Sapporo, the capital of Japan’s northernmost island Hokkaido, is the gateway to the best skiing and snowboarding in Japan. Over 10 ski resorts are accessible from this one city, with many of the larger ones open for night skiing. Sapporo’s white powdery snow is the best quality for skiing and snowboarding and the extensive, richly varied ski slopes attract visitors from all over the world.
Between mid–November and January, is the time for ‘White Illumination’. Sapporo’s main street and central Odori Park are transformed into a kaleidoscope of light, as trees are decorated with millions of tiny light bulbs and light sculptures are erected alongside the park.

February features the internationally renowned Snow Festival, in which huge replicas of world famous architecture, beautiful snow statues and delicately crafted ice sculptures can be seen.

If adventure is what you are after then Hokkaido possesses some amazing natural terrain and several companies offer on-the-edge adventure breaks. For die-hard snowmobile nuts, Snowmobile-Land Sapporo is 20 minutes from downtown Sapporo. Offering a fleet of snowmobiles and tours ranging from 30 minutes to two hours, it sells itself as “the largest snowmobile tour company outside North America”. The popular, one-hour “hot pick” course package will see you revving your way to the 600m peak of a quarry. The “cool pick” course will take you deep into Sapporo’s pristine backcountry. The courses are open in winter, from December until the end of March, depending on snowfall. Car parking is free but there are just 26 spots available.

If you need to rest your weary muscles after a long day on the slopes, soak in the many onsen, or natural hot springs, where you can relax outside in the warm water and watch the snow flakes fall around you. Exhilarating!

Accommodation and Services:

3 Star Accommodations

4 Star Accommodations

5 Star Accommodations

Transfers

Lift Passes/Ski Hire/Ski School