Kitataisetsu
PLEASE NOTE, WE HAVE JUST BEEN INFORMED THAT KITATAISETSU IS CURRENTLY CLOSED AND WILL NOT OPEN FOR THE 2010 SKI SEASON. WE APPOLOGIZE TO ANYONE THAT HAVE MAY HAVE VISITED KITATAISETSU THIS YEAR BASED ON ON OUR RECOMMENDATION.
Where is Kitataisetsu?Kitataisetsu is a fairly remote ski hill about 1.5 hours (85km) North East of Asahikawa, Japan.
Skiing at KitataisetsuIt is a small “resort” serviced by three very slow single chairs, has limited infrastructure and is only open on weekends except during March. These factors may sound unappealing, but this place is an absolute gem for the powder hound. It’s fantastic because it is only frequented by a few of the locals, and the powder that has accumulated during the week will be all yours for the taking on a Saturday.
There are no restrictions to off-piste skiing within the resort which is a major bonus, although skiing out of bounds is frowned upon – we could only figure that out from the frantic but friendly yelling from the towies, and the symbol of an X made with the arms, which seems to be common sign language in Japan for “closed”. The majority of the runs and the off-piste skiing have a great fall-line with no traversing or walk-outs from valleys. This is a completely no-frills resort, with only one building housing the lift tickets sales, some changing facilities and a restaurant. There is no on-mountain accommodation.
We found out the hard way that this mountain is only open on weekends. We drove from Asahikawa and were pretty excited to see the road to the resort covered in untracked snow, hoping that very few people would be there. We were pretty disappointed to find that we were the only ones there except for the owners. The lifts were stationary and some sign language accompanied by pointing at a calendar, revealed that our excitement was for nothing. The mountain seemed to have potential so we drove back to Kitataisetsu on the following Saturday even more excited.
This is an example of some things not quite going to plan when you don’t speak the language. Hopefully this website will prevent you from making the same mistake! We didn’t find anyone who spoke English at Kitataisetsu, but the great benefit of this was that we knew we’d found the “real” Japan.
Why Ski at Kitataisetsu?The Powderhounds have awarded Kitaisetsu with the
best uncrowded slopes" for Japan, but it would probably get the award worldwide considering how quiet it is!