Dreaming of deep powder, uncrowded slopes, and unforgettable Japanese hospitality? Hokkaido is the place to find it all. From Niseko’s buzzing nightlife to Sahoro’s quiet powder stashes, this seven-day itinerary takes you to seven of Japan’s best ski resorts – plus cultural stops and incredible food along the way.
This January, my Dad and I had the incredible opportunity to visit Hokkaido, hosted by Hokkaido’s Ski Promotion Council. We visited seven resorts in seven days, experiencing the legendary Japow, diverse terrain and immersing ourselves in the cultural experiences of Sapporo City.
We travelled from Sydney to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport on ANA with an early morning stopover in Tokyo – just long enough to visit Tokyo Tower and it’s surrounding temples and parks. In Sapporo we were met by our local hosts along with fellow journalists from Europe, Jannick and Remy, who quickly became close friends!
Sapporo City made the perfect base for our stay where we were hosted at the comfortable and welcoming Hotel WBF Sapporo Chuo. Staying in Sapporo City is a great option for skiers and snowboarders – it offers affordable accommodation, late night-shopping and an abundance of restaurants – not to mention some of the best soft cream in Japan (a Hokkaido specialty you simply cannot miss).
There is also night skiing on the city slopes at Sapporo Teine and Bankei Ski Areas, and the advantage of choosing between the many resorts outside the city. Everything is easily accessible by car or public buses that run straight from the hotel doors to slopes.
Here is a rundown of our itinerary and just some of the dozens of resorts that Hokkaido has to offer.
Day 1: Sapporo Bankei Night Skiing
After settling into our hotel in Sapporo, we were keen to get on the slopes. Luckily Sapporo Bankei Ski Area is just a 25 minute drive from downtown Sapporo and can be enjoyed even if you only have a couple of hours spare. The small family friendly resort offers six lifts and a halfpipe all under flood lights, together with amenities including on-snow vending machines! Buses run from Sapporo once an hour to the ski area which is also accessible by affordable taxi services.
After visiting Sapporo Banakei we enjoyed dinner at a hole-in-the-wall traditional Japanese yakitori restaurant, and picked up our first Hokkaido soft serve of the trip – or as they call it “soft ice”.
Sapporo Bankei Ski Area Stats
Famous for: Proximity to Sapporo city centre (25-30min drive), night skiing after work
Elevation: 423m, 1388.16 feet
Lifts: 6
Ski School/s: Yes but only in Japanese
Terrain Park: There is a half pipe and moguls on offer
Pass: Sapporo Bankei Ski Area pass
Accessible travel: Best for families, beginners, and night skiing
Day 2: Rusutsu Resort
A two hour shuttle bus ride took us to Rusutsu Resort, home to three mountains connected by lifts and a train service. The resort offers a wide range of terrain from beginner runs to expert, together with ungroomed runs and views of Mt. Yotei (Mt. Fuji’s sister volcano).
Rusutsu was the kind of place that I could easily have spent 2 weeks at and still be finding new runs to explore. I got my first taste of fresh powder which was super exciting with many tree runs safely accessible off the groomed areas.
As well as the great skiing and snowboarding, Rusutsu offers a host of other activities including dog sledding, snow rafting, ice fishing, hiking tours, igloo dining experiences and more. We indulged in a hot-pot lunch at Kamakura BBQ Restaurant inside an igloo before finishing the day with more runs.
Rustusu was up there as one of my favourite resorts and it would be the perfect place for families to explore.
While we travelled back to Sapporo for the night, Rusutsu (and the neighbouring Niseko United area) is a longer drive from Sapporo than other resorts outside the city area and I would recommend staying at one of the resorts or nearby towns to visit these two areas where budget permits.
Back in Sapporo we dined at the Hachikyo Restaurant, famous for it’s Tsukko meshi or overflowing salmon roe bowl, served with an unforgettable chanting ritual that rings out through the restaurant from the friendly staff.
Rusutsu Resort Stats
Famous for: Views of Mt. Yotei, winning Japan’s best ski resort award 4 years in a row, off-slope activities
Elevation: 994m
Lifts: 19
Ski School/s: Yes
Terrain Park: No
Pass: Epic Pass
Accessible travel: Best for groups and families of all levels, offering a range of terrain for everyone, good views and lots to explore
Day 3: Niseko United
Often referred to as the “Aspen of Asia”, Niesko United consists of four interconnected resorts: Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village, Niseko Annapuri and Hanazono. The four areas are all connected and accessible on individual lift passes, although the combined Niseko United pass is definitely recommended to get the best out of your visit.
