Asahidake Activities

Other than downhill skiing and snowboarding, the winter activities at Asahidake are rather limited. If the Asahidake Ropeway closes due to bad weather, you may have to play cards or read a book for a while! Or if you’ve got wheels, you might want to go to Asahikawa to go shopping, head to the Asahiyama Zoo, or another ski area.

You can check out activity ideas at the Asahidake visitors centre which is just before the ropeway station, but it is more geared up to provide information to hikers during the summer months.

Asahidake Cross Country Skiing

Beautifully groomed cross country (or snow shoe) trails extend into the picturesque forest directly across the road from the Daisetsuzan Shirakabasou youth hostel. La Vista Daisetsuzan Hotel lends out cross-country skis or snowshoes to guests, or you can rent cross country ski equipment at the visitor centre.

Asahidake Onsen

Asahidake has several onsen. The village isn’t called Asahidake Onsen for nothing! The therapeutic waters of the onsen are a fabulous way to relieve weary legs and finish a day of skiing or boarding.

We have visited a few onsen in the Asahidake Onsen village. One outdoor onsen (rotemburo) was at Lodge Nutapukaushipe which was very well decked out and in a very pretty setting.

We enjoyed the onsen at the K’s House Hostel which wasn’t as flash, but was picturesque, authentic, inexpensive and more relaxed, and tattoo friendly.

We also visited the onsen at La Vista Daisetsuzan Hotel which is probably the best onsen in Asahidake. This is an exquisite experience with a variety of indoor and outdoor hot spring baths, and small baths with recliner beds for the ultimate in relaxation. There’s also a sauna in case you’re not dehydrated enough already (!), and a cold plunge pool if you need to cool down. The changing rooms have an array of nice toiletries on offer - you could almost give yourself a make-over whilst there! They also provide lots of sorbet ice-creams afterwards. Not surprisingly this upscale experience costs a little more than a few of the other Asahidake onsens (for non-guests of the hotel).

See our Japanese onsen etiquette page for information on what to do when using an onsen.