Within the middle of Hokkaido, we discover the likelihood for bottomless powder and nostalgic chairlifts that ship newbie & professional skiers and snowboarders to a panorama of fluffy powder and lovely views.
Japan Powder, abbreviated to JAPOW, presents a few of the greatest snowboarding alternatives. Asahikawa in Hokkaido is the place to be to expertise the final word JAPOW paradise. Maintain studying to search out out why, and the right way to get in on the motion.
Right here is an summary:
You can be shocked even earlier than you board the chairlift at one in all Asahikawa’s ski resorts. Shocked principally by ridiculously low-cost costs when evaluating them to the European and North American prices.
For instance, at Pippu Ski Space, a Day Ticket prices lower than 20€. And that features a go to to the Onsen subsequent to it!
A Household move for one grownup and one baby incl. the Onsen go to, prices precisely the identical, and a Season Move at Pippu prices a mere 275€. For comparability, should you go ski in Vail or Aspen a one Day Ticket on the Weekend will value almost that a lot.
For sure, going snowboarding in Japan may be very inexpensive. In the event you go for just a few days and even the entire season, you’ll not must take out a mortgage the identical manner you might need to should you go skiing in Switzerland, Austria or the USA.
Arriving in Asahikawa
On a wet day final autumn I obtained an e-mail which invited me to go snowboarding within the Asahikawa space. I like snowboarding, I like Japan and being invited to go snowboarding within the residence of deep powder within the prime season is certainly a dream come true. I didn’t lose a second to answer, and on a sunny day in late January I boarded my aircraft in Vaasa which might take me first to Helsinki, then onwards to Tokyo and Asahikawa.
In Asahikawa, I caught the final bus to the middle, from which it was a five-minute stroll to my lodge.
After I arrive in Japan, my night routine is easy: Go eat Ramen, head to the Onsen after which off to mattress.
Fortunately Ramen Santōka, the very best Ramen Restaurant in Asahikawa, was nonetheless open and was not out of soup (which occurs, as I needed to expertise later that week!) So I sat down with a scrumptious bowl of Ramen and was in culinary heaven. After that I made use of the Onsen on the lodge, which was so enjoyable that I slept improbable.
The subsequent morning I used to be able to discover Asahikawa on foot. I had spent just a few days on this vibrant metropolis final fall (associated: Exploring Kamikawa: Adventures in the Center of Hokkaido) so it was good to see town in white with plenty of snow.
Within the afternoon, I then met my companions for this journey: Bernard, Jordan, Chihiro, Yuki and Yohei. We went by way of this system for the following few days after which went to have dinner collectively on the native Craft Beer Brewery Taisetsu Ji Beer.
This can be a Jingisukan Restaurant, the place you grill your personal meals. It’s fairly fashionable in Japan and undoubtedly one thing each traveler to Japan ought to strive!
As we had a candy tooth, Jordan took us to her favourite café: Swap Taste. This can be a should go to while you’re in Asahikawa as not solely is it distinctive with a beautiful décor, in addition they make scrumptious desserts and desserts.
Associated learn: The Different Flavors of Japan: What Makes Japanese Cuisine so Special
Pippu Ski Space: Simple Aspect Nation with a Conventional Onsen End
it’s gonna be day when massive, fluffy snowflakes are pouring down from heaven.
We went to discover Pippu Ski Area right now and after just a few heat up laps on the blue and pink slopes our small group went into the aspect nation simply off the massive chair elevate. Even within the afternoon we nonetheless discovered some candy pockets of Japow (Japan Powder) and coming again onto the Strawberry slope everybody had massive smiles – time to go for one more sidecountry run!
Like all good ski resort, you may have just a few lunch choices at Pippu, and I went for the native trout and rice bowl and a Miso soup. The trout for this dish was caught close by, and the rice was from Hokkaido – a scrumptious and wholesome dish that had me prepared for a protracted afternoon of extra snowboarding!
I visited Pippu later this week by myself and placed on my skins to go off into the simple powder tree runs which begin only a 10 minute hike up the mountain.
The panorama right here was magical, like out of a Studio Ghibli film: Lovely bushes lined in plenty of snow, and a serene panorama lined on this s fantastic dry, fluffy snow which skiers and snowboarders travel to Japan for from throughout the globe.
These powder runs are straightforward, enjoyable, protected and you find yourself again on the slope after your forest run, from the place you possibly can take a chair elevate again as much as head into the forest once more.
Funnily sufficient I met two Instagram buddies from Finland that day at Pippu – picture our frequent shock after we realized that we meet 8.000 km from residence as a substitute of on a Finnish ski slope!
The underside line is that Pippu Ski Space is improbable for each absolute rookies and extra superior skiers who need easy accessibility to the aspect nation.
Pippu has a Ski College and through my go to the native college students had been snowboarding with their faculties right here, and I completely cherished their laughter of pleasure after they had been snowboarding down the slopes.
