa
Asahikawa City Japan
Asahikawa City Japan
The pedestrian street Asahikawa
The pedestrian street Asahikawa
Asahiyama Zoo Asahikawa
Asahiyama Zoo Asahikawa
Lots of cool little bars in Asahikawa
Lots of cool little bars in Asahikawa
Lots of Asahikawa dining options
Lots of Asahikawa dining options
Asahikawa Japan
Asahikawa Japan
Views from the JR Inn Asahikawa
Views from the JR Inn Asahikawa
Asahikawa has various ski areas nearby
Asahikawa has various ski areas nearby
Use Asahikawa as a base for Central Hokkaido ski areas
Use Asahikawa as a base for Central Hokkaido ski areas
Asahikawa Hokkaido
Asahikawa Hokkaido
Asahidake is close to Asahikawa
Asahidake is close to Asahikawa
Backcountry skiing in Central Hokkaido
Backcountry skiing in Central Hokkaido
You can day trip to Kurodake
You can day trip to Kurodake
Kurodake is an amazing powder destination
Kurodake is an amazing powder destination
Furano is close to Asahikawa
Furano is close to Asahikawa
Kamui Links is an Asahikawa ski area
Kamui Links is an Asahikawa ski area
Tokachidake
Tokachidake
Backcountry skiing near Asahikawa
Backcountry skiing near Asahikawa

Asahikawa Ski Areas

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Asahikawa

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City of Asahikawa Japan

The city of Asahikawa Japan makes a great base to visit many ski areas and backcountry zones in Central Hokkaido and Northern Hokkaido. The region is known for its cold temperatures and very snowy conditions, so there is a high likelihood of finding the great powder that Hokkaido skiing is famous for. As part of a DIY trip, you can keep an eye on the forecasts and pick a different ski area each day that suits the weather. Or you can head to Asahikawa as part of a multi-resort tour where the guide will understand the nuances of the weather implications, can drive you around to the best spots, and show you the powder stashes.

Pros & Cons of Using Asahikawa as a Base

Pros 
  • There are various ski areas near Asahikawa that range from small local ski hills to large high elevation backcountry zones.
  • The powder snow is often sublime because this region is very cold in winter. Asahikawa used to hold the record for the coldest temperature in Japan with a chilling -41degrees C in 1902. Thankfully it’s not always that cold in winter! Average low temps are about -14 degrees Celsius.
  • High elevation areas such as Asahidake and Kurodake get pummelled with snow. Even the low elevation ski areas get lots of snow, particularly those to the northwest of Asahikawa which are geographically blessed to score big when the cold air from Siberia is drawn down across the Sea of Japan.
  • You’ll get to experience plenty of authentic Japanese culture.
  • Asahikawa accommodation is very good value compared to staying at a ski resort.
  • There are lots of restaurants and drinking spots to explore and dining is relatively inexpensive.
  • Many of the Asahikawa ski areas have fantastically cheap lift tickets.
  • Access is easy via nearby Asahikawa Airport.
Con
  • There is definitely no ski-in ski-out accommodation and a daily commute is required to a ski area.

Ski Areas Near Asahikawa Japan 

Asahikawa Ski Areas
 Ski Area 
Aspect
Top
(m)
 
Base
(m) 
 Vertical
(m)
Runs Lifts  Max **
Pitch °
 
 Location
*
 Santa Present Park  NE  330  170  160  6  4  25  7km W
 Canmore  W  456  210  246  6  2  29  16km E
 Kamui  NW  751  150  601  25  6  35  21km SW
 Pippu  WSW  550  250  300  9  3  36  27km NE
 Wassamu  SW  347  154  193  7  2  30  41km N
 Asahidake***  SW 1600  1100  500  4  1  30  45km SE
 Horotachi  SE  367  161  206  4  1  38  46km NW
 Kamoidake  E  467  216  251  2  5  31  55km SW
 Furano  E 1074  235  839  28  9  34  62km S
 Kurodake***  NNE to NE 1520 670   850  2  2  40  66km E
 Asahi  S  392  220  172  2  1  22 69km NE
 Hinata  E  405  178  227  5  2  36  70km N
 Piyashiri  SSE  673  193  480  12  3  32  91km N
* distance relative to Asahikawa train station ** max pitch is on-piste *** mostly backcountry

You can also click on the map icon above to see the locations of the Asahikawa ski resorts. You can also see how we rate these Asahikawa ski areas on our Hokkaido ski resort ratings, and we outline the pros and cons on our write-ups of each ski area.

Kamui Ski Links is a low frills Asahikawa ski area. In addition to piste runs, there is good in-bounds tree skiing and great lift-accessed backcountry (sidecountry).

Asahidake has a cable car and is only suitable for advanced and expert riders because it is one big backcountry playground for powder hounds. Many people say that the deepest day of their life was at Asahidake, aka Deep-dake.

