Nowhere is more pronounced than the seasonal shifts at Asahidake and those who come to experience it. In Autumn, the alpine foliage turns a combination of bright orange and reds and the tram is filled with a mix of people, who have all come to see its autumnal grandeur, from high heeled ladies to seasoned hikers.
As the colors descend in to the valley, there are occasional flurries in the alpine that precede the full blown snow storms that seem to swallow the landscape, turning everything in to a white hue. It heralds the arrival of expert skiers from all around the world and the start of the powder season.
It is one of the smaller ski areas in Hokkaido. I call it a ‘ski area’ as it doesn’t have the safety and conveniences of a regular resort. First, it is unpatrolled and grooming is limited to two cat tracks which snake down the short 500 meters of vertical. Hotels can be found at the bottom. The apre-ski is the hotel hot spring and there is no night life.
There are two types of weather conditions at Asahidake, clear or stormy. When it is clear, you can see the magnificence of the volcano, surrounded by multiple smoking fumaroles. Although, frequent precipitation means that there is a greater likelihood of skiing Asahidake during a storm, when visibility is minimal. Certainly my more memorable days have been under these conditions. On a deep day, you can’t see from the face-shots anyway. Visibility is overrated.
If the visibility is often limited, so too is the terrain. On the days when you are groping around in the vertigo inducing veil of white on white, I will use the cables of the tram to guide me down. On clear days, skiers farm the terrain by fanning out further and further left or
right from the tram. A typical run will involve a boot-pack, then ski, and then a traverse back to the cat track. Prepare to work for some of your turns.
I never talk up the terrain to clients. The tram wasn’t put in for the skiers, but for people to access the alpine area in the warm months, even in high heels. The locals who ride the terrain in winter, know how to link the short descents together and carry speed over the flat
sections. Fall in one of these areas at your own peril, as a walk out from the waist deep snow can leave you wet from perspiration.
The terrain isn’t exactly snowboard friendly, but the locals do bring long powder boards to mitigate the flat sections. It’s not an uncommon site to see a 160 cm Japanese guy dwarfed by his 180 cm powder board, and a 180 cm western guy with a short 160 cm board standing next to each other.
The weather can be severe and the alpine area is very exposed. Up until about six years ago, the tram would go on hold when winds got to to 14 meters per second. Now it is 17 meters per second, which is only about 60 km/hr. But at these wind speeds, it can swing quite
close to the pylons.
So what it is about Asahidake? With limited terrain and exposure to harsh weather conditions, why do people come here from all over the world? Without doubt, it is the snow. When conditions are at their best, it is some of the deepest and lightest powder you will ever experience. And for me personally, I have had some of my best ski days of my life there.
For any guiding inquiries please email [email protected] or contact us through the link below.
Write a comment
Tes Mutton (Tuesday, 06 November 2018 15:32)
Hi!
Looking to book some guided touring days based out of furano in feb 9-12. Asahidake and Tickachidake sound insane! Group of 2 or 4, all experienced in terrain and weather (from alaska), 2 boarders, 2 skiiers.
Could you provide quotes for day tours and package deals please?
Thank you,
Tes
Jani (Sunday, 03 February 2019 15:52)
Looking fir a ski guide fir Tuesday for 2 people.
One skier one boarder, both advanced.
What are the costs and availability ?
Danielle (Thursday, 07 February 2019 11:52)
Hi -- I'm looking for someone to guide 2 people on 2/18 and 2/19.
Jason (Thursday, 17 October 2019 23:31)
Hi I will be visiting Asahidake and Furano in late January. Can you tell me how much for a guide? My email is [email protected]
Bryan (Friday, 06 December 2019 02:31)
Hi, 2 of us would like a guide to ski the Asahidake Volcano either January 19th or 20th with a preference for the 20th. Please contact me at [email protected]
Thanks
Antonio (Saturday, 18 January 2020 18:39)
Hi,
I a looking for a guide on feb 21, we are two advanced skiers.it would be great if you could contact me on [email protected]
Thanks
Mike (Sunday, 26 January 2020 06:45)
Hi,
I was hoping to get a guide on Saturday, March 14th for two advanced skiers. Could you send a quote to mikeburns19@gmail dot com
Powder Ski Japan Hiro (Sunday, 01 January 2023 07:15)
Hi There
We Powder Ski Japan is an inbound tour operator based in New Zealand.
We have got a customer who wants to join the backcountry ski tour in Asahidake.
Can you guide our customer in the below detail?
16.17.18/JAN/2023
02pax
I would appreciate it if you provide a commission for us.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Regards
Hiro Ueda
Nicholas Horton (Thursday, 26 January 2023 04:30)
Looking for a guide on January 29, please let me know if you are available.
