Hokkaido Japan; Central Hokkaido or Niseko

**myles long** · 03-05-2019, 12:05 AM

Originally Posted by SLCMunchie

Thank you everyone for the beta on this thread! Just returned from a trip with no snow, but we still had fun. Since they are already mentioned, had fun at niseko, Asahidake, and furanodake. got to summit mt yotei and ski a few laps in the cone ala lou dawson style in his blog from a few years ago. Asahidake was too windy/socked in to explore much but still got some good laps in and lots of drinking/onsen time. the lunches there were extremely good. last days spent at furano dake. stayed at the small onsen at the top of the road heading to the saddle between furnaodake and takishidake (spell check). the rental car advise was great- had a van for the trip with plenty of room for gear and even took some coloRADians who hadn't gotten their international driving permit to niseko with us. Everyone bags on niseko, but we had lots of fun there! lots of touring opportunities around there and the town vibe can be fun- good food/drink/socializing. i wouldn't spend my whole time there, but it was fun for what it was.

Just wrapped up a similar trip. Summited ashidake, was pretty good. Spent several days around takashidake (sp). There is a ton of good lines tonskinaround there. Had a small reset of snow and had some great runs.

**satori** · 03-05-2019, 02:51 PM

One of the worst winters I've experienced in 20 years here. In Sapporo we only got 30% of our usual February snowfall, and other months weren't much better. I hope we can blame this one on El Nino and get back to normal.

**gaijin** · 03-05-2019, 05:52 PM

This happens on this side of the world when the sierras get their insane winters. Once every decade or so.

**jtran10** · 03-05-2019, 05:56 PM

Glad I hit my week 10 days as perfectly as possible but yea, wtf happened this past month?

**TahoeJ** · 03-05-2019, 10:56 PM

Originally Posted by gaijin

This happens on this side of the world when the sierras get their insane winters. Once every decade or so.

How was 2 years ago? Sierra went huge in January. Was 2010/11 bad out that way too (best year ever in the Sierra)? Curious how accurate the correlation is...

Glad I went in mid January.

**NWFlow** · 03-06-2019, 02:18 AM

Originally Posted by satori

One of the worst winters I've experienced in 20 years here. In Sapporo we only got 30% of our usual February snowfall, and other months weren't much better. I hope we can blame this one on El Nino and get back to normal.

Even January? That's shocking if so...seemed good to me! Looked like the SnowJapan snowfall "analyses" weren't too far off for January before things dried up in February just as it started nuking in N. America.

**Mike Pow** · 03-06-2019, 04:15 AM

Originally Posted by satori

One of the worst winters I've experienced in 20 years here. In Sapporo we only got 30% of our usual February snowfall, and other months weren't much better. I hope we can blame this one on El Nino and get back to normal.

My best (read most enjoyable not necessarily the deepest) winter on Hokkaido.

Arrived to powder at Kiroro on 19 December 2018
Pretty much skied at least boot top deep powder through to 17 February 2019 - most days it was way deeper than this
17 Feb - 25 Feb skied powder out of resort, packed powder on piste in resort, and two days of boot top to knee deep in resort

I did move around a lot this winter and caught snow when the usual suspects were getting missed.

It's been 'dry' now for two weeks in SW Hokkaido although Asahidake and surrounds have been getting some snow.

In my experience, mid to late March will be powtastic.

**dongy** · 03-07-2019, 02:20 AM

If anyone is around central Hokkaido from now until the end of March, PM me. Desperately need touring partner(s). Looking to get alpine in Tokachidake area, Asahidake, etc. Was too deep and stormy back in January. Also looking to venture off the beaten track. Looking at shiretoko peninsula and Mashike area.

**Mike Pow** · 03-12-2019, 05:13 AM

Originally Posted by dongy

If anyone is around central Hokkaido from now until the end of March, PM me. Desperately need touring partner(s). Looking to get alpine in Tokachidake area, Asahidake, etc. Was too deep and stormy back in January. Also looking to venture off the beaten track. Looking at shiretoko peninsula and Mashike area.

Not around unfortunately, but have a look at the Shakotan Peninsula

And Eniwa-dake around Lake Shikotsu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3fhKXtQnHk

**sklar** · 03-12-2019, 12:23 PM

Some words, photos, and video from our Hokkaido trip this year:
https://www.newschoolers.com/news/re...n-Ski-Vacation

**Mike Pow** · 03-12-2019, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by sklar

Some words, photos, and video from our Hokkaido trip this year:
https://www.newschoolers.com/news/re...n-Ski-Vacation

Well played

**dongy** · 03-12-2019, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by Mike Pow

Not around unfortunately, but have a look at the Shakotan Peninsula

And Eniwa-dake around Lake Shikotsu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3fhKXtQnHk

That's actually on my list. Cheers!

