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Hokkaido Backcountry Ski Touring: A free resource

GPS route maps, downloadable GPS route files, photos, and more. A repository of open-source Hokkaido backcountry ski touring information in English. 

Here in Hokkaido, backcountry ski touring routes are right on our doorsteps. Even from central Sapporo City, super fun backcountry skiing routes exist less than an hour away by public transport. Some even have mountain huts only accessible by ski. This page is an ever-evolving database of Hokkaido’s winter mountain offerings accessible by ski or snowboard. 

Featured Areas

 

Niseko Range (incl. Mt. Yotei & Mt. Shiribetsu)

Easy-access low-elevation powder

Highlights: Deep-powder tree-skiing, very easy access, international resort vibes, volcano crater skiing, lift-access backcountry options, great onsen.

 

Tokachi Range

Central Hokkaido big-mountain powder

Highlights: Easy access to the alpine, deep-dry powder, active volcanic steam vents, serious big-mountain lines, committing chutes, 2000m+ peaks, great onsen.

Route Search and Filter

Filters
Region
No results found
Aomori Prefecture (5)
Eastern Hokkaido (10)
Furano/Central (27)
Hidaka (9)
Niseko Region (47)
Northern Hokkaido (27)
Sapporo Area (26)
Southern Hokkaido (2)
Southern Lakes (8)
Best month(s)
No results found
January (115)
February (135)
March (151)
April (109)
May (31)
June (1)
December (41)
Difficulty
No results found
Advanced (31)
Beginner (51)
Intermediate (79)

Freeride/SkiTour
No results found
Freeride (80)
In-between (41)
Ski tour (40)
Main Aspect
No results found
N (36)
NE (17)
E (26)
SE (16)
S (32)
SW (9)
W (11)
NW (12)
Route Tags
No results found
Derelict ski areas (2)
Hut Trips (27)
Lift Access (1)
Multi-day Ski Tours (10)
Niseko Range (26)
Public Transport Accessible (52)
Rishiri (3)
Shiribetsu-dake (3)
Snowboard friendly (58)
Tokachi Range (14)

Filter by location
30 km

1-12 of 161
1-12 of 161
NES
Beginner

Hobetsu Bozu-yama


400m


4hrs


4/10


791m

SWNS
Beginner

Mayoizawa-yama (Kamihirasawa Route)


550m


4hrs


4/10


1005m

NS
Advanced

Kaun Bowl


490m


4hrs


6.5/10


1700m

NEEN
Beginner

Takenoko-yama


315m


3hrs


4/10


935m

NSE
Intermediate

Kokusai to Teine Ski Traverse


650m


10hrs


7.5/10


1023m

ESNW
Advanced

Daisetsuzan Higashi-dake


1300m


10hrs


7/10


2067m

NES
Intermediate

Etai-dake


950m


6hrs


6.5/10


1060m

ESN
Intermediate

Kiroro 1107m & 992m Peaks


750m


5.5hrs


6/10


1107m

NENE
Beginner

Yunai-yama


250m


3hrs


3.5/10


501m

ESENEW
Beginner

Fuyuji-yama


640m


5hrs


5.5/10


625m

NENWWE
Intermediate

Sandan-yama Higashi-no-tani


730m


3.5hrs


6.5/10


1748m

NWN
Intermediate

Furano-dake Nishi-shamen


500m


4hrs


6.5/10


1400m

123…14

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The Foundation gets a small commission on sales from affiliate links, but we only link to stuff we think is worth checking out for people keen on the outdoors in Hokkaido and Japan.

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ADVANCED FILTERS

Difficulty
No results found
Advanced (31)
Beginner (51)
Intermediate (79)
Freeride/SkiTour
No results found
Freeride (80)
In-between (41)
Ski tour (40)
Main Aspect
No results found
N (36)
NE (17)
E (26)
SE (16)
S (32)
SW (9)
W (11)
NW (12)
Route Tags
No results found
Derelict ski areas (2)
Hut Trips (27)
Lift Access (1)
Multi-day Ski Tours (10)
Niseko Range (26)
Public Transport Accessible (52)
Rishiri (3)
Shiribetsu-dake (3)
Snowboard friendly (58)
Tokachi Range (14)

Filter by location
30 km

About Filters

REGION: The general mountain/geographical region the route is in.

BEST MONTH(S): Time of year a route is suited to visiting. Some pop all season, some are more limited.

DIFFICULTY: How strenuous a route is, and how technical it is. Full details here.

FREERIDE/SKITOUR: Very subjective, but is a route more-of-a-walk-than-a-ski or the other way around? Some routes are all about the screaming downhill (freeride), some are more about the hunt for a peak or nice forest (ski-tour). Some are in between. 

MAIN ASPECT: Which cardinal direction the primary consequential slope is facing, that you might encounter on the route. More details here.

ROUTE TAGS: An eclectic picking of other categories that routes might belong to.

SEARCH BY LOCATION: You can find routes near your current location – just click on the crosshairs (). You may need to give permission to HokkaidoWilds.org to know your GPS location (don’t worry, we won’t track you). Or, type in a destination, such as Niseko or Sapporo or Asahikawa etc.

Please let us know how we can make it easier to narrow down your search. Contact Rob at rob@hokkaidowilds.org with your suggestions.

Hokkaido Backcountry Ski Touring Routes Difficulty Rating

Category

Grade

Points

Strenuousness

Vertical Gain

D

25

Time ascending

D

0

Technicality

Altitude

D

0

Hazards

D

Navigation

D

Totals

25/100

GRADES range from A (very difficult) to D (easy). Hazards include exposure to avalanche and fall risk. More details here. Rating rubric adapted from Hokkaido Yukiyama Guidebook 北海道雪山ガイド.