Skiing in Sapporo/Niseko

Hi guys,

My buddy and I are heading down to Sapporo, Japan sometime during late december for 3 nights. We are interested in skiing and are inexperienced skiiers, I am still trying to find accommodation and a place to ski. Do you have any recommendations or tips about skiing in Sapporo? How much can is the equipment rent and the cost of lessons?

Thanks, really appreciate it !! :)

Comments

  • +1

    The resort closest to Sapporo is
    http://www.sapporo-teine.com/snow/

    Daily lift ticket 4800 yen
    Rental 3800
    Lessons, not sure, could be about 9000 yen for a whole day lesson

  • Are you going to Sapporo just for the skiing? You may find it easier going somewhere closer to Tokyo/Osaka if that's where you are spending the bulk of your holiday. Areas like Nagano or Hakone have lots of options and the snow is still world class.

    • Yes mainly for skiing because I got a good deal on the plane tickets to Sapporo so its got to be around there.

      • Cool. I can't help with ski recommendations but Sapporo is a nice city itself. Famous for sushi/sashimi so make sure to try some while you're there if that's your thing.

        • +1

          Don't forget the beer! :)

          I loved Sapporo. Would definitely go back.

          I'm not sure, but if you can see the snow festival things being built during December/Jan for the February festival that would be really cool (heh). I would have loved to see them building them, but lucky me got to see the festival this year :P

        • Yeah, 1L glasses!

  • Let us know how much tix are to japan etc because I've got forced leave for two weeks around christmas/new years time too! thinking of japan or korea but am a solo, lone traveller (always travel with people). Never done it before either, but there's areas close to tokyo, and having gone tokyo in april'ish, it's an awesome place to chill/spend your time with friends. I'd go more south if you can due to the radiation thing though based on general japan discussion I've had with others. Then again I went tokyo during april and yeah that's alot closer to the north east side that you want to avoid.. hmm.

    • OP shouldn't worry about radiation in Sapporo, it's way north. Tokyo is much closer to the radiation zone than Sapporo ;) Even then, the zone is not gigantic, and the places in it aren't the major tourist destinations anyway.

      • tickets are $1000 aud from perth-osaka return
        heard japan is really strict with their food safety and radiation levels in toyko are close to harmless

        • I wouldn't worry unless you were actually entering the restricted zone. Tokyo is fine, I worded my post poorly :)

          You're only there for a short time anyway so you'll be fine, don't even worry about radiation I don't know why we're even on this topic :P

  • Also if you're tall or have large sized feet, make sure you either have organised ski/clothing hire beforehand, or have brought your own.

    • exactly. I went snowboarding a few times in japan (near sendai). i take a size 11 boot. that was usually the largest size available. I'm 183 cms -jackets and pants - difficult.
      my tip - buy some inexpensive stuff here. take it, use it, dump it.
      if you're going to sopporo then you will need cold weather gear.

      • thanks for the tip I have a mid size foot 10 US

  • +1

    As you're only going for 3 nights, I definitely recommend staying in Sapporo. Sapporo is the 4th largest city after Tokyo/Yokohama, Osaka & Nagoya, so its shopping and nightlife is as good as anywhere else in Japan.

    You can do affordable day trips to nearby ski resorts like Sapporo Teine, Sapporo Kokusai. I recommend finding accommodation near the ski bus pickup points for the least hassle.

    • I am staying in sapporo for one night and still looking to spend another 2 nights at a ski village

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