Asarigawa Ski Resort Day Trip with Gear from Sapporo
- DurationAbout 10 hours
- Daily during the ski season
- Group
Some images are AI-generated for illustration. While we confirm your booking, just ask and we will send you the original photos.
- Fair, honest prices
- Real people, not bots
- Confirm, then pay
- Secure payment
Overview
This ski day trip from Sapporo takes you to Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort in the hills above Otaru, a friendly, uncrowded area known for light Hokkaido powder and runs for every level. The default option is built for beginners and improving skiers: a return coach from Sapporo Station, skis, boots, poles, helmet and goggles, a lift pass for the day and a certified instructor who speaks English or Chinese and groups guests by level. Your instructor also takes photos of you on the slopes. Lunch is at the resort restaurant at your own expense. Other options cover snowboarding with an instructor, or skiing and snowboarding without one for confident riders, with skiwear included. It suits couples, friends and families with older children who want a first taste of Japanese snow.
Highlights
- A full day on the slopes at Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort near Otaru
- Certified instructor teaching in English or Chinese, with guests grouped by level
- Skis, boots, poles, helmet and goggles included
- Lift pass for the whole day
- Photos of your day taken by your instructor
- Return coach from Sapporo Station North Exit
- A fenced snow play area for children, with sled rental on site
- Snowboard and no-instructor options with skiwear also available
Full Description
Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort
Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort sits in the forested valley of the Asari River on the southern edge of Otaru, close to a small hot spring village. It is a mid-sized resort with well-groomed courses from wide beginner slopes to steeper runs for experienced skiers, and like the rest of western Hokkaido it receives plenty of dry, light powder snow through the winter. On clear days the upper slopes give glimpses towards the sea.
Because it is smaller and less famous than the big international resorts, Asarigawa is usually relaxed, with short lift queues and space to practise. That makes it an excellent choice for a ski day trip from Sapporo, especially for first-timers. The season usually runs from December to March, depending on snow, and January and February bring the deepest powder and coldest temperatures.
Your ski lesson with a certified instructor
In the default option, a certified instructor teaches in English or Chinese and takes up to ten guests, grouped by skill level after a quick check before the first lift. Complete beginners learn to put on the gear, stand, glide, turn and stop on the gentle lower slopes, while more experienced guests work on technique on longer runs. Safety advice is given before you ride any lift.
Your instructor also acts as your photographer during the day, capturing your progress on the snow, a lovely souvenir for families and friends. If you prefer to ride, choose the snowboarding option with an instructor; if you already ski or snowboard confidently, the options without an instructor include skiwear and let you explore the resort freely. Please always ski within your ability.
Gear, lift pass and the day on the slopes
The default package includes skis, boots, poles, helmet and goggles, plus a lift pass for the full day, so you only need warm clothes and gloves. Skiwear is not included in this option but can be rented, and gloves can be bought at the resort if you forget yours. The day typically includes around two hours on the snow in the morning, a lunch break of about an hour and around two more hours in the afternoon.
The resort restaurant serves warming Japanese dishes such as curry rice with pork cutlet and ramen; halal food is not available there, so guests who need it often bring their own snacks or choose vegetarian dishes. For families, a fenced snow play area is free to use, with sleds for rent, so younger relatives who are not skiing can still enjoy the snow.
Otaru, the harbour town nearby
The resort belongs to Otaru, a historic port town about 40 minutes from Sapporo by train and famous for its stone-lined canal, old warehouses, glassworks and a large music-box museum. In winter the canal is lit by lanterns, and the town holds a snow-light festival in February with candles along the water and the old railway line.
This ski package does not include sightseeing in Otaru, but many guests come back on another day to stroll the canal and the glass shops. How to get to Asarigawa from Sapporo without a car? Public buses involve changes and carrying your gear, so a direct coach with rental equipment included is the easiest way. We can also arrange private transfers to Otaru for a separate sightseeing day.
Itinerary
- 07:50 – Sapporo Station North ExitMeet 15 minutes early; the coach leaves on time and cannot wait for late arrivals.
