{"id":77200,"date":"2021-02-18T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-18T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=77200"},"modified":"2021-03-01T16:06:32","modified_gmt":"2021-03-01T07:06:32","slug":"skiing-in-hokkaido-asahikawa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/skiing-in-hokkaido-asahikawa\/","title":{"rendered":"Skiing in Hokkaido: The Best Ski Resorts and Attractions in Asahikawa, Hokkaido"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Even after having lived in Japan for a little over two years, some corners of this fascinating country still seem distant and unknown to me. Until recently, Hokkaido<\/a> was one of those places \u2014 a land of powdered slopes, amazing food, and unique culture, which I\u2019d heard stories about from snow sports lovers the world over. Needless to say, I jumped at my chance to get right in the middle of it \u2014 quite literally. My gateway to this ancient isle was Asahikawa (\u65ed\u5ddd)<\/strong>, in central Hokkaido. Being right at the heart of the area puts you within striking distance of some of the best ski slopes in the world<\/strong>, the most varied Hokkaido cuisine, and the most outstanding natural beauty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even better, Hokkaido\u2019s second city and its surroundings are still largely off most foreign tourists’ radar. That kind of unspoiled authenticity is a rare thing these days and makes for a far more Japanese experience than you\u2019ll find pretty much anywhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Let\u2019s take a look at some of the best slopes and sights this amazing pocket of Japan has to offer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asahikawa City: Hokkaido’s Ski and Snowboard Hub<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Arriving right in the middle of December, I had worried that I might be a little early to see any heavy snowfall \u2014 how naive I was. On the journey from the airport to the hotel, you\u2019ll be greeted with mounds of said powder piled up meters high along the side of the road and a complete blanket of white over everything in sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asahikawa city is celebrated in Japan as a ski and snowboard hub<\/strong>, and it\u2019s easy to see why. Asahikawa and the surrounding region actually have better geography for powder snow in Hokkaido than the more famous Sapporo. That\u2019s because it\u2019s much further inland than the prefectural capital, meaning that the snow’s moisture level is significantly lower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from the simple meteorological benefits, the city also has some great infrastructure, making it a perfect base camp for skiing in Hokkaido. Trains and buses connect it to over half a dozen quality ski areas within a 40-minute to two-hour range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the city itself, the activity, nightlife<\/a>, and dining options offer plenty to fill up your evenings (and any rest days for aching legs). Think sake bars<\/strong>, craft beer bars<\/strong>, onsen hot spring baths<\/strong><\/a>, ancient little hole-in-the-wall eateries<\/strong>, nightclubs<\/strong> on the weekend, and so much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overnight Stay in Asahikawa at Hoshino Resorts OMO7 Asahikawa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My base for all of that action was Hoshino Resorts OMO7 Asahikawa<\/a><\/strong>, a newly renovated hotel housed inside a large red brick building<\/strong> near the city\u2019s central train station. As far as first impressions go, it doesn\u2019t get much better than this; the lobby is a vast, chic chill-out space with the cafe bar area adjacent, where an outstanding buffet breakfast is served each morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll also find a ski shop and wax bar on the first floor, stocked with 30 kinds of wax which can be chosen according to the day\u2019s specific conditions. The map in the lobby of all the ski resorts with free bus links directly from the hotel will set any powder hunter’s heart aflutter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rooms and Accommodations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hoshino Resorts OMO7 Asahikawa is part of the prestigious Hoshino Resorts group, but this is one of their more casual properties. The focus is very much on fun-packed adventure vacations. They offer suite rooms, twin rooms, double rooms, and family rooms with five single beds. These five-bedrooms would be perfect for a group of friends<\/strong> looking to slash the cost of their trip.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rooms have a modern Japanese vibe, split between a carpeted area and an elevated platform with a seating area and beds. After settling into my lovely modern double room, I had just enough time to catch a dip in the hotel\u2019s in-house sauna bath<\/strong> before heading out on the town. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nighttime Guided Tours by OMO Rangers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I wasn\u2019t flying blind however, and I didn\u2019t even have to trudge through a single Google Maps review all night! That\u2019s because Hoshino Resorts OMO7 Asahikawa offers a fantastic nighttime service: the<\/strong> OMO Rangers<\/strong>. These are a group of highly-knowledgeable local expert guides clad in color-coded jackets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 6 PM each evening, guests can meet them in the lobby to head off on a guided tour of the city center<\/strong> to discover the famous spots and hidden gems within walking distance of the hotel. The colored jackets aren\u2019t just a fashion statement either; each represents a different kind of tour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Green is for izakaya bars and other watering holes<\/strong>, yellow is for ramen<\/strong>, blue is for the tiny off-the-beaten-track streets<\/strong> where only locals tend to tread, and purple is for sightseeing<\/strong>. Needless to say, I went with green. More on that later, but for now it suffices to say that plenty of sake was involved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s social touches like this, alongside the fantastic snow sports services, which I believe put this hotel right at the vanguard of opening up Asahikawa to an international audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Ski Resorts in Hokkaido<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

But enough about the city, we came for the skiing (or snowboarding, in my case). Let\u2019s take a look at exactly what kind of snow sport opportunities central Hokkaido has to offer. In my short time there, I was lucky enough to visit four different ski areas, proving just how spoiled for choice you\u2019ll be when choosing where to ski in Hokkaido.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Ski Resort for Beginners: Kamui Ski Links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kamui Ski Links<\/strong><\/a> is the most accessible<\/strong> of all the ski areas around Asahikawa, at just a 40-minute shuttle bus journey from the city center. The season starts here, as in most places in Central Hokkaido, in early December. By the time I arrived on the 17th, the official snow depth readings were 65 centimeters (and counting).<\/p>\n\n\n\n