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Ski schools & backcountry guides in Asahikawa.

Asahikawa Ski Schools & Guides | Snow Explorers - SKI + SNOWBOARD + TRAVEL

Asahikawa Ski Schools & Guides

Asahikawa Ski Schools & Guides  | Snow Explorers - SKI + SNOWBOARD + TRAVEL

Asahidake Ski Resort

Nayoro Piyashiri

Santa Present Park

Canmore Ski Village

Mountain Flow

Pippu Ski Resort

Kurodake Ski Resort

Furano Ski Resort

Trive Mountain Guides

Alpine Backcountry Guides

Kamui Ski Links

Tomamu Ski Resort

Asahikawa City, surrounded by majestic mountains in the heart of Hokkaido is a prime destination for skiers and snowboarders. Hokkaido’s second biggest city serves as the gateway to the iconic Daisetsuzan National Park and is home to Kamui Ski Links - known for it’s powder snow and Asahidake - the tallest mountain in Hokkaido with extensive terrain, and breathtaking scenery. Within distance to several resorts in the Hokkaido powder belt, you can experience the slopes and be back in the city to enjoy it's many restaurants and attractions.

Asahikawa, the second-largest city in Hokkaido, is becoming a popular base for savvy skiers and snowboarders exploring central Hokkaido's resorts. The city boasts a diverse range of accommodations, from luxury hotels and traditional ryokans to smaller dormitory-style hotels. Some even offer ski shuttle buses for convenient access to the resorts. It's important to note, however, that the nearby resorts lack on-mountain accomodation.

OMO7 Asahikawa

Asahikawa Ride

Court Hotel Asahikawa

Dormy Inn Asahikawa

Nine C Hotel Asahikawa

Amanek Hotel Asahikawa

Mush Rooms

Hotel WBF Grande Asahikawa

AnYa

Y's Hotel Asahikawa

Asahikawa

Kamui is the largest ski resort in the Taisetsu area spanning with wide runs for beginners and sanctioned side tree runs for advanced riders.

This resort has 2 ropeways giving you access to pristine backcountry terrain. Expert level and best with mountain guides.

Asahidake

Small local resort close to the city which is a good place for beginners to learn their turns. Enjoy views of the city when you night ski.

<h2 dir="ltr">Skiing &amp; Snowboarding in Asahikawa</h2>
Asahikawa&rsquo;s location in the center of NorthEastern Hokkaido and away from the coast, means that the snow here is dry and powdery. This quality is why the region is known as the Hokkaido Powder Belt. The resorts here aren&rsquo;t as big compared to Niseko and Furano which attracts less international visitors. You can look forward to uncrowded days, save for the days when local schools have their lessons.
<h2 dir="ltr">Asahikawa Ski Resorts</h2>
Within the&nbsp;Taisetsu region there are a couple of resorts with Kamui Ski Links being the largest and most popular. Santa Present Park is so close to the city you can see the city lights during night skiing, while Pippu and Canmore are a short drive away. Further afield, internationally known Furano and Tomamu are within day trip distance.&nbsp; Experienced skiers and snowboarders have the vast backcountry of Daisetsuzan National Park to explore at Mt Asahidake and Mt Kurodake. You will meet groups of hardcore riders in Asahikawa waiting for the right conditions to make a trip to these mountains.

<h3 dir="ltr">Getting From Asahikawa to Resorts</h3>
One of the biggest draws about Asahikawa is the fact that you can easily make day trips out to different resorts. You can either hire a car and drive yourself or hop on a shuttle bus. There are buses servicing some resorts which pick up guests from hotels around the city. Taxis are also available, but may not have enough space for your gear.
Kamui Ski Links Driving time: 30 mins Shuttle bus from Asahikawa Station: 40 mins
Pippu Ski Resort Driving time: 30 mins Dohoku bus from Asahikawa Station: 40 mins &nbsp;
Santa Present Park Driving time: 15 mins Dohoku bus 55 (Winter Season)
Canmore Ski Resort Driving time: 30 mins No shuttle buses
Asahidake Driving time: 70 mins Ideyu-go Bus: 90 mins
Furano Driving: 70mins Hokkaido Powder Belt Liner (Winter Season): 1 hr 30 mins
Tomamu Driving: 2 hrs 10 mins Hokkaido Powder Belt Liner (Winter Season): 3 hrs 45 mins
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This dish of succulent grilled half cut chicken flavoured with salt or shoyu tare originates from Asahikawa and is one of the region’s local delicacies.

Shinkoyaki

A popular Asahikawa dish of grilled offal seasoned with salt, which offers a unique and savoury culinary experience for adventurous food lovers.

Shio Horumon

The local ramen with it’s shoyu based broth, thin yellow noodles and signature pipping hot layer of oil has a unique rich flavour profile. The perfect comfort dish for Hokkaido's frosty climate.

Asahikawa Shoyu Ramen

It’s a local tradition to have these steamed meat filled buns on Steamed bun day, Jan 25th. In the past, this date was said to have recorded the lowest temperature (-40°c) in all of Hokkaido’s history. 

