Asahidake

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Asahidake Hokkaido
Asahidake Hokkaido

Asahidake

Readers Ratings

Asahidake

Asahidake3/525
Asahidake3 out of 5 based on 25 reviews
  • Recommend
    76%
  • Would Revisit
    72%

Asahidake Hokkaido

The Asahidake Ski Resort in Hokkaido Japan is a haven for powder hounds, but itโ€™s not really a resort. Itโ€™s essentially a backcountry ski area that has the luxury of being partially serviced by a cable car (the Asahidake Ropeway). Asahidake potentially has some of the best powder in the world, and there are times when the waist deep powder is completely drool worthy for a powder hound.

Ski Asahidake Japan - Pros and Cons

Pros 
  • Asahidake Ski Resort scores lots of snow and the powder is generally of amazing quality.
  • Relative to mainstream ski resorts, the crowds are minimal.
  • The Asahidake ski area offers plenty of variety and both alpine and tree skiing.
  • Asahidake Onsen accommodation provides reasonably good value for money.
  • The village isnโ€™t called Asahidake Onsen for nothing and there are great hot spring baths for an aprรจs ski soak.
Cons
  • All that powder doesnโ€™t fall from blue skies and the weather at Asahidake is often foul during the peak of winter. Visibility may be low, the snow in the alpine may be wind scoured, and high winds can close the ropeway.
  • Asahidake Ski Resort is not for beginners, intermediates or those that canโ€™t ride off-piste.
  • You might not score a lot of vertical in a day.
  • The bottom third of the ropeway accessed terrain is rather mellow and many sidecountry lines donโ€™t run fall-line which necessitates some shuffling across flats or skinning/snowshoeing. Some snowboarders may hate Asahidake, especially if they donโ€™t have a guide.
Pro or Con Depending on Your Perspective
  • Asahidake offers amazing powder riding for those who are prepared to at least work a little bit for their turns.
  • Access to some of the best terrain and fresh tracks requires a guide or excellent route-finding nous.
  • The Asahidake Ropeway travels rather quickly but waiting for it to arrive can be a little tiresome.
  • Although very quiet, the tiny Asahidake Onsen village has no hint of โ€œresortificationโ€ and provides a chance to immerse yourself in the quirky Japanese culture.

Asahidake Ski and Snowboard Terrain

The Asahidake ski area is smokinโ€™ โ€“ literally considering that Asahi-dake is an active volcano with lots of fumaroles emitting steam and gas (so itโ€™s a little stinky at times!).

The Asahidake Ropeway (cable car) provides access to 500 vertical metres of terrain and four groomed mellow trails, but this is definitely not a ski area for beginners or intermediates. These trails are really just cat tracks to facilitate egress from the off-piste playground, much of which consists of lovely tree skiing. The zone under the Asahidake Ropeway tends to get tracked out reasonably quickly because itโ€™s so easily accessible. If youโ€™re willing to earn your turns a little, you can head wider where there are freshies just begging to be ripped up.

There are even more fresh lines further afield or above the ropeway in the alpine areas of Asahi-dake. If you love to earn your turns, youโ€™ll be in powder heaven.

Asahidake Snow

Asahidake has an abundance of powder with an average of about 14 metres of snow per season, but no one really bothers to put too much emphasis on measuring the amount of snow because thereโ€™s so much of the white stuff. Asahidake is pretty much the crรจme de la crรจme of the powder that Hokkaido skiing is renowned for. This is the highest mountain in Hokkaido (see the Hokkaido snow stats for elevations) so the snow is kept super cold. And unlike Niseko, Asahidake is not near the ocean, so the powder isnโ€™t just dry; itโ€™s often sublime!

Where is Asahidake Ski Resort?

The Asahidake ski area sits on Mount Asahi (no relationship to the beer!), and some folks refer to Asahi-dake as Mt Asahidake, but thatโ€™s a bit like calling an โ€œATMโ€ an โ€œATM machineโ€!

Asahidake is part of the Daisetsuzan National Park, and the ropeway sits at the top of Asahidake Onsen, a village with a small collection of hotels with onsen baths.

Asahidake is situated in Central Hokkaido, about 1 hour east of the city of Asahikawa, and approximately 50 minutes from Furano ski resort. You can head to Asahidake on a guided multi-day tour or a day tour from Furano, so that you have a guide to show you the best way to navigate the ski area.

Asahidake Accommodation

Asahidake Onsen is a small village that consists of a handful of hotels and a couple of hostels. The Asahidake accommodation is dotted along the road below the ropeway building.

Asahidake Hotels Listings

Evening entertainment generally consists of dinner at your hotel. The Asahidake nightlife is so sedate that itโ€™s almost non-existent unless you make your own fun with your duty free alcohol or beers from the vending machine, so youโ€™d probably only want to stay in the village for a maximum of 3 to 4 nights.

