Asari Ski Resort

http://www.powderhounds.com/site/DefaultSite/filesystem/images/Japan/Asari/Asari-01.jpg
Asari Ski Resort, Asarigawa Onsen
Asari Ski Resort, Asarigawa Onsen
Asari Ski Resort Japan
Asari Ski Resort Japan
Asari Ski Resort Hokkaido
Asari Ski Resort Hokkaido
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Snowboarding Japan
Asari Snowboarding Japan
Asari Ski Resort Hokkaido
Asari Ski Resort Hokkaido
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort
Asarigawa Onsen
Asarigawa Onsen
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort Facilities
Asari Ski Resort Facilities
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort
Asari Ski Resort

Asari Ski Resort

Readers Ratings

Asari

Asari3.5/57
Asari3.5 out of 5 based on 7 reviews
  • Recommend
    43%
  • Would Revisit
    43%

Asari Ski Resort, Asarigawa Onsen

Asari Ski Resort at Asarigawa Onsen is a nice little ski area where you can taste some powder chowder without being disturbed by other powder hounds.

You could hit up Asari as a day trip from Sapporo or Otaru, or even Niseko if you had your own wheels. Asari is a low elevation ski resort, so it can be ideal to visit when the wind is too ferocious at nearby Kiroro, Sapporo Teine or Sapporo Kokusai.

Located near the seaside town of Otaru, the upper reaches of Asari Ski Resort provide spectacular views across the water.

Asari Ski and Snowboard Terrain

Asari is a small ski resort with 4 lifts (3 double and 1 triple) that service nine courses (piste trails) with stats of 30% beginner, 40% intermediate, and 30% advanced. Asari also has a small terrain park with a few jumps. The terrain is all below the tree line and the top elevation is at only 680 metres. Asari has a modest vertical drop of 580 metres.

Asari is particularly popular with beginners who flock around the base area, and the other groomed runs are well suited to intermediates. There is very little on-piste terrain for advanced riders despite the 30% statistic. The Orange course has short pitches of up to 36 degrees gradient, and a few moguls develop on the sides of the groomers, but that’s about it for challenging piste terrain.

All the fun for advanced skiers and snowboarders is in the off-piste and side-country areas where powder hounds can revel in amongst the spindly trees. These zones are practically deserted, so you’ll find fresh powder lines galore!

The off piste areas are mostly fairly mellow, although there are some short steep sections as well as small cliff bands to keep things interesting. And so long as you keep out of the water (!) there are also some fun dam walls to ski around.

Outside the resort boundaries, Asari offers delightful side-country terrain that feeds back into the ski area. Skiers’ left offers some tight trees of reasonable gradient, whilst out to the right of the ski resort there are also lots of sweet lines. Don’t venture too far though, as the terrain becomes flatter the further you traverse to the right.

Asari sits below the road up to Kiroro Ski Resort, so the other backcountry option is to get a mate to drop you off so you can ski down to the Asari ski resort.

Like the rest of Hokkaido, Asari gets plenty of snowfall. As the skiing is at relatively low altitude, the quality of the powder may not be well maintained relative to other Hokkaido ski resorts, but at least there is plenty of virgin snow on offer.

Where is Asari Ski Resort?

Asari is located in a hot spring area, Asarigawa Onsen, at the foot of Asaridake (Mount Asari). Asarigawa Onsen is only 9km southeast of the town of Otaru, and 35km northwest of Sapporo in Hokkaido (the north island of Japan). Asari is close to Kiroro as the crow flies, although the drive between the two ski resorts takes about 50-60 minutes.

If you’ve got a car, Asari is only a 15 to 20 minute drive from Otaru. Otherwise there are regular buses from the JR Otaru train station that take 30 minutes (bus #13, gate #2, fare approximately 350 yen).

It takes about 40 minutes to drive to Asari from the city of Sapporo. Alternatively there are buses from Sapporo station to the ski resort (everyday from Dec 23 to Jan 16, otherwise only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays).

Asari is 83km northeast of Niseko, a drive that takes about 1:45 hours. Getting to Asari via train and bus is rather complex, so the best option is to rent a car in Niseko. Alternatively Asari is sometimes included on one of the multi-day tours.

Asarigawa Onsen Accommodation

The little spa resort village of Asarigawa Onsen has a handful of hotels and ryokans, all with onsens. Some of the hotels provide access for day visitors to their indoor hot springs and rotenburo (outdoor onsen).

