Multi-day Tours (Overview)
Kurodake (1,984m) is another ski area in the northern part of Daisetsuzan National Park which is serviced by Sounkyo Canyon, a hot spring village at its base. The mountain consists of a cable-car that accesses the mid-elevation of the mountain and then a chair to 1,550 meters. It can be best described as backcountry on the front side with only one groomed course. A hike to the peak can be rewarded with a 1,350 meter descent to the base, one of the longest in Hokkaido. Like Asahidake there is no ski patrol.
Asahidake is in the northern part of Daisetsuzan National Park and is the highest mountain in Hokkaido at 2,290m. It is also a live volcano and on clear days you can see plumes of white smoke billowing from its vents. One cable-car gives lift access to the tree line providing for 500 meters vertical of widely spaced glades to the base station. Alternatively, a hike to the peak can give you 1,300 meters ski descent. There is no ski patrol on the mountain.
Kamui Ski Links is a laid back local resort and one of our favorites. The resort is only 750 meters high with 600 meters vertical but there is an extensive area of accessible off-piste tree skiing on all sides of the mountain. There is no village at the base and the closest center is Asahikawa so week days are extremely quiet and can feel like you have the place to yourself, meaning fresh tracks all day!
