Best Hokkaido Ski Resorts - Powderhounds
Here are our awards for the best ski resorts in Hokkaido as rated by Powderhounds.com. Everyone has different priorities when it comes to a Hokkaido snow trip so we’ve provided our top picks by terrain by ability levels and other categories such as family friendliness and nightlife, which are also outlined in detail on our
Hokkaido ski resort ratings. You can also check out the best Hokkaido ski resorts as
rated by the readers of Powderhounds.com.
Best Overall Hokkaido Ski Resorts
- Niseko
- Furano
- Rusutsu
Other top rated ski resorts in Hokkaido are Tomamu, Kiroro and Sahoro, which not surprisingly are all also destination ski resorts.
Top Hokkaido Ski Areas for Powder Hounds
Based on advanced/expert terrain + snow quality & quantity
+ lack of people riding off-piste
- Kurodake*
- Piyashiri
- Furano
In addition to Hinata, there are a few other little ski areas near Asahikawa that are powder gems, but keep in mind that the terrain variety is very limited. Tenguyama is a little powder gem that is only ideal when temps are low. Other top rated Hokkaido ski areas for powder skiing and riding are Tomamu, Yubari (when the snow is on), Sahoro, and Asahidake. Keep in mind that to get the most out of some of these Hokkaido ski areas, you’ll need to head into the sidecountry as well as the backcountry and therefore require expert riding, route-finding and backcountry skills (and/or a guide). Some of the ski areas that were previously highly rated as a powder hound spot are now swarmed with powder hunters, such as Kiroro and Sapporo Kokusai and even Niseko, and these places are still phenomenal for those with a touring set-up to get a little way from the crowds.
Rather than thinking of individual Hokkaido ski areas, true powder hounds should be thinking more in terms of powder skiing regions where you can hit up multiple ski areas. In Hokkaido, the top powder skiing zones are Otaru, Asahikawa (northern Hokkaido), Central Hokkaido including Furano, and also the Niseko area. See the Japan powder skiing regions for more information.
* Kurodake being a great powder hound ski area has various provisos including the need to put some work in, good route-finding skills and/or guide, and the ropeway being open (+/- the chair lift being open) considering it's closed during the peak of winter for "maintenance" or because the big blizzards would probably shut it down anyhow.
Powderhounds.com Awards for the Best Skiing in Hokkaido
Skiing and Snowboarding
- Best overall terrain: Niseko, Furano, Sapporo Teine
- Best beginner terrain: Niseko Village, Tomamu, Sahoro, Sapporo Teine
- Intermediate terrain: Niseko, Rusutsu, Furano
- Advanced piste terrain: Furano, Sapporo Teine, Niseko
- Off-piste terrain: Rusutsu, Niseko,
- Uncrowded slopes: Piyashiri, Otaru Tenguyama, various little ski areas near Asahikawa
- Best expert terrain: Kurodake, Sapporo Teine, Furano
- Best slackcountry (lift accessed backcountry): Niseko, Asahidake, Furano
- Best backcountry (may be partly lift assisted): Kurodake, Tokachidake, Kiroro
- Best tree skiing Hokkaido: Rusutsu, Niseko, Kurodake
- Best lift infrastructure: Kiroro, Rusutsu, Niseko Village
- Best terrain park: Niseko
Hokkaido Snow
Lots of Hokkaido ski resorts score full marks for the snow quality/quantity and likelihood of scoring fresh tracks. See the Hokkaido ski resort ratings for more information.
Other Awards for the Best Hokkaido Ski Resorts
- Hokkaido ski areas with very few gaijin: Yubari, Hakodate Nanae, Piyashiri
- Top resorts that cater to international guests: Niseko, Furano, Kiroro
- Best family resort / top Hokkaido ski resort for kids: Tomamu, Sahoro, Niseko, Kiroro, Rusutsu, Furano
- Best nightlife: Niseko Hirafu, Sapporo, Asahikawa, Otaru
- Best restaurants/dining: Niseko, Furano, Kiroro
- Best value for money destination ski resort: Furano
- Best value for money base: Asahikawa, Otaru
- Most expensive Hokkaido ski resorts: Kiroro, Niseko, Rusutsu