You could stay in one of the Asarigawa Onsen hotels and also use it as a base to visit Kiroro. Alternatively you could commute from Sapporo hotels, or from Otaru or Niseko.

Asari Ski Resort Facilities

The main ski resort facilities are located at the base in a large glass fronted two-storey building. Downstairs is a café selling snacks such as those scrummy pork buns, or you can BYO picnic and brown bag it. Upstairs is the main restaurant where you can buy the usual lunch fare.

Other services and facilities include equipment tuning and repairs, a “pro” shop, and ski school for those proficient in the Japanese language. Alternatively the private ski school Winkel has English speaking instructors.

The ski resort offers affordable ski and snowboard rentals, and they also hire out clothing such as jackets, pants and gloves (or groves as the Japanese like to call them!).

Why Ski or Snowboard at Asarigawa Onsen?

It is unlikely that international visitors will go to Asari to ski or snowboard on the courses (piste runs). The drawcard for powder hounds is the off-piste and backcountry skiing. Asari is uncrowded, there are no lift lines, and you’re highly unlikely to find anyone else out in the off-piste zones. You can have all the powder to yourself!

Best of all, the powder doesn’t come at a premium. Lift tickets are super cheap, and for a few more yen you can get a package deal that includes a lift ticket, lunch, and a relaxing soak in one of the onsens.
Tours That May Include Asari

Safari (Road Trip) Tours

Hokkaido Storm Chaser
GUIDED STORM CHASING SAFARI
7 Days | 6 Nights | 6 Ski Areas
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Chase the storms and access the deepest and best quality snow conditions on the day in the Otaru area and Central Hokkaido's world famous deep dry powder.
Price p/p Displayed price may cary slightly due to exchange rates fluctuations
Base/invoice currency is JPY
Price includes 13% tax.
Base/invoice currency is JPY
Price includes 13% tax.
USD 2,807
View Details
 
Hokkaido Safari
GUIDED POWDER PROGRESSION ROAD TRIP
12 Days | Up to 11 Days Guided Skiing/Riding
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Explore multiple Hokkaido ski areas on this amazing powder progression adventure for advanced to expert skiers & boarders. Locations include the Otaru/Sapporo & Furano ski areas. Groups of up to 4 guests are guided by 1 guide. From price is based on twin share in deluxe western-style room.
Price p/p From price based on double-share room staying at La Vista Furano Hotel & Dormy Inn Premium Otaru; 4 on tour for 2024 season.
Base/invoice currency is in USD inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 4,335
View Details
 
Southern Hokkaido Powder Tour
HOSTED & GUIDED ADVENTURE
10 Nights - 8 Days Guided Skiing/Riding
Ability: Advanced to Expert
The Southern Hokkaido region scores the most snow and with this lift accessed sidecountry tour you'll get to explore the best ski areas. 3 nights in Otaru, 5 nights in Hirafu Niseko & 2 nights in Hakodate.
Price p/p From price based on twin/double-share option for group tour for 2023-24 season.
Base/invoice currency is in Japanese yen inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 3,183
View Details
 
See all Safari (Road Trip) tours that visit Asari here

Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area Tours

Niseko Lessons
ON & OFF-PISTE LESSONS AT/FROM NISEKO
For PRIVATE GROUPS ONLY of up to 4 guests
Ability: Beginner to Advanced
Whether you are an absolute beginner skier or snowboarder, or are more advanced looking to improve your powder skiing/riding ability, this program is ideal. PRIVATE LESSONS ONLY of up to 4 guests (i.e. you cannot join a group).
Price p/p From price based on a PER PERSON cost per day for PRIVATE group of 4 in peak season. Full price is 90,000 yen for group for 2023-24 season.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY in taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 151
View Details
 
Otaru Freeride Tour
GUIDED POWDER CHASING TOUR
7 Days | 6 Nights | 5 Days Riding
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Advanced
Chase Hokkaido's biggest storms from the seaside city of Otaru where you'll get a unique cultural perspective being based in a regional city. By night explore the lively food culture and by day head to lift-accessed areas of nearby ski resorts that are renowned for getting some of the most snow in Japan.
Price p/p
USD 2,650
View Details
 
See all Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area tours that visit Asari here
200