Backcountry Skiing in Mt.Asahidake & Mt. Kurodake - The Japanese Largest National Park “DAISETSUZAN”
5-DAY
DIFFICULTY
SNOW SEASON
5 days 4 nights
Min. 1, Max. 6
Ski/Snowboard
- HIGHTLIGHTS
-
- To experience BC skiing in the largest N.P. in JAPAN
- To Ski on open slopes in alpine and tree runs in ever-green forests with native trees
- To experience high quality JAPOW
- To experience ski in an active volcanic mountain (Mt. Asahidake)
- Onsen right after Skiing
- Cultural Sightseeing related the Ainu (indigenous people of Hokkaido) in Asahikawa
- LOCATION
-
Daisetsuzan National Park is located at the central Hokkaido. Asahikawa Airport is the gate for the area and have flights from /to Tokyo and some international lines. Access from the airport to mountains is easy taking about 1hr to Mt. Asahidake and 1.5hrs to Mt. Kurodake by driving. Asahikawa Airport has also a good access to Asahikawa, the 2nd largest city in Hokkaido.
Backcountry Skiing in Daisetsuzan National Park
The Peak of Mt. Kurodake
OVERVIEW
Mt. Asahidake (2291m) and Mt. Kurodake (1984m) are symbolic mountains in Daisetsuzan National Park located at the central Hokkaido, which is the largest national park in Japan (2024) and Mt. Asahidake is the highest mountain in Hokkaido. They are very attractive mountains among hikers not only for Japanese also for international hikers throughout seasons. Both has trams (we call “ROPEWAY”) that takes hikers and tourists to alpine area where is full of flowers in summer and colored leaves in fall. These mountains are the great destination for backcountry skiing, and the hottest spots of JAPOW (Japan Powder Snow) in winter.
As DAISETSIZAN (大雪山）means “Big Snowy Mountains”, the first snow falls at the end of September and mountains are covered by snow from the end of October and remains as the snow patches till July or even at the beg of August. The large amount of snow in Daisetsuzan support entire ecosystem in the park also for the life of local people like drinking water and for agriculture.
Since the Daisetsuzan is located at the inland of Hokkaido, skiers enjoy “Aspirin Snow” a very light and dry feather-like snow between Jan and March. Also due to trams enable skier to repeat many runs in such powder without hiking up. As other attractive point is that both of Mt. Asahidake and Mt. Kurodake have onsen village at the foot of mountains. It is just simply great to enjoy skiing and staying at onsen village without transport.
ITINERARY
DAY 1
Traveling from Asahikawa Airport to Asahidake ONSEN village
You will meet a guide at Asahikawa Airport that connects to Tokyo Haneda airport or other airports with considerable number of daily flights. About 1hr drive with a private van will take you to Asahidake Onsen village. Since there are no shops in the onsen village, we drop by shops to buy some snacks while you stay and ski.
Accommodation – Asahidake Onsen | Hotel | Private room with ensuite
Included meals – Dinner at hotel
DAY 2
Guided Off-Piste Skiing at Mt. Asahidake
After breakfast at our hotel, we head to Asahidake Ropeway (Tram) Station by walking or using shuttle from the hotel. Trum takes us to the middle of Mt. Asahidake “SUGATAMI” area (1400m) where we start skiing. We repeat tree runs with powder snow or skin up for 15 min to go further slopes to ski on opened slopes when good visibility.
There is a dining for lunch and kiosk for light snacks and coffee at Asahidake Ropeway Station. After Skiing, you can enjoy onsen and Hokkaido Beer before dinner.
Activity – Tram access off piste skiing for 5 hrs
Accommodation –Mt. Asahidake Onsen|hotel | Private room with ensuite
Included meals – breakfast & dinner at hotel
DAY 3
Guided Off-Piste Skiing at Mt. Asahidake and traveling to Sounkyo
We repeat the itinerary as on Day 2. If visibility allows we walk further up to see fumarole.
Having lunch at the dining at Asahidake Ropeway Station, we keep skiing depending on snow condition. After finishing powder skiing at Mt. Asahidake, we head to the next destination, Sounkyo Onsen village where is the base for skiing in Mt. Kurodake.
2hrs by driving from Asahidake to Sounkyo Onsen village. There are 2 “Convenience” stores to buy your snacks and drinks for the following days.
Activity – tramway access off piste skiing for 5 hrs
Accommodation –Sounkyo Onsen | hotel | Private room with ensuite
Included meals – breakfast & dinner at hotel
DAY 4
Guided Off-Piste Skiing at Mt. Kurodake
After breakfast and preparing for skiing, we head to Kurodake Ropeway (Tram) Station located in Sounkyo Onsen village. We take a tram and a chair lift (5 min walk from the tram station to the chair lift) and ready to ski or hike up when visibility allows. The view from Mt. Kurodake is gorgeous with steep ridge and deep gorge. We ski on open slopes with alpine birches or stay in tree lines when no visibility. Lunch at the dining at the cable car station. Relax in onsen after skiing.
Activity – Tramway access off piste skiing for 5 hrs
Accommodation –Sounkyo Onsen | hotel | Private room with ensuite
Included meals – breakfast & dinner at hotel
DAY 5
Ainu Museum & Traveling to Asahikawa Airport
After breakfast at the hotel, we leave for Kawamura Kaneto Ainu Museum in Asahikawa city.
It is 1 hr drive from Sounkyo to the museum. Asahikawa has a long history of the Ainu and there are many related stories about the Ainu and the Daisetsuzan. We ski and also learn the culture of the Ainu on this tour. After we have lunch in Asahikawa, we head to Asahikawa airport by a private van.
Activity – Ainu Museum
Included meals – Breakfast at hotel
ACCOMMODATIONS
| Area | Facility Type | Room Type | Onsen / Spa | WiFi | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asahidake Onsen | Hotel | Private room ensuit | Onsen |  |
| 2 | Asahidake Onnsen | Hotel | Private room ensuit | Onsen | |
| 3 | Sounkyo Onsen | Hotel | Private room ensuit | Onsen | |
| 4 | Sounkyo Onsen | Hotel | Private room ensuit | Onsen | |
Tour Operator / Contact
NOMAD Co., Ltd
Our company was established in 1987 as a pioneer in the field of mountaineering, trekking, hiking and other “walking” tours in Hokkaido. Since then, our company has built up achievements of successes in travel in the mountains and unexplored areas of all over Japan and the world. And in 2023, thanks to your support, we will celebrate our 36th anniversary.
We deliver a wide range of travel experiences, from leisurely day hikes to enjoy nature, traverses, and treks into the heart of the mountains, and visiting the unexplored regions to visit unknown natural and historical heritage sites, to provide you with inspiring journeys to experience the most spectacular scenery on earth.
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