- Drive to AsarigawaAbout 1.5 to 2 hours by coach, depending on traffic and snow conditions.
- Gear fitting and morning sessionCollect your equipment, meet your instructor and spend about two hours learning and skiing.
- Lunch breakAbout an hour at the resort restaurant, at your own expense.
- Afternoon on the slopesAround two more hours of skiing with your instructor, or free time in the snow play area.
- Return to SapporoCoach back to Sapporo Station North Exit, ending a day of about ten hours.
What's included
- Return coach transport from Sapporo Station
- Skis, boots, poles, helmet and goggles
- Lift pass for the day
- Ski jacket and ski pants
Not included
- Instructor (for confident skiers and snowboarders only)
- Lunch (restaurant at the resort)
- Gloves (bring your own or buy on site)
- Travel and accident insurance
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Travellers who want it organised for them — confirmed on WhatsApp before you pay
Think twice if
- You want a private tour — this one is shared with other travellers
Not suitable for
- Children under 8 years or under 130 cm
- Pregnant travellers
- People with medical conditions affecting strenuous exercise
- Travellers over 70
Meeting point
Meet at Sapporo Station North Exit (Kita 7 Jonishi 3-chome, Kita Ward). The coach departs at 07:50, so please arrive by 07:35 with your booking confirmation; the bus leaves on time and late arrivals cannot be accommodated. Hotel pickup is not included. The coach returns to the same place in the late afternoon or early evening.
Important information
- Children must be at least 130 cm tall; ages 8 to 12 must be accompanied by a parent, and under-8s cannot join.
- Gloves are not included: bring your own or buy them at the resort.
- Skiwear is not included in the default option; wear warm waterproof clothing or rent skiwear on site.
- Lunch is not included; the resort restaurant offers Japanese dishes, but halal food is not available there.
- Skiing is physically demanding; ski within your ability and follow your instructor's safety advice, especially on lifts.
- Travel and accident insurance is not included and is strongly recommended.
- The tour may be cancelled or moved to another area in severe weather or poor snow, with a full refund if we cancel.
- Keep valuables with you; the resort is not responsible for lost items.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
Is this a shared or a private tour?
It is a shared day trip: you travel on a shared coach, and lessons are taught in groups of up to ten guests per instructor, sorted by level.
Can we change the itinerary or the pace?
The transport schedule is fixed. On the slopes your instructor adapts the lesson to your group's level, and guests without an instructor ski at their own pace.
How many people are in each lesson group?
Up to ten guests per instructor, grouped by skill level so beginners learn together.
Is the price per person or per group?
Per person. The booking panel on this page shows the current price of each option, including snowboard and no-instructor packages.
Is hotel pickup included?
No. The coach leaves from Sapporo Station North Exit at 07:50 and returns there at the end of the day.
What is included?
Return coach from Sapporo Station, skis, boots, poles, helmet and goggles, a lift pass for the day, a certified instructor and photos of your day. Lunch, skiwear, gloves and insurance are not included.
How long is the tour?
About ten hours in total, with roughly four hours on the snow plus a lunch break.
Is it suitable for children or complete beginners?
Yes for beginners: the instructor option is designed for them. Children must be at least 8 years old and 130 cm tall, and ages 8 to 12 need a parent with them.
What should I bring?
Warm, waterproof clothes (or rent skiwear), gloves, a hat or neck warmer, sunscreen, cash in yen for lunch and rentals, and your booking confirmation.
When is the ski season at Asarigawa?
Usually from December to March, depending on snowfall. January and February have the best powder; early December and late March can have thinner snow.
Can I snowboard instead of ski?
Yes. Choose the snowboarding option with an instructor, or the snowboarding option without one if you are already confident.
How do I book and confirm?
Choose your option and date in the booking panel and send your request with each guest's height and shoe size. Our team confirms on WhatsApp within minutes.
More in Sapporo
Getting to & around Sapporo
Popular across Japan
-
-
-
-
-
-