Asahikawaman

<h2>What to Eat in Asahikawa</h2>
Asahikawa city has a vibrant food scene reflecting Hokkaido's rich agricultural and seafood. Shoyu ramen is an Asahikawa special, and there are a few top restaurants with their own signature recipe. Shinkoyaki and Shio Horumon are two standout items on the menus of izakayas in the city. Don't miss the chance to visit the local sake breweries, where tradition and craftsmanship produce some of Japan's finest sakes.

Located in Furarito Bar Alley, Yoshiya is one of the best places to try Shinkoyaki and other yakitori dishes made with their secret tare recipe.

Yoshiya Yakitori 

Eat like the locals do at this “choose your own” bento stall in Heiwa-dori where you can choose your own dishes.

Shichifuku Bento

This famous shop has been serving bowls since 1947. Their signature broth is cooked with dried fish and pork bones giving it a delicious light taste.

Ramen Aoba

Genghis Khan BBQ restaurant which is so popular there is a separate waiting room across the street. Succulent cuts of lamb and other meats served with their house tare sauce.

Daikokuya

An Asahikawa’s establishment, Tenkin offers a kaiseki menu with a focus on quality seafood from Hokkaido prepared in various styles.

Tenkin

One of the best ramen shops serving Asahikawa style ramen topped with their signature burnt pork lard for extra punchy flavour.

Ramen Hachiya

<h3>Asahikawa Restaurants</h3>
You will find everything in this city from high-end kaiseki restaurants, small charming izakayas to humble ramen establishments. There are really good options in Furarito Alley - laneway with bars and restaurants, Harete village - a collection of modern bars and restaurants, and around the Sanroku entertainment district. Restaurants here are less crowded than in Sapporo, but with social media these days, the popular joints will get filled up quickly.&nbsp;

Hachiya Ramen

Yakitori Ginneko

Asahikawa Ramen Aoba

Beer House TONOTO

A smaller, more accessible winter festival with ice carvings, events, food and drink taking place on the first week of February every year.

Asahikawa Winter Festival


Close to the city, Asahiyama Zoo specializes in cold climate animals and is home to local wildlife like the Red Panda, Spotted Seals and Polar bears.

Asahiyama Zoo

A collection of 8 of Asahikawa’s top ramen shops located on the outskirts of the city. For the ramen nerds who must simply try every bowl in the city. 

Asahikawa Ramen Village

Asahikawa’s pedestrian only shopping street extends from the JR station and is where you will find restaurants, karaoke bars, bars and shopping centers.

Heiwa Dori

<h2>Things to do in Asahikawa</h2>
Even off the slopes, Asahikawa delivers with a unique charm that's especially vibrant in Winter. The city is famous for the Asahikawa Winter Festival, a spectacle that enchants visitors with colossal ice sculptures and stunning light displays. The Asahiyama Zoo has a Winter Night Zoo event where you can watch animals in their snowy habitats under the starlit sky. Being the second largest city in Hokkaido, there are lots of shopping and entertainment options.

<h2>Where to Buy &amp; Rent Ski &amp; Snowboard Gear in Asahikawa</h2>
There are large multi sport outlets and smaller independent shops in the city where you can get skiing and snowboarding gear.

Spray

<h2>Where to Stay in Asahikawa</h2>
Skiers and snowboarders are choosing Asahikawa as their base to access nearby resorts. The city offers diverse accommodations. Notably, Asahikawa ski resorts lack on-mountain accommodation.

Hoshino Resorts OMO7 Asahikawa

You can find large multi sport outlets in the city which carry a large range of brands and items. There also a couple of smaller independent shops worth checking out for local snow brands and fashion.&nbsp;
Shugakuso is a ski focussed retailer with a large range of skis from local and international brands. They also carry touring, telemark and back country equipment.
For snowboard gear, check out Murasaki Sports located in the Aeon mall in West Asahikawa. They are Japanese chain dedicated to board sports.
Spray is a local Asahikawa snowboard / skate shop deeply embedded into the local culture. They have a large range of snowboards designed for Hokkaido powder from international brands like Salomon, Korua and local brands like Gentemstick, MOSS, Field Earth and Vector Glide. Fine outdoor fashion and accessories from domestic labels. The shop also has the largest indoor skate park in Hokkaido.&nbsp;
During the ski season, White Time has a pop up shop in the OMO 7 hotel with a selection of gear from Vector Glide and Blank outerwear. You can also arrange for demos and waxing.
Kona Surf is a snow / skate shop run by professional snowboarder Shuhei Sato.&nbsp;
<h3>Asahikawa Ski &amp; Snowboard Rentals</h3>
Most Asahikawa resorts have rental stations. Kamui will keep your gear overnight for multi day rentals. There are also a couple of small rental shops in the city.
Asahikawa Ride is guest house for skiers in central Asahikawa. They also provide outdoor rental like skis and backcountry equipment.&nbsp;If you are looking to rent powder skis and backcountry equipment you can contact&nbsp;Mush Rooms in Higashikawa. The lodge has gear you can rent for off piste adventuring.
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