A short trip from Sapporo with snowfall that rivals Niseko — seven courses plus generous off-piste tree zones.
Runs
7
Vertical
470m
Summit
1100m
Base 630m
Annual snow
~5.5m/season
Popular
Best season January to February
Why Sapporo Kokusai Ski Area
A short trip from Sapporo with snowfall that rivals Niseko — seven courses plus generous off-piste tree zones.
Urban resort 60 minutes from Sapporo, easily accessible from city. Only seven courses but rivals Niseko snowfall with off-piste tree areas.
Plan your trip
Sapporo Kokusai is the snowiest city-accessible resort — sits 60 km west of Sapporo on the way to Otaru, with reliable powder thanks to its position on Hokkaido's snow belt. Direct ski bus from Sapporo.
Long-haul gateways and the cheapest domestic hops.
New Chitose is Hokkaido's main international gateway. Sapporo Kokusai is 90 min from CTS by car or 100 min by direct bus.
Trains, shuttles, and rentals from the airport.
Hokkaido Chuo Bus runs direct Sapporo Station → Sapporo Kokusai daily — 90 min, ¥1,800 round-trip.
Hand-picked stays across the resort's two zones.
Sapporo Kokusai has no on-mountain hotel — base in central Sapporo and ride the direct ski bus.
Pass, lessons, gear, and guides for powder days.
Adult 1-day ¥5,500. Long-pile snow base from Sea-of-Japan storms; the upper mountain often skis like a backcountry zone.
Terrain in detail
MellowCruisey terrain — fine for advanced skiers as a rest day, not a destination. Difficulty, powder character, and the stats that matter on the mountain itself.
Hardcore index
35
Cruisey terrain — fine for advanced skiers as a rest day, not a destination.
From terrain split, run profile, vertical drop, expert features.
Powder profile
Continental dry snow — Japan's lightest.
Classic Japow — bone-dry continental snow that floats.
5.5
m~
per season
Frequent deep days through midwinter
Expert runs
1 of 7
Estimated from advanced terrain split.
Vertical drop
470m
Compact mountain.
Steepest pitch
—
Pitch not published.
Backcountry gates
None
In-bounds skiing only.
Tree skiing
Yes
Tagged for proper tree runs.
Moguls
Few
Mostly cord and powder.
Best for
Terrain & features
Photo: Rsa / CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Getting there
Nearest airport, train and bus options, and what the drive looks like in winter conditions.
From airport
Approx
Train / bus
Direct bus from central Sapporo (~60 minutes)
Overview
Direct bus from central Sapporo (~60 minutes).
From airport
Approx. 1.5–2 hours from New Chitose Airport via Sapporo.
Live conditions
Off-seasonThe mountain is resting.
Next season
Opens late November
Current temp 14°C, wind 6 km/h. We’ll resume the daily report once snowfall picks up.
Forecast data via Open-Meteo. Refreshes hourly. Always verify with the resort before driving up.
Nearby resorts
More resorts in Hokkaido
destination resort
The flagship resort of Niseko United, offering world-class powder and a vibrant international village.
destination resort
A quieter corner of Niseko United, anchored by two ski-in ski-out hotels and the same consistent powder that draws the world to Mt Annupuri.
powder-focused
The westernmost face of Mt Annupuri — mellower lifts, easier access to the gate-managed backcountry, and noticeably thinner crowds than Hirafu.
powder-focused
A powder bowl and hooded-quad tree runs on the north face of Annupuri, shared with the Park Hyatt — cold, consistent, and often the least crowded of the four Niseko United areas.
Ready to book?
Stays, lift passes, rentals — everything you need in one place.
Book & plan
At the resort
Book accommodationOfficial resort siteGetting there
Domestic flights to SapporoHokkaido airport transfers