Niseko is famous for it’s views of nearby Mt Yotei. Unfortunately the day we visited there was non-stop snow and white outs which blocked the views and kept us on our toes in the cold – but that also meant a day full of fresh pow!
We ate a hot ramen lunch in Niseko Village then travelled to the peak of the mountain by a single pizza box chairlift (a Niseko must-do).
Overall, Niseko Resort was a great place to visit with heaps of fresh powder, good views (if you can see them), bustling towns with many restaurants and cafes to choose from, and many Aussies to chat to as well. Although I found the resort the busiest out of the seven we visited, with the longest lift lines, it was well worth it.
That night back in Sapporo we visited AOAO Sapporo, a unique aquarium experience on the 4th, 5th and 6th stories of a building downtown that stays open until 10pm! It is definitely worth a visit, even after a long day of skiing with mesmerising fish and ecosystems.
Niseko United was a 2-3 hour drive from Sapporo City and is accessible by shuttle bus from downtown or the airport.
Niseko United Resort Stats
Famous for: 4 Resorts in 1, Views of Mt. Yotei, buzzing town night life with many bars and restaurants
Elevation: 1,308m
Lifts: 30 across the 4 resorts
Ski School/s: Yes
Terrain Park: Yes
Pass: Ikon Pass
Accessible travel: Best for views of Mt. Yotei, heaps of different ski areas and terrain to explore all day, backcountry skiing
Day 4: Kiroro & Sapporo Teine
This was my favourite day of the seven we experienced, where we visited 2 resorts in one day (a first for both of us) – although I might be biased because of the clear weather, sunny skies and great views we got after the white outs of the day before.
In the morning we visited Kiroro Resort – our favourite along with Rustusu – it was much closer to Sapporo than Niseko and at 1 hour 20 minutes drive each way is easily accessible using Sapporo as a base. Kiroro offered two main sections with a majority of intermediate runs and heaps of ungroomed terrain. Resort manager, John, guided us out of bounds to find tree runs and experience pow like I’d never seen before – so deep it felt like swimming through the snow. The tree runs are all marked on the website and maps with information on how to access the expert terrain. John was typical of the hospitality we enjoyed in Japan and shared many stories of his years skiing and travelling before settling in Kiroro from his homeland of Korea.
I loved exploring the Kiroro and all that it had to offer. I would recommend the resort for any family, with on-mountain accommodation options as well as the city, and the chill nature that the resort gave off. Club Med has two options as well on-site (one family friendly and one for adults only).
Kiroro Resort Stats
Famous for: Ungroomed and tree run terrain, proximity to Sapporo city and views of Ishikari Bay
Elevation: 1,030m
Lifts: 10
Ski School/s: Yes
Terrain Park: Yes
Pass: Kiroro Snow World pass
Accessible travel: Best for many people including families as well as people looking for the thrill of ungroomed powder and tree lines
After lunch we took a bus one hour from Kiroro back towards Sapporo to visit Sapporo Teine Ski Area – home to the 1972 Winter Olympics alpine skiing (giant slalom and slalom), bobsleigh, and luge events. The Teine Ski Area has two parts of the mountain to explore, one up higher than the other, with both offering flawless views of Sapporo City and Ishikari Bay and a perfect sunset on our clear day.
After enjoying the upper part of the mountain we took the 5.4km rainbow course to the lower section for night skiing. Teine is definitely worth a visit for its views alone, as well as two lifts running for night skiing – make sure you check out the photogenic old ferris wheel in the lower part of the mountain.
Accessible by a short shuttle bus from the city, Sapporo Teine is a must-do on any trip to Hokkaido.
Sapporo Teine Ski Area Stats
Famous for: Stunning views of Sapporo city, proximity to Sapporo city centre, hosting the alpine skiing in the 1972 Winter Olympics
Elevation: 1,023 m
Lifts: 10
Ski School/s: Yes
Terrain Park: Yes
Pass: Sapporo Teine pass
Accessible travel: Best for beginners, evening and night skiing, city view runs
That evening we went to a traditional Japanese barbeque restaurant or yakinuku – where you grill your own food. It was my favourite restaurant of the trip and there are many around Sapporo for you to enjoy.
