Five recommended ski resorts in Sapporo (Hokkaido) you can take a day trip to enjoy skiing and sightseeing!

Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort, powder snow within one hour from the city

This ski resort is not so far from the city area of Sapporo yet it gets lots of snow since it is in the area that receives heavy snow.

Only one hour away from the city, this resort attracts skiers locally and globally.
Although there are a total of seven courses and the slope size is not so big, the resort offers lots of powder snow and various slopes to entertain you.

Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort is open from November till May. You can enjoy the powder snow all season around due to the heavy snowfall in the area. The snow tends to stay intact till spring.

SAPPORO TEINE, 1972 Winter Olympics location

This is where the Winter Olympics took place in 1972. The trail is divided into two areas: Olympia Zone and Highland Zone creating spaces for all level skiers to have fun.

Olympia Zone is a family-friendly area where slopes are mostly for beginners, whereas Highland Zone is rather for intermediate level and up, more so for advanced skiers with mostly steep runs including the Olympics courses.

It is about an hour by bus to this resort from Sapporo. There is also a route by train which will take you 30 to 40 minutes by a combination of JR line and local train line, but considering the transit-hassle, it is easier to hop on a bus from Sapporo Station.

With the quality of snow you get and its proximity to the city, SAPPORO TEINE is as good as any large ski resort.

Snow Cruise Onze, a ski resort overlooking the ocean

If you are speaking of skiing and great landscapes, then you’ve come to the right resort! Snow Cruise Onze facing the ocean and the city of Otaru, so you can ski with a great view in front of you.
At night, the ski runs are lit up by LEDs making the trails stand out more.

Snow Cruise Onze is a well known ski resort that can be accessed in about 40 minutes by a free shuttle bus from metro stations of Sapporo Municipal Subway.

There are various ski runs in this resort, from a gentle slope suitable for ski practice to a steep slope with the total length of a ski run of 1,000 meters.

Sapporo Moiwayama Ski Resort, a skier-only resort

There are ten courses in total at this resort, which are small but unique. There is a wide run ideal for practicing, a slope with uncompressed snow with 38° dissent (at the steepest point), tree runs and so on. This is more than enough for a skier or a snowboarder to enjoy snow.

Because this is a skier-only resort, there are no snowboarders so beginner skiers can practice without worrying about being bumped into by snowboarders.

At night, you can enjoy the beautiful view of the piste and the city lights of Sapporo. This is recommended for families who want to have fun with snow as there are many gentle slopes.

Sapporo Bankei Ski Area, the locals pick

This resort is known as a locals oasis which is conveniently located with an access by bus and train within 30 minutes from Sapporo City.

There are many ski lessons and programs for beginners so they can learn and have fun quickly. This resort is also known for its night skiing with magnificent landscape.

Being close to the city enables you to ski till early afternoon and move onto taking a short trip to Sapporo for a gourmet dinner. This resort provides sightseeing, food and hot spring all in one stop.

Buy souvenirs tax-free on WAmazing Shop and pick them up at New Chitose Airport

If you want to focus more on sightseeing, head straight to WAmazing Shop, an online platform to buy local souvenirs tax-free from across Japan.

Shop for snacks and souvenirs, popular cosmetics, various alcoholic beverages, must-buy electronics, and more.

Just order before or during your trip, and collect your tax-free purchases from special lockers at designated airports and major train stations across Japan, including New Chitose Airport. With this time-saving and convenient service, you can easily buy tax-free souvenirs even when traveling to less accessible areas. You’ll have more time for sightseeing without carrying your purchases around.

The pick-up process from special lockers is straightforward, making it ideal for those who find the in-store tax exemption process challenging or don't understand Japanese. You can enjoy tax-free shopping on orders of at least JPY 5,000 (excluding tax) if you hold a temporary visitor visa.

To save some cash on your next purchase, be sure to check out WAmazing Shop’s special coupons before completing your order.

Buy souvenirs tax-free on WAmazing Shop

Summary

We went over five resorts you can take a day trip to in this article.

Sapporo not only provides great sightseeing, dining and shopping spots but also full-scale ski resorts that are only a few steps away.

With many areas receiving heavy snow, the snow quality is great, needless to say the powder snow! We urge you to go enjoy the fine dining or relaxing hot spring after skiing.

【Note】
Pricing information and schedule may not be up to date and are subject to change without notice. Please check before your trip.