Featured image skier: Mathieu Jaudon.
Last updated Nov 25, 2024
500m
4hrs
6.5/10
1600m
1450m
9.5hrs
8/10
2052m
1410m
8hrs
7/10
1880m
965m
6hrs
7/10
1216m
1040m
7hrs
7/10
1459m
500m
4hrs
6.5/10
1400m
400m
4.5hrs
6.5/10
1500m
1190m
8.5hrs
7/10
1625m
770m
4hrs
7/10
1710m
578m
4.5hrs
7/10
1650m
1690m
9.5hrs
8.5/10
2012m
730m
3.5hrs
6.5/10
1748m
In deep winter in the Tokachi Range, expect to enjoy beautiful, dry, cold, deep powder at or around the treeline. Generally, the alpine in the range in deep winter (December to mid-March) has low visibility and high winds (see more detail here).
Spring (mid-March till early May) brings more clear-sky days, allowing for longer, higher-altitude forays into the high peaks.
Up to 1,500m: Dependable powder conditions in winter can be expected up to around 1,500m (about 400m above treeline) in altitude in the Tokachi Range.
Beyond 1,500m: Above 1,500m in winter, skiers should expect highly wind-affected surface conditions, hardpack snow, and rime.
There are currently no daily recreation-oriented avalanche bulletins in central Hokkaido.
For sporadic observations and snowpack stability commentary, check the Furano Avalanche Center‘s Facebook page and website.
You can browse individual contributions to the Japan Avalanche Network‘s Tokachi Range page here (mostly in Japanese).
Most trailheads in the range all have plenty of plowed parking. Note, however, the following.
> Hakuginso Parking
This applies to Sandan-yama and Maetokachi-dake. Park to the east side of the parking area.
> Furano-dake Parking
Furano-dake’s backcountry skiing start point (the T-intersection of Routes 966 and 291 here) has very limited parking.
For Furano-dake, we recommend the following: 1) get to the trailhead early