One of the advantages of staying in Sapporo City is the incredible shopping strips with malls that run for more than 1km offering both above ground and underground shopping. Be sure to check out Big Time, a vintage second hand clothing store and TNOC hokkaido for high quality local casualwear.
Day 5: Sapporo Kokusai
Next on our visit was Sapporo Kokusai, a resort loved by locals on the backside of the same mountain that is home to Kiroro Resort. We visited on a Sunday which made the resort busier than normal, but didn’t take away from the skiing and powder opportunities. We avoided the crowds by sticking to the moderate black runs on the left side of the mountain while Remy and Jannick explored backcountry areas off the side of the resort.
Kokusai is full of charm and buzz, with ski waxing available in the main foyer, and a local ramen restaurant serving guests in retired gondola carriages with views of the hill. It is bustling with school programs and has a nice vibe with music playing on the lifts and a food stop at the top of the hill. The resort was on the smaller side and can be explored comfortably in a half day with cheap lift tickets.
We stopped at Kokusai on route to Sahoro Resort in the eastern part of the Hokkaido Powder Belt where we spent the last 2 nights of the trip.
Sapporo Kokusai Ski Area Stats
Famous for: Easy access to backcountry, reasonably priced, close to Sapporo
Elevation: 1,100m
Lifts: 4
Ski School/s: Yes
Terrain Park: Yes
Pass: Sapporo Kokusai pass
Accessible travel: Best for beginner skiers and boarders and easy accessibility from Sapporo
After arriving at Sahoro Resort Hotel we were treated to a kaiseki menu at the hotel’s restaurant – a multi-course menu featuring local ingredients – before enjoying the hotel’s dedicated onsen.
Day 6: Sahoro Resort
Waking up slope-side at Sahoro Resort was a real treat after our week of travelling. With lifts literally at the door of the hotel, Sahoro is set up to maximise your time on the slopes.
Sahoro was the quietest resort we visited on the trip – we didn’t have to stand in a single lift line during our stay. The resort has heaps of terrain to explore including runs for all levels, as well as the back-side of the mountain (the North-face powder zone) for more advanced skiers.
The resort offered lots of untouched fresh powder runs, easy access to the backcountry, and 360 degree panoramic views from only a short hike up to the peak of Mt Sahoro. We spent the whole day skiing at Sahoro, stopping for lunch at the cafeteria at the bottom of the gondola where there were cheap local food options available – nothing beats a bowl of hot udon noodles and soup after a morning snowboarding!
On our second night at the Hotel we took advantage of their extensive buffet, a great option which even had self-serve soft ice!
Sahoro is a less visited resort with lift passes half the price of other more known locations – I would definitely recommend it for any trip to Hokkaido.
Sahoro Resort Stats
Famous for: 360 degree views of Tokachi Plains, the Tokachidake mountain range, and the Hidaka Mountains from the peak of the resort and ungroomed and off-piste trails
Elevation: 1,030m
Lifts: 8 lifts
Ski School/s: Yes
Terrain Park: No
Pass: Sahoro lift tickets
Accessible travel: Best for people looking for a quiet resort that still has top-notch powder, and families that want to have a cheaper all inclusive holiday
Day 7: Farewell Japan
For our final day, the staff at Sohoro Resort took us into the North-face zone of the mountain which had been closed the day before. We finished the trip with a powder run down the unskied slopes, before being brought back to Hotel by snow-cat. What a way to finish an incredible week!
We left Sohoro by train from Shintoku station for a scenic 2 hour ride back to the airport. If travelling by train, leave some time to visit The Yard opposite the station for coffee and local arts and crafts before you leave town.
After a week with our amazing hosts and new friends it was time to say goodbye to Hokkaido. In just a short time we fell in love with the place and the people and will be sure to return!
In short, Hokkaido is the perfect place to go for everyone from advanced skiers and boarders seeking expert black runs and ungroomed powder to families looking for an easy accessible resort that will please everyone of all levels and ages. Staying in Sapporo City gave us the opportunity to explore many different resorts on our trip, our favourites being Rusutsu and Kiroro as well as being able to experience the culture of Sapporo City with its many restaurants and late night shopping districts. I loved the whole trip and would 100% recommend the Hokkaido Region as your next ski trip destination.
From December 2025, Qantas is restarting direct flights to New Chitose Airport dropping snow lovers right in the heart of Hokkaido’s best resorts. There’s no better time to book your flight!
