Snowsure: 4.2
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Asahidake is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Asahidake Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
February 05, 2025
Emmbee
Emmbee
This is my third time here. It used to be a quiet place with few visitors. Now that the Europeans and Americans have discovered it as well as the Chinese it’s become very busy. Expect huge lift lines for the ropeway that leaves every 20 minutes. On one day I got 6 runs of a 500m descent each time. While it’s a fantastic place the over tourism has spoiled it. The downhill and backcountry skiing is ok but not as long and varied as other places. I take XC and BC skis, which give me plenty of options when the weather is bad or when the ropeway closes due to wind, which is often.
February 24, 2024
Rob Peregoodoff
Rob Peregoodoff
Just spent two fantastic days at Asihadake, even though fresh snow was minimal. Description needs to be corrected = there is only 1 gondola (ropeway), not 6 lifts. Definitely not a beginner hill, and snowboarders should bring a splitboard or snowshoes to access the best terrain otherwise be prepared to boot pack. It was not worth buying a full day ticket as we did wait up to 30 mins in the morning due to lines, but by noon the wait is max 10 mins. Finally, heed the warnings that this is back country sliding with no patrol and no avalanche mitigation.
(note from the editor: updates has been made regarding lifts and terrain.)
February 13, 2024
Crowded
Crowded
I've been to Asahidake for several seasons. It used to be my little secret, no lift lines, endless lift assisted pow runs. Those times are gone!
This year brought unbelievable waits at the lift lines during weekdays, weekends, all days. Lift lines with no rules, with people cutting in line constantly.
Many of these people are beginners or don't know the mountain, and I would routinely see them walking the cat track, or stuck in the snow, barely able to climb out.
If you are a beginner, or even an intermediate, this mountain is not for you. There are no ropes showing boundaries, there is no ski patrol, and it's entirely possible to die here. Almost every year someone dies on the mountain.
More annoying than the beginner skiers are the hikers. What do they want to do on windy, cloudy, snowy day with zero visibility? Why some people want to bring up their kids to the top of a mountain during a blizzard to walk around is beyond me. You can't see anything!
I used to love Asahidake. Those days are unfortunately behind.
Behind a lift line that goes all the way down the stairs, out the door, and wraps around the building.
Sayanara Asahidake!
December 17, 2013
Jack
Jack
For nordic skiers: Asahidake is worth a couple of days, if you don't mind skiing the same 8k or so several times. The cross-country ski trails are perfectly groomed for both skate, ski and classic ski. The snow is abundant and the season is long. I was there the last week of March 2013 and it snowed three of my six days there, with no above-freezing temps until literally my last afternoon, as I was catching the bus back to Asahikawa. The bus is easy both directions. I recommend the Daisetsuzan Shirakaba hostel; English-fluent hosts, loads of delicious breakfast/dinner food (and optional take-with-you lunch) for very cheap, Western and Japanese-style rooms both private and shared, and the trail groomer lives next door. Snowshoe hiking is also very nice, and you can rent them for cheap at the park visitor center, a short walk from the hostel.
I'm not sure why the article says the nearest airport is Tokyo, Asahikawa, is an hour away and has an excellent international airport, and Sapporo's much larger and more modern airport is only a couple of hours further with easy train access between. I recommend a couple of days in Asahikawa enjoying their cross-country trails, then a couple of days at Asahidake, where the snow is deeper and the temperature is colder.
November 10, 2013
Pete
Pete
One gondola, flat terrain, nearly always have to hike out due to massive flat spot. Originally just a tourist gondola for viewing the nearby volcano so not designed for snow sports. 1600m of elevation, tonnes of snow on flattish runs makes for more anguish than adrenaline- massive energy sapping hikes, only one food outlet.
Worth a visit but not to stay.
October 06, 2012
Fraser Galloway
Fraser Galloway
Ropeway is high, so top has alpine conditions. i.e. often windy, whiteout, windpack, waves and crust. Once over the lip has good pow most of the time. If you are prepared to hike/traverse a little, untracked pow is mostly easy to find. Some avalanche prone steep bits. Bottom run out very flat. Often is Heli skiing by ropeway. If you like side country skiing this is a great place. If you don't then don't bother skiing here.
January 11, 2012
Mike Banks
Mike Banks
I had the deepest ski day of my life at Asahidake. Powder was over the head. Temperature -15 with 2.1% humidity. Unweighting out of each turn provided brief vision until being completely submerged under the snow in the next turn. Watching my buddies ski down towards me and seeing a mound under the snow that was their head was astounding. My 20+ years of skiing around the world were just a lead up to this sublime day – I had tears in my eyes. This is why I will always go back to this mountain – the best place in the world for lift accessed deep, deep powder.
November 08, 2011
jon
jon
March 01, 2011
RPS
RPS
Been here 4 out of the past 5 years and never been disappointed. Sure, like any mountain anywhere in the world, it can be fickle. Keep your eye on the weather forecast, time it right and you'll score. Anywhere between 7-9 runs for the day is a good batting average.
This place is special, but only for the people who respect it for what it is.
February 04, 2011
Jon from
New Zealand
Jon from
New Zealand
Have had the old good dump at Asahidake but very rare occasion and it was packed and chopped up after the first run. Too many flat spots and the hiking is a bit lame, also the other downside is the lack of 'vert' per run and another downside is you only get about 6 runs a day. Good luck and may the force be with you. 200 meters 'vert' per run is not worth it, I could get more runs in by hiking.
Nearest