Considering the fickle weather, staying in Asahidake attracts the risk that youโ€™ll be sitting in an onsen all day if the ropeway closes, or travelling to another ski area that copes with strong winds.

Alternatively Asahidake can be accessed as a day trip from Asahikawa or Furano. See the Asahikawa hotels and Furano accommodation pages for information on lodging options.

Activities & Facilities

Asahi-dake is in a national park so it has very limited facilities, but the powder hunters that frequent Asahidake donโ€™t seem to mind.

The ropeway building has an inexpensive cafeteria, a small food kiosk and a little shop that sells basics such as beanies and gloves, but thatโ€™s about the extent of the amenities at the Asahidake ski area.

Other than the backcountry skiing, winter activities at Asahidake are somewhat limited. There are a few cross country ski trails, and of course the village wouldnโ€™t be called Asahidake Onsen unless it had the obligatory onsen baths! The hot springs are housed within the Asahidake hotels and visitors can pay a fee to visit the hot springs if theyโ€™re not staying at the hotel.

Photography Tours

Tours That May Include Asahidake

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. Share
Price p/p
USD 3,386
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 Early bird if you book before Aug 31 - 5.7% off listed price
Hokkaido Backcountry
GUIDED BACKCOUNTRY TOUR
7 Nights | 8 Days
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Jump on the multi-day Hokkaido Backcountry Powder Quest tour & experience the magical powder wonderland Hokkaido is famous for along with its rich culture & incredible cuisine. Join as a solo, couple or small group; max 6 guests per tour & guaranteed departures.
Price p/p
USD 4,799
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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
Enquire
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See all Safari (Road Trip) tours that visit Asahidake here

Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area Tours

Furano/Central Hokkaido Experience
LOCAL GUIDED & HOSTED TOUR
7 Nights | 5 Days Guided | 1 Unguided free day | Furano + 4
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Advanced
Experience the best powder that Furano & the Central Hokkaido region has to offer. Venture off-piste in Furano, Kamui, Tomamu, Sahoro & Asahidake with some local guides for the total Central Hokkaido ski/board adventure. Itโ€™s their passion to show you what skiing/riding in Japan is all about!
Price p/p
USD 2,208
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Central Hokkaido Tour
FULLY GUIDED & HOSTED TOUR
10 Nights | 8 Days Skiing/Riding
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Avoid the crowds and revel in the renowned high quality Central Hokkaido powder at Furano, Asahidake, Kamui Links, and hidden gems such as Pippu, Sahoro and Tomamu. Mostly lift accessed powder hunting, plus the option to do a little hiking to get more goods.
Price p/p
USD 3,168
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Furano Area Guiding
CENTRAL HOKKAIDO GUIDED TOURS
For private groups of up to 5
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Off-piste, sidecountry & backcountry guiding for PRIVATE GROUPS (ie you can't join a group) for Furano & other Central Hokkaido areas. Day guiding or book 3 days with a 4 day window or 5 days within a 7 day window.
Price p/p
USD 179
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See all Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area tours that visit Asahidake here

Single-Base, Single-Ski-Area Tours

Hokkaido Northside
GUIDED SIDECOUNTRY & BACKCOUNTRY
7 Days | 6 Nights | 5 Days Guided Skiing
Ability: Advanced to Expert
The Hokkaido Northside Kurodake Tour incorporates a mixture of lift assisted sidecountry plus backcountry touring, with a focus of riding at the famed Kurodake, renowned for being steep & deep. You will be rewarded with face shots of the deepest & driest powder on planet earth!
Price p/p
USD 3,350
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See all Single-Base, Single-Ski-Area tours that visit Asahidake here

Backcountry Skiing Tours

Hidden Hokkaido
LIFT-ACCESSED POWDER TOUR
9 Days | 8 Nights
Ability: Advanced
Head to the best of the Hokkaido ski resorts from the bases of Niseko & Furano & get guided to the best lift-accessed powder stashes in the Central Hokkaido and SW Hokkaido regions. Join a mixed group tour, or a bespoke private trip is also possible for resort based tour or backcountry touring.
Price p/p
USD 3,328
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Summit Ski Furano Day Guiding
GUIDED DAY TOURS FURANO AREA
Private groups of up to 5 guests
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Day guiding for your PRIVATE GROUP of up to 5 people (or more if you add a second guide) for Central Hokkaido such as Furano, Asahidake, Kamui etc. Summit Ski offer instructor/guides for these locations.
Price p/p
USD 141
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Furano Backcountry Tour
CENTRAL HOKKAIDO BACKCOUNTRY TOUR
7 Nights | 6 Guided Days
Ability: Advanced to Expert
On this multi-day tour you will stay in Furano and human powered touring will get you to the best Central Hokkaido powder lines. Join as a solo, couple or small group; max 6 guests per tour & guaranteed departures.
Price p/p
USD 4,699
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See all Backcountry Skiing tours that visit Asahidake here
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