The climate can change shortly all through the day, from snowing closely to sunshine and much views in minutes.
The bus experience to Pippu prices 650 Yen and takes about an hour from Asahikawa, and naturally, the very best factor about Pippu Ski Space – aside from the snowboarding – is which you can go soaking within the Onsen subsequent to the ski resort, actually a 2-minute stroll from the principle chair elevate! I’d go right here with the household in a coronary heart beat, or with buddies who wish to ski straightforward powder runs with out skinning up the mountain.
Snowboarding on the Residence of Fluffy Powder: Kamui Ski Hyperlinks
Kamui Ski Hyperlinks is the most important ski resort round Asahikawa – however the day move prices a mere 23€ and a few cents! This offers you entry to the Gondola, 5 double chair lifts, and their 25 groomed, super-wide slopes.
There’s a number of issues which Kamui is renown for – their fluffy, dry powder snow is one, of which they get on common 8 meters per yr. A lot powder means there’s wonderful aspect nation runs at Kamui, and should you head to the Northern Slopes you possibly can expertise it even inside bounds of the ski resort. This ski resort has a handful of ungroomed powder runs inbound, so you possibly can entry them from the slopes and return to the Gondola.
I attempted a few of their extra superior black runs by way of the bushes, and so they had been tremendous enjoyable and never too onerous – very best for individuals who wish to be taught powder snowboarding in protected situations.
Talking of studying: We had Ryoji Mizutani, one of many official Kamui ski guides, with us within the morning. He confirmed us the very best runs of this little gem, and answered all our questions. I met Ryoji later within the week once I was ski-touring on Sanpou-San within the Tokachi Mountain Vary of the Daisetsuzan Nationwide Park – extra on that in a bit – and he’s a beautiful information, who in the summertime is engaged on his personal Lavender Farm!
There are a number of buses going from Asahikawa to Kamui each morning. The bus experience takes round an hour, and it’s 700 Yen one-way. You should definitely be on time. Nonetheless, in case the bus is full, there will probably be a substitute bus some 10 minutes later.
The bus leaves from Kamui within the afternoon beginning at 14 o’clock and takes an hour once more and prices the identical. In the event you go by bus, it’s best to have 700 Yen in cash with you, or a 1.000 Yen invoice – that’s the most important invoice which is accepted. You don’t wanna be the foreigner with a ten.000 Yen invoice who can’t pay his bus experience. 😁
Kamui needs to be in your must-visit listing while you head to Japan to ski.
It’s has a mere 92.000 guests per yr, which suggests even on a busy Sunday you gained’t keep in line to the Gondola longer than 5 minutes. Or, should you’re there alone, even shorter – as they’ve a line for singles who’re completely happy to affix a not absolutely occupied Gondola. That is one thing I want European ski resorts additionally would provide as a result of nothing is extra annoying than standing in a protracted line and seeing Gondolas not driving at capability!
Did I point out the wonderful snow and the super-wide slopes, which imply that even on a busy Sunday, it feels such as you’re there on a Monday morning? The good aspect nation and engaging pizzas on the Prime? A Fischer Rental Base that permits you to hire the newest tools?
Now that , I’m certain you’ll go to Kamui Ski Hyperlinks in your subsequent journey to Japan!
Driving the Gondola up Asahidake
Mount Asahi (旭岳, Asahi-dake) is a mountain positioned close to the city of Higashikawa and the tallest mountain on Hokkaido with an elevation of two.291 m.
There’s a Gondola that operates each 20 minutes in winter, and it could actually get VERY busy on powder days – so that you wish to be there early to keep away from the strains. I visited the mountain with Jordan and our Information Suzuki Yoshihiro.
Suzuki-San took us to the fumaroles, then we had a tea break on the Asahidake Refuge (旭岳石室) after which skied again to the Sugatami high station. I had all my ski-touring gear with me, so Suzuki-San and I went down the Intermediate course to the underside station of the ropeway. Alongside the way in which we headed into the protected aspect nation, and JAPOW was loved with massive smiles!
Asahidake has groomed runs from the Sugatami high station again all the way down to the Ropeway, and the simply accessible aspect nation is what attracts heaps of skiers from throughout the globe and Japan right here.
Nonetheless, it’s best to solely head right here into the powder aspect nation when you may have a beacon, shovel, probe and ideally even an Avalanche Airbag with you, and know the right way to use them.
The highest of Asahidake can rise up to 13 m of snow per yr, and it’s a critical mountain. The day I visited, it was -15°C, and with windchill it felt like -26°C! This was on the backside, so on the high station it was considerably colder – and quite a bit windier, too! Moreover due to the simple entry and the heaps of snow, there’s usually a excessive avalanche hazard, so don’t go alone and by no means with out the fitting gear!
As we had each the gear and time we went up as soon as extra, and once more it’s wonderful how situations can change in a brief period of time and elevation: Whereas it was white-out situations with excessive winds on the high, just a few hundred meters down the mountain there was sunshine and nice views.