**Mike Pow** · 03-13-2019, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by dongy

That's actually on my list. Cheers!

Welcome.

Hope you get the goods.

Also great skiing the other side of Jozankei Dam between Jozankei and Sapporo Kokusai.

Tengu-dake.

**54-46** · 05-17-2019, 05:44 PM

Trying to refine choices for a trip - if you were traveling in Feb with a 13-year old girl (who is a decent pow skier but doesn’t like to hike) - where would you stay to ski 4-5 days? Prolly 3 resort days and maybe a cat day, if cat options are any good. Just stay Hirafu and take buses or stay elsewhere?

**Mike Pow** · 05-18-2019, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by 54-46

Trying to refine choices for a trip - if you were traveling in Feb with a 13-year old girl (who is a decent pow skier but doesn’t like to hike) - where would you stay to ski 4-5 days? Prolly 3 resort days and maybe a cat day, if cat options are any good. Just stay Hirafu and take buses or stay elsewhere?

Hokkaido Cat Skiing

https://www.stillstoked.com/cat-skii...skiing-niseko/

https://www.snowsbest.com/go-cat-skiing-japan/

https://www.powderhounds.com/Japan/Cat-Skiing.aspx

Best to stay in the Niseko Resort Area

Ski Niseko United, Niseko Moiwa, Rusutsu.

**tino_** · 11-21-2019, 03:55 AM

Skinned up Hirafu to Ace Hill Rest House today. Plenty of untracked lines to be had higher up, had some pretty epic first turns of the season in boot deep pow

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**Greydon Clark** · 11-21-2019, 06:15 PM

Lovely photo.

I'm visiting for the first time in January... After my flight from Tokyo, my plan is to get a room at the airport and head into Sapporo in the morning for some sightseeing. Any recommendations for what to do for a half-day in Sapporo? Unfortunately I’m visiting before the ice festival.

**SUPERIOR** · 11-21-2019, 06:32 PM

Red light district will likely be quiet, which is the craziest draw. Wander around and check out the JR train station and underground mall / walkways. Yodobashi camera is the biggest electronics store I’ve ever seen. The whole city is sort of bizarre for a foreigner, and you will be entertained/perplexed by its 1970s Soviet block architecture.

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**patxi** · 11-21-2019, 06:35 PM

^^not time for much with only 1/2 day. I would go to Mandarake in Susukino. Maybe take a ride on the ferris wheel on top of the building for the city view. Eat some Genghis Khan at the brewery if you have the time.

**SUPERIOR** · 11-21-2019, 06:35 PM

Also, do you plan to ride a train into Sapporo from the airport? It is a 30-45 minute trip IIRC.

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**Greydon Clark** · 11-21-2019, 07:06 PM

Originally Posted by SUPERIOR

Also, do you plan to ride a train into Sapporo from the airport? It is a 30-45 minute trip IIRC.

I plan on taking the train. Wish I had more time, but the red light district at 830 AM is appealing.

**pano-dude** · 11-21-2019, 07:43 PM

There's a covered street in Sapporo downtown that was super cool at night. Restaurants, markets, casinos (loudest fricken place ever) and a donut shop that was tasty.

Red light is not far from there, first time I've ever been denied entry into a bar for being a white guy...

Try the whiskey, Nikka is very nice

Make sure hotel room is non smoking if you're not a smoker, one of our rooms was not and it was like sleeping face down in an ashtray.

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**tmokes** · 11-21-2019, 10:21 PM

There is a ramen mall? You just walk into a building and inside is full of small ramen stalls. Or try one of seafood/crab restaurant.

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**pfj** · 12-21-2019, 10:57 AM

I am headed to Hokkaido this February, we have been talking about doing a guided trip to Mt Yotei one day. Is Black Diamond the only touring company that offers this service?

Is this something you need to book in advance?

**climberevan** · 12-21-2019, 11:09 AM

I've probably said this before, but no one needs to pay a guide to go up Yotei. It's the most obvious mountain in the region--follow the crowds. (Also, BD appears to be soliciting free skilled labor on this forum, so the people who "guide" you up the well-established skin track might not even be getting paid themselves.)