Sunlaiva is another unfortunate Japanese ski area where a major lift has been retired because they can’t afford to maintain it or replace it. Whilst snow depths may not always be adequate for powder skiing pursuits off-piste anyhow, it’s a shame that it’s become yet another Japanese ski area that only caters to the beginner market.

It was a stunning fine day when we visited in late January and as we drove there, we could see some of the magnificent backcountry terrain. Unfortunately the snow base was just 70cm, so there wasn’t quite enough cover for the off-piste. After hitting a few of the groomers we skinned up to the top of the ski area and whilst the lift wasn’t running anymore, the loudspeaker sure was! The Dynamic Course didn’t have adequate snow to ski it without the risk of hitting rocks, but the Panorama Course had better cover and a thin layer of fresh snow, and the views across the water were delightful.

It was a lovely morning for hiking and a bit of skiing, and we then spent the afternoon doing a few activities around Noboribetsu that we hadn’t covered off the day before. We’re glad that we visited Noboribetsu to see a few of the touristy attractions, but it’s probably not somewhere that we’d return to.
See our video here