I completely cherished this little tour to Asahidake, particularly as we stayed within the Bear Monte Hotel proper subsequent to the Ropeway Station, which had huge rooms and a super-tasty buffet.
Between the lodge and the Ropeway Station is the Asahidake Customer Centre, a lovely Museum – and free, too! I discovered quite a bit in it, and acquired impressed about future journeys to the area – plan in a go to while you head to Asahidake.
On my relaxation day, I went to go to the stunning city of Biei, which is well-known for the Shirogane Blue Pond, the Shirahige waterfall, Seven Stars Tree and, after all, the Zerubu-no-Oka flower fields. Which, within the winter, had been merely very lovely rolling hills lined in snow.
I explored with Hattie, from Dohoku Native, the river aspect in Biei on snowshoes, which was an easy and enjoyable journey. The snowshoeing alongside the shore of the river was tremendous pleasant, and Hattie was very educated in regards to the flora, fauna and historical past of the world.
As I needed to catch my experience again to Asahikawa we walked with our snowshoes in hand again to city, with a brief cease on the Shiki-no-tou Tower from which you may have a tremendous view over this little city of barely 10.000 inhabitants. To spherical issues out, I additionally had a scrumptious soft-serve ice cream earlier than returning to Asahikawa!
A Ski Touring Go to to Daisetsuzan Nationwide Park
On my final day in Japan I used to be in for a deal with: An extended skitouring day on Sanpou-San within the Tokachi Mountain Vary of the Daisetsuzan Nationwide Park, along with Yukinori Otsuka and Yosuke Noto – each are ski and mountain guides, and Yukinori can also be a really proficient photographer.
Our day began very early in Asahikawa, from the place we drove for round an hour to the beginning of our ski tour on the Tokachidake Onsen.
Skitouring right here requires the right tools, and also you shouldn’t head out on this mountain with out a beacon, probe and shovel. The Method is round 30 m down an almost 75° slope, after which we put the skins on and hiked for an hour.
The sky was blue, the solar was shining, it was a freezing -26°C however all three of us had massive grins because it was completely good. The type of day you dream about while you plan and picture a visit. We had many first powder strains this present day, put our skins on and off half a dozen instances, and saying that it was a terrific day could be an understatement.
We noticed just a few different teams all through the day, however the truth that we made the primary powder activates each descent offers you an concept that it is a massive mountain with loads of house for everybody.
Carry your avalanche equipment, meals and drinks for a protracted day trip – and revel in. This was in regards to the greatest ski touring you possibly can have in Japan!
Practicalities: The place to Sleep, Eat and Ski
If you wish to be on-line together with your telephone whereas in Japan, get an eSim. It really works a deal with and permits you to use Google Maps, Translate and all the things else.
Flying to Japan is super-easy, and you may as well fly on to Asahikawa, which has one of many most-reliable Airports in Japan. You’ll find the very best connections from your own home airport by way of Expedia.
Professional-Tip: Add just a few days in Tokyo on the way in which residence – see our Tokyo Tips here!
Use Agoda to search out the right lodge on your keep in Asahikawa and ebook it instantly.
I extremely suggest the Hotel WBF Grande Asahikawa, which has spacious rooms for all of your ski gear, a improbable Onsen and a really tasty breakfast buffet.
The AMANEK Asahikawa is the latest lodge in Asahikawa and is true off the Fundamental Avenue and a 2 minutes stroll to the railway station.
The OMO7 Asahikawa is a correct ski lodge on the town and has it’s shuttle service, and can also be very child-friendly. It’s the perfect selection should you go along with the household to ski in Japan!
In the event you’re going to Asahidake and wish to keep shut, then you possibly can’t get nearer than Bear Monte. It’s a 3 minute stroll to the Ropeway Station and I completely adored the massive library which was very inviting, with many attention-grabbing books and cozy chairs and sofas.
In the event you don’t have a beacon, shovel and probe, then buy all three in a set and lower your expenses!
To learn to use them, go to a course domestically or exit into the mountains with one of many wonderful guides I used to be snowboarding with:
Tracy Lenard from Niseko Mountain Guides, presents week lengthy excursions and can guarantee that you’ve got a improbable powder vacation.
If you wish to discover Biei, then achieve this with Hattie from Dohoku Local.
There are such a lot of super-tasty Eating places in Asahikawa that I solely listing my three favorites:
Ramen Santōka is the Greatest Ramen Store on the town. I completely LOVE their Ramen! They’re so tasty that my mouth is watering proper now, simply desirous about them!
If you wish to splurge on dinner and have a conventional Japanese expertise, then you must go to HATAGO. Have a Japanese pal assist you make a reservation because it’s extremely popular, after which make certain to strive the Sashimi, which had been godly.
Lastly, Swap Taste is a Café providing the tastiest treats, from Parfaits to cheese cake. This place is beautiful and very best for {couples} wanting a romantic Café!