Martino Napolitani (Monday, 30 January 2023 08:40)
Looking for a guide on February 5th, please let us know if you are available. thank you.
Scott Fowler (Friday, 28 April 2023 08:35)
Hello,
We are a group of 2 boarders and 1 skier. Reasonably advanced.
What is the cost per day for a guide in early february next year.
Regards Scott Fowler
Michael Bowers (Wednesday, 25 October 2023 17:15)
Hello,
I was wondering if you would have any availability for guiding sometime between the 26th-39th January this year in the Furano area? We are a group of 3 (2 skiers and one boarder) and we have a fair amount of backcountry experience. We would be particularly interesting in a day guiding at Asahidake. We would also be happy to join another small group if this is an option.
Many thanks,
Michael
Philippe Raval (Monday, 13 November 2023 05:45)
Hi, I'm looking for a guide for 3-4 days between 10th and 14th February 2023 in Asahidake or/and Furano/Hokkaido . We are 2 snowboarders expert from Switzerland looking for splitboarding and freeriding japowwww!
Let me know availabilities please.
Thanks for your help.
Philippe
armelle de BOUTRAY (Tuesday, 05 December 2023 20:21)
Hello,
I was wondering if you would have any availability for guiding sometimeearly march 2024. We are two people with a little experience in back country skiing from France.
Could you please let me know your availabilities and prices ?
Thank you so much for your help.
Armelle
Fish from USA (Friday, 26 January 2024 12:51)
Hello! Checking on availability for 1-2 days of guide service at Asahidake starting on Feb 21 2024. We would also be happy to join another small group if this is an option that meets our needs. We are one skier and one snowboarder; good backcountry skills/tools. Mostly looking for route-finding to speed up our learning curve on the terrain; we are only staying at this location for Feb 21-23.
[email protected] (Sunday, 28 January 2024 20:54)
Looking for a ski guide for 6 people. We will be skiing the ropeway Tuesday-Saturday.
Andrew Freelandt (Saturday, 07 December 2024 01:39)
Basically looking for the same things as "Fish from USA". We're looking for a ski guide for Asahidake starting on Feb 1st or 2nd 2025. We are 1 skier and 1 snowboarder and we're looking for route-finding to speed up our learning curve on the terrain...
Please email me at [email protected]
Loz Kobler (Saturday, 18 January 2025 09:30)
We are a group of 4 - 3 expert powder skiers & 1 expert snowboarder. Staying near Furano, with a rental vehicle. Looking for guided pow day early Feb 2025.
Lukas (Friday, 28 February 2025 06:34)
Hi, Looking for a guide or to join a guided tour for backcountry skiing on Asahidake on Sat, March 8.
Please let me know if any availability: [email protected]
Peter Lim (Saturday, 20 September 2025 16:23)
Hi i am looking for a backcountry guide for one day on 3 or 4 January 2026 for a family group of 4-6 people. at Asahidake Can you please let me know if you have a guide available and the cost? We will have our own car with us.
Riccardo (Saturday, 20 September 2025 19:11)
Hello! I’m looking for a guide for 2–3 days of backcountry touring at Asahidake, Sahoro, and Tomamu. We would also be happy to join another small group if that’s possible. We are two skiers with good backcountry experience and our own gear. Our trip dates are January 9–15, 2026, and we would also need transfers. Could you please let me know if you have any availability?
You can reach me at: [email protected]
Thank you very much!
Andrew Cornwell (Tuesday, 16 December 2025 09:08)
Hi there
Would you have availability for 4 or 5 people for Asahidake on 27/12? We have a car in Furano so can get there ok?
Kind regards
Andrew
Samuel Giering (Monday, 12 January 2026 17:32)
Hi! My friend and I are looking for a guide for a day from January 15-18 at Asahidake. We are happy to join another group, and also need to rent avalanche gear. Any time works. Excited to hear from you, thanks!
Gabriel Heshema (Wednesday, 14 January 2026 20:54)
Hello,
Wondering if there`s some safe backcountry area around Furano that I could experience with a guide.
Experienced snowboarder, but new to splitboarding. Still dont have my first avalanche course, hence why I am looking for safe spots with guiding if there is any.
If so, would love to get a quote for a day with a guide anytime during the season. I should be here until 31st of March.
Arigato!
Jamieson MckInnon (Wednesday, 18 February 2026 19:06)
Hi there,
We are looking to book a last minute guided ski tour to Asahidake ropeway on Friday 20th, or (second preference) Saturday 21st. We are a group of 6 expert skiers, with varying experience in touring.
We are also open to go to another area if more suitable conditions or less crowded. We are hoping to get an idea on cost, and whether you also are able to rent avi packs and skis (x4) /splitboards (x2).
Thankyou!