Furano ski resort is a mainstream resort with good lift infrastructure and a range of piste terrain for all ability levels and it's an off-piste and backcountry skiing haven.

Kurodake has great backcountry and snow, and the terrain under the cable car is steep and gnarly, and a guide is a must. The Kurodake Ropeway is only open for part of the season.

Other Asahikawa ski areas that are small and low elevation, and fun when temps are low are Pippu ski area, Kokusetsu Horotachi, Wassamu Higashiyama Ski Area, Shibetsu Hinata Ski Area and Kamoidake.

If you're up for a decent drive, Nayoro Piyashiri is 89km north of Asahikawa. You're unlikely to find much competition for the fresh powder at Piyashiri. It’s doable as a day trip, but you might prefer to stay at Piyashiri for a night.

If you’ve found this information helpful and would like to thank us, you could consider booking your Asahikawa accommodation via us.

Other Snowboarding and Skiing Near Asahikawa

Tokachi-dake is about 57km southeast of Asahikawa. This is a backcountry zone that offers the ultimate in deep, deep and deeper, but you have to earn your turns to reap the rewards.

Tengu cat skiing is located at the former Kitataisetsu ski resort. The powder here is particularly delightful! 

Where is Asahikawa Japan?

The city of Asahikawa is located in the middle of Hokkaido and is part of Northern Hokkaido (Dohoku). Asahikawa is 138km northeast of Sapporo.

Joining a guided multi-resort tour or renting a car is the best way to sample multiple Asahikawa ski resorts, but as an alternative there are shuttle buses to get to some of the ski areas. See the Asahikawa travel page for more information.

Asahikawa Hotels

Asahikawa accommodation primarily consists of hotels. The Asahikawa hotels provide very good value for money and there are also a few accommodation options for those travelling on a budget.

A good pick for an Asahikawa hotel is OMO7 Asahikawa, which is very well set up for skiers and snowboarders. From the hotel there are daily winter shuttles to Kamui Ski Links, Asahidake, Santa Present Park, and Pippu Ski Area.

Asahikawa Hotel Listings

Asahikawa Activities

The city has a population of about 360,000 so the downtown area is small enough to largely access on foot, yet the city is big enough to be vibrant and exciting. Asahikawa is full of restaurants, bars, and shops that will delight anyone small enough to fit into the clothing. There are various activities to do in and around Asahikawa for those who don’t want to play on the snow, including the renowned Asahiyama Zoo.

Culture

Asahikawa Japan not only provides access to great skiing and snowboarding, but the city also allows visitors to experience Japanese culture that hasn’t been “resortified”. Outside your hotel, don’t expect many people to speak English beyond a couple of basic greetings, and don’t expect to see too many Westerners. Some may view this as a bit of a travel inconvenience, but for adventurous travellers the huge advantage is that you’ll find the genuine Japan in Asahikawa.
Tours That Include Asahikawa

Safari (Road Trip) Tours

Hokkaido Fix
NISEKO, CENTRAL HOKKAIDO & SAPPORO
8 to 10 Days
Ability: Advanced to Expert
This CUSTOMISABLE guided backcountry tour starts in NISEKO & then heads to CENTRAL HOKKAIDO in pursuit of some of the deepest & driest snow on the planet. The tour finishes with a day chasing powder around Sapporo (TEINE & KOKUSAI).
Price p/p From price based on twin/triple-share based on group of 5 (per person) for 8 day trip for 2023-24 season.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,204
View Details
 
Hokkaido Unplugged
GUIDED BACKCOUNTRY ADVENTURE
9 Nights | 8 Days Guiding
Ability: Advanced to Expert
So you have had a taste of Japan powder and you are now ready to get away from the crowds and find the best of Hokkaido. This tour visits some epic Hokkaido backcountry areas.This is a touring focused trip where you will be skinning for all guided days & likely to include some secret road side touring.
Price p/p From price based on twin/double-share option for 2023-24 season for group tour.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY in taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,807
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Hokkaido Explorer Tour
FULLY GUIDED & HOSTED TOUR
12 Nights - 10 Ski Areas - 10 Days Skiing/Riding
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Chase the best conditions and snowfall in the side country at Hokkaido's best ski areas. Based in the city of Asahikawa, then Furano, Otaru & Niseko.
Price p/p From price based on twin/double-share option per person for first & last group tour for 2023-24 season.
Base/invoice currency is in Japanese yen inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 3,585
View Details
 
See all Safari (Road Trip) tours that visit Asahikawa here

Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area Tours

Asahikawa Freeride Tour
GUIDED FREERIDE TOUR ASAHIKAWA AREA
7 Days | 6 Nights | 5 Days Riding
Ability: Advanced
The city of Asahikawa is an ideal base. Explore the restaurants & bars by night, and by day the guides will take you to the best Central Hokkaido ski area depending on the conditions. Guided freeride trip of the off-piste & sidecountry of ski areas.
Price p/p
USD 2,750
View Details
 
See all Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area tours that visit Asahikawa here
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