Skiing in Hokkaido: and why we built a group trip around it
There is a lot of info out there about skiing in Japan. Everyone has an opinion on the best resorts, the best season, the best time to book. And honestly? Sometimes people talk about trips they have read about rather than trips they have actually done.
We are not really built that way. So instead of speculating from a distance, we did what we always do – we booked the flights and went to find out for ourselves. Rhiannon and Kate packed their bags, pointed themselves at Hokkaido, and spent the better part of two weeks skiing multiple resorts, reviewing hotels, photographing rooms, and eating a truly unreasonable amount of ramen.
What came out of that trip wasn’t just a great holiday. It was the blueprint for a group tour we are genuinely excited about. So grab a matcha, get comfy, and let us take you through it.
Flights to Tokyo & Chitose
The journey kicked off with a fairly full flight, which was no surprise given how popular the route is. The seats were comfortable, the food was decent, and the service was quick and friendly.
We made a stop at the First Class Lounge in Sydney and it was everything you would want – spacious, elegant, calm, and cleverly designed. Showers, a spa, proper workspaces, a barista station, a self-service drinks area, and an à la carte menu with genuinely great options. Everything arrived quickly, looked the part, and tasted even better. By the time we left, we were recharged, refilled, and ready for the next leg.
Sydney to Tokyo was smooth from start to finish. Boarding moved in groups, disembarkation was seamless, and arrival was refreshingly straightforward – a declaration form if you haven’t completed it online, a quick self-service ID process with photo and fingerprint scan, then straight through to a real person at passport control and on to baggage. Almost Japanese precision, honestly.
Landing in Otaru: your home base for the first chapter
From Chitose, the group heads straight to Otaru, and it immediately feels like stepping into a snow-covered postcard. Lantern-lit canals, historic warehouses, quiet streets glowing under fresh Hokkaido powder. It is one of those towns that just gets you.
We loved it as a base. The location is perfect – central enough to explore easily, charming enough to actually enjoy the evenings. Warm up with steaming bowls of ramen, fresh sushi, and cosy izakayas. It is the kind of place that earns its spot on the itinerary not just for what is nearby, but for what it is in its own right.
Days 1 through 4 are spent here, with daily transfers to Kiroro making it a seamless operation.
Kiroro: deep powder and not a crowd in sight
We caught the Resort Liner right in front OMO 5 Otaru – an easy, easygoing 40-minute ride up into Hokkaido’s snowy Akaigawa Valley. Kiroro is one of those resorts that has a reputation, and it absolutely lives up to it.
23 marked runs, 9 lifts, 660 metres of vertical, and a snow record that speaks for itself – an average of 21 metres of snowfall each season. The terrain is well-balanced: 14% beginner, 44% intermediate, 42% advanced. Wide-open groomers, tree runs, and off-piste that genuinely delivers. It was perfect for both of us – Kate on her snowboard, Rhiannon very much still in the learner-but-enthusiastic camp on skis.
The slopes were sensational. The uncrowded runs made it feel like the place was almost ours. And the accommodation options we reviewed? Both stunning. True luxury setting, top-notch service. Our group stays here for Days 2 through 4, and we are confident it will be one of the highlights of the trip.
On the road to Kamui
After Otaru, the group moves to Asahikawa – another hour and a half drive north, and another scenic one at that.
Asahikawa in winter is raw, beautiful – draped in thick snow and surrounded by mountains that seem to swallow the horizon. It is the kind of place that feels quietly alive, where steaming bowls of the city’s famous ramen hit differently when it is below zero outside and the streets are muffled under fresh powder.
Kamui Ski Links is the premier resort in Northern Hokkaido. The locals love it, and once you ski it, you will understand why. Six lifts, 25 marked runs, 600 metres of vertical, and terrain that splits roughly 40% beginner, 40% intermediate, and 20% advanced. The inland location gives it something the coastal resorts don’t always have – exceptionally dry powder. The staff are proud of it, and rightfully so.
Days 5 through 8 are spent in Asahikawa, with daily transfers to Kamui. A brilliant four days.
Tomamu: the grand finale
The last leg of the trip and honestly, what a way to finish. Tomamu sits in central Hokkaido and it is a different kind of resort experience – stylish, and very special. 145 hectares of powder snow, exquisitely groomed slopes, expert terrain, and tree skiing within the resort boundaries.
It has a fun and dynamic atmosphere that makes it feel lively without ever feeling chaotic. And after the longer drives of the earlier legs, it is a great place to settle in and just ski. From alpine runs to snow trekking, there is plenty to fill four days without repeating yourself.
Days 9 through 12 are based at Tomamu Ski-in/Ski-out Tomamu The Tower, before the group heads back to Chitose on Day 13 for departure. Tired legs, very full memory cards, and the kind of trip you start planning to repeat before you have even landed home.
What the group tour looks like
We have taken everything we learned on this trip – the best bases, the transfer logistics, the resort order, the accommodation – and built it into a small group tour that is flexible by design. Our hosts will adapt the itinerary to suit the group’s wants and needs, and with ski lift passes included at every resort, every day is yours to shape.
Day 1: Arrive Chitose, transfer to Otaru
Days 2–4: Based in Otaru, skiing Kiroro daily
Days 5–8: Based in Asahikawa, skiing Kamui daily
Days 9–12: Based at Tomamu, skiing Tomamu Resort
Day 13: Depart Chitose
Ski when you want to. Take a day off the slopes when you don’t. Every day on this tour is your ski holiday, your way.
So, skiing in Hokkaido. Does it live up to the hype?
Absolutely, categorically, yes. The snow was incredible, the resorts delivered, the hotels were reviewed and photographed so you know exactly what you are walking into, and the whole experience reminded us why we do this job.
Up-to-date, high-quality information from Japan is surprisingly hard to come by. We went and got it ourselves. Now we want to share it with a group of people who love skiing as much as we do.
If this sounds like your kind of trip, get in touch. We would love to have you along.
