2025 Hokkaido Ski Guide! Ski clothing selection, trail types, and must-read skiing knowledge

Get ready for the ski season! I believe many people are eager to experience the fun of skiing in Hokkaido. Do you want to know which month is the best for skiing in Hokkaido? What should beginners pay attention to when skiing? This article sorts out information on the top 5 must-visit ski resorts in Hokkaido, frequently asked questions, and other detailed skiing tips. Let's read on!



When is the snow season in Hokkaido? Which months are best for skiing?

Almost all of Hokkaido has a subarctic climate, with low temperatures all year round and a long winter. Even during the day, the temperature is often below zero, and the lowest temperature in January 2024 dropped to around -28.5℃. The first snow falls in late October every year, and snow can be seen everywhere in December. Ski resorts in various places will also open from December, and it is a suitable season for skiing until late March. The snow in Hokkaido is light "powder snow", which is soft and dry, and has created many excellent ski resorts, which are regarded as a must-visit place by many ski experts!

How to wear when skiing? Down jackets are actually less practical than you think!

Choosing the right clothes is also a key point. It is recommended to wear them in an "onion-like" way, with three layers: inner, middle, and outer. For the innermost layer, you can choose "moisture-absorbing and perspiration-wicking sports underwear or functional clothing". Wearing thermal clothing that will retain sweat will easily reduce the thermal insulation function; for the middle layer, "add warm clothing". Materials such as brushed wool and synthetic fibers are very suitable, which can quickly discharge heat and moisture and are easy to wash.



As the outermost layer, a windproof and waterproof snow jacket and snow pants are the first choice. It is not recommended to wear a general down jacket because it is easy to be soaked by snow water and penetrate into the inner layer, affecting the warmth effect. Other equipment such as wool hats, gloves, goggles, etc. should not be ignored. Ensuring comfortable and safe clothing is the first step for novice skiers!

5 must-go ski resorts! A comprehensive list of race course types and coaching courses

Ski resort ①: Niseko Tokyu Grand HIRAFU



Niseko, about a 2-hour drive from New Chitose Airport, is one of the best ski resorts in Hokkaido. It is mainly composed of four major ski resorts, the largest of which is Niseko Tokyu Grand HIRAFU, which has vast terrain and high-quality powder snow. It provides up to 22 courses of different difficulty levels, so both beginners and advanced skiers can find a suitable course.




In addition, there is Japan's largest "night snow trail", which is suitable for players who want to experience night skiing! There are also abundant hotels, shops, bars, hot springs and other recreational facilities near the ski resort, which is a popular choice for ski vacations.

Niseko Tokyu Grand HIRAFU
・Address: 2-9-1, Niseko Hirafu 1-jo, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido
・Opening period:
Daytime course: 10:00-15:30, December 21, 2024 (Sat)-March 31, 2025 (Mon)
Night course: 16:00-19:00, December 14, 2024 (Sat)-March 23, 2025 (Sun)
・Number of courses: 22
・Availability of coaching lessons: Yes; general group classes are in Japanese only, private classes are available in Japanese and English
・Reference price for one-day ticket: 7,400 yen for adults; please refer to the official website for details of other ticket types
・Official website

Ski resort ②: Rusutsu Resort



Rusuto Resort, located at the foot of Mount Yotei, is the largest and most internationally renowned ski resort in Hokkaido. Its excellent snow quality is known as the "best powder snow in the world" and it has been selected as the "Best Ski Resort in Japan" by the World Ski Awards five times. The vast ski resort consists of three mountaintops, with a total of 37 ski slopes and 18 cable car routes distributed in between, including extremely challenging professional ski slopes, as well as routes for beginners to have fun, and activities such as rubber boat skiing, ice fishing, and dog sledding suitable for parents and children to experience together. The play methods are very diverse. It is worth mentioning that the gourmet restaurants in the resort are also widely praised by gourmets, with yakiniku restaurants, French restaurants, and crab legs all-you-can-eat options!




Rusutsu Resort
・Address: Izumikawa 13, Rusutsu Village, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido
・Opening period:
Daytime track: 9:00-17:00, November 23, 2024 (Sat) - March 30, 2025 (Sun)
Night track: 16:00-20:00, mid-December 2024 - March 29, 2025 (Sat)
・Number of tracks: 37
・Are there coaching lessons: Yes; all lessons are conducted in Japanese
・One-day ticket price reference: 14,500 yen for adults; please refer to the official website for details of other ticket types
・Official website

Ski resort ③: Sapporo Teine Ski Resort



"Sapporo Teine Ski Resort" is located in the Teine Mountain area near Sapporo City, and is very convenient to get to from the city center. This ski resort was selected as the first Winter Olympic stadium in Asia in 1972. It is famous for its snow quality and snow trails. There is a "panoramic course" on the top of the mountain at an altitude of more than 1,000 meters, which offers an endless view of Sapporo City and Ishikari Bay. There is also a high-difficulty "Women's Giant Slalom" course and a "North Face" course that makes full use of the steep slopes, which can satisfy the challenging spirit of all kinds of experts. The ski resort also has the "Sunshine White Birch Forest" route suitable for beginners, as well as the "Dinosaur Children's Park" for parents and children to enjoy a variety of snow activities.




Sapporo Teine Ski Resort
・Address: 593 Teine-honmachi, Teine-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
・Opening period: Not yet announced
・Number of courses: 15
・Are there coaching lessons: Yes; all lessons are conducted in Japanese
・Reference price for one-day ticket: 7,900 yen for adults; for details on other ticket types, please refer to the official website
・Official website

Ski Resort ④: Hoshino TOMAMU Resort Ski Resort



"Hoshinoya TOMAMU Ski Resort" is like a winter paradise with multiple entertainments. The vast ski resort surrounded by majestic nature has many beginner, intermediate and advanced tracks. It is also the world's only family ski resort with the theme of "story", which inspires children's interest in skiing through adventure stories. The entire resort is built into a snow town. Even non-skiers can experience facilities such as "Snow Ramen Shop" and "Snow Post Office", and can also go to the mist ice terrace at an altitude of 1,088 meters to enjoy the fantastic snow mountain scenery. There is also a "Firefly Street" near the resort, which gathers many cafes, restaurants, bars, etc., which makes people linger.




Hoshino TOMAMU Ski Resort
・Address: Nakatomu, Shimukappu Village, Yufu-gun, Hokkaido
・Opening period:
December 1, 2024 (Sunday) ~ December 25, 2024 (Wednesday) 8:45 ~ 16:00
December 26, 2024 (Thursday) ~ March 31, 2025 (Monday) 8:45 ~ 18:00 (※Only the "Tower" is open after 15:30 Mountain" area)
April 1, 2025 (Tuesday) 9:00-15:30
・Number of courses: 29
・Are there coaching lessons: Yes; available in Japanese and English
・Reference price for one-day ticket: 7,500 yen for adults; for details on other ticket types, please refer to the official website
・Official website

Ski Resort ⑤: Sapporo International Ski Resort



Another ski resort that is easy to visit from downtown Sapporo is the Sapporo International Ski Resort, which is open from mid-November to early May every year and has a longer operating time. The biggest feature is that it has many facilities and tracks suitable for beginners and intermediate players, such as the gentle "Forest Snow Trail" and "Forest ~ Fairy Tale Slide", and there is also a "Snow Park" where you can experience the fun of sledding and snow tires. Another major advantage is that it has the largest scale of snow equipment rental services in Hokkaido, providing a variety of snowboards and ski suits for rental, and you can apply online in advance, which is very convenient!




Sapporo International Ski Resort
・Address: 937 Jozankei, Minami-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
・Opening period: Opening time is yet to be announced. Expected to be open until May 6, 2025 (Tuesday)
・Number of courses: 7
・Are there coaching lessons: Yes; available in Japanese and English
・Reference price for one-day ticket: 5,800 yen for adults; please refer to the official website for details of other ticket types
・Official website

Must-read before skiing! 5 common Q&A




Q1: How much does it cost to ski per day? How to choose a ski pass

Generally speaking, you don’t need a ticket to enter the major ski resorts, but you need to buy a "ski pass" or "cable car ticket" (リフト券) to take the cable car to the mountaintop ski resort. The sales methods of different ski resorts are also different. Usually there are half-day tickets, one-day tickets, multi-day tickets or package combinations. You can buy according to your needs. Taking the ski resort introduced in this article as an example, except for the higher price of the one-day ticket of "Rusutsu Resort", the price of one-day tickets for other ski resorts is about 6,000 to 8,000 yen. Some ski resorts also sell tickets in hours, which is very suitable for beginners who want to experience skiing lightly.

Q2: Can I learn to ski by myself?

"Skiing" is a sport that requires professional skills and involves risks. For people with no experience, it is difficult to "ski" well by just exploring on their own. It is recommended that novices choose a ski resort with coaching courses when skiing for the first time, lay a good foundation, and then practice repeatedly. I believe that this will help them experience the fun of skiing faster.

Q3: How long does it usually take to get started?

The general basic skiing course can roughly include familiarizing yourself with the basic movements, practicing gliding on the slopes, and more advanced ones can enter more varied turning movements, or challenge steeper slopes and changing terrains. For a novice, it takes about 3 days to go from not knowing how to ski to being able to glide smoothly on the basic snow trails. If you want to practice more advanced skills, it will take at least 5 days.

Q4: How to choose between Ski double board and Sb single board?

The feature of "Ski double board" is that both feet are on two boards respectively. For novices with zero experience, it is easier to maintain balance and control direction, but when practicing advanced movements, you need to test the coordination of controlling two boards at the same time, which is relatively difficult from beginner to advanced. The movement mode of "Sb Snowboard" is somewhat similar to that of skateboard and surfboard. It takes a lot of time to practice balance in the early stage, but as long as you get through the initial stage, it will be relatively smooth and light when you practice to the advanced level.

Q5: What kind of Travel insurance should I buy for skiing overseas?

Since skiing is considered a high-risk activity, it is recommended to purchase "specific activity insurance" during the skiing period. For example, some insurance companies will launch insurance plans suitable for skiing overseas, covering medical expenses caused by accidental injuries and specific accidents (such as hypothermia, frostbite, etc.).