Asahigaoka is a very small ski hill located near the centre of Kutchan town and close to Kutchan Station. There are a few cross country courses by the ski hill. The famous major 'Niseko' snow resorts are close-by.
Hokkaido is the second largest island of Japan and also the largest and northernmost prefecture (though it is not usually referred to as a prefecture). It has coastlines on the Sea of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk and also the Pacific Ocean. Sapporo is the capital city of Hokkaido and was host to the 1972 Winter Olympics. Hokkaido is home to the largest number of ski hills in Japan. While the majority of them are very small, some of the larger ski and snowboard resorts in Hokkaido - mostly found in regions to the west and east of Sapporo - are amongst the most famous in Japan.
The Mountain
290m
100m
190m
30"
2
560m
1
10%
40%
50%
Skiers 70%
Ropeways
Gondolas
Quad lifts
Triple lifts
Pair lifts
Single lifts
Other
Boarders 30%
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0
0
0
1
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Asahigaoka Facilities
School
Ski School:
Not available
Snowboard School:
Not available
There is no official ski school here, but a number of ski and snowboard schools operate around the Niseko resort areas. Check our Lessons in English page for any current ski school listings on SnowJapan.
Equipment Rental
Ski Rental:
Not available
Snowboard Rental:
Not available
A number of ski and snowboard equipment and wear rental facilities are available around the Niseko resort areas.
Children's facilities
There is a sledging course for children close to the base.
There are no child care facilities.
Park information
There are no special snow park facilities.
Asahigaoka Season & Opening Times
Typical season is from Mid December until Late February
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
Daytime
Weekends and holidays
Normally open from 9:00am until 4:00pm
Weekdays
Normally open from 9:00am until 4:00pm
'Nighta' (night skiing)
Weekends and holidays
No
Weekdays
Sometimes
Opening information
Asahigaoka is generally open from 9:00am until 4:00pm in the daytime.
Nighta is mainly on Tuesdays and Thursdays along with a few other specified days in the season, open until 9:00pm.
It is closed on Mondays. (When a Monday is a holiday, it is closed on the following day). Also closed on 31st December and 1st January.
Asahigaoka Lift Ticket Charges
Adults
Child
Junior High School age & under
Senior
1 Day
1,500 yen
800 yen
1 Lift Coupon
100 yen
50 yen
11 Lift Coupons
1,000 yen
500 yen
Nighta (5pm-9pm)
1,000 yen
500 yen
Season Ticket
14,000 yen
7,000 yen
Asahigaoka is closed on Mondays (Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday) and over New Year.
Getting to Asahigaoka
By public transport
Train
1.3km from Kutchan Station on the Hakodate Honsen Line
Information
Asahigaoka is just over 1km from Kutchan Station on the Hakodate Honsen line - basically located behind the station.
Kutchan Station on the Hakodate Honsen line is the main and most convenient train station used by people travelling to the Niseko area for the ski and snowboard resorts, though many people actually prefer to use direct bus services to Niseko from Sapporo and New Chitose Airport.
Trains Train services operate between Sapporo Station and Kutchan Station, with many requiring a transfer at Otaru Station on the way. With good connections this can be done in as little as around 100 minutes - but sometimes waiting for connections at Otaru can be fairly lengthy and greatly increase that time. During the winter season, there is a limited express 'Niseko Ski Express' service a few times a day which goes directly from Sapporo Station to Kutchan Station using the Hakodate Honsen lines. This service takes around two hours. The Niseko Ski Express train stops at Niseko Station, Kutchan Station, Otaru Station, Otaru Chikko Station, Teine Station and Sapporo Station.
The journey from New Chitose Airport Station usually takes around 2.5-3 hours.
Buses During the main winter months a number of private bus companies offer direct services to Niseko from Sapporo City and also from New Chitose Airport. These regular and convenient services are probably the most popular way to get to Niseko.
There are also a number of buses scheduled between Rusutsu and Niseko each day during the winter season. This journey usually takes around 40 minutes and costs around 1,000 yen.
52.1km from the Kuromatsunai IC on the Kuromatsunai Shindo
60.7km from the Asari IC on the Sasson Expressway
61.8km from the Otaru IC on the Sasson Expressway
Nearest national route: Route 5 (1.4km away)
Nearest prefecture road: Prefecture Road 58
Direction
Asahigaoka is located behind Kutchan Station and about 1.5km from the main Route 5 road that goes through Kutchan town.
Approaching the Niseko region from Sapporo City From central and the southern part of Sapporo City, take Route 230 south via the Nakayama Pass and Kimobetsu town. At the traffic lights on the far side of Kimbotsu town, turn right onto Route 276. This road continues through to Kutchan town. This route is about 100km and in normal conditions takes up to two and a half hours by car.
From areas to the north of Sapporo City either take the Sasson Expressway or Route 5 towards Otaru City. From the Asari IC exit turn right onto Prefecture Road 1 and then after a few hundred metres turn right again onto Prefecture Road 956. Kutchan and Akaigawa are on the main road signpost. After about 4km, turn left onto Route 393, also known as the Askaigawa National Highway. The road turn off for Kiroro resort is about 17km along this road. Continue on Route 393 following the signs through to Kutchan.
Alternatively continue on Route 5 through and beyond Otaru City. Route 5 generally follows the same route as the Hakodate Honsen train line through to the Niseko region. There are less of the curves on this route than there are on parts of Route 393, but it is a slightly longer drive (about 7km).
Approaching the Niseko region from New Chitose Airport From the main exit of New Chitose Airport, head towards Tomakomai on Route 36 and Prefecture Road 781. After 23km turn right onto Route 276 (signposted as Kimobetsu and Lake Shikotsu). Continue for about 18km and turn left at the signs to stay on Route 276. Go past Lake Shikotsu and keep following Route 276 signposted as Kuchan and Kimobetsu. On reaching the Route 230 junction, turning left goes into Rusutsu. For Niseko, turn right here onto Route 230 for just 1km before turning left to join Route 276 once again. Route 276 continues into central Kutchan town and the station area.
Enjoy the views of the northern slopes of Mt Yotei on the way!
This route is about 115km and in normal conditions takes up to two and a half hours by car.
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Ropeways
Gondolas
Quad lifts
Triple lifts
Pair lifts
Single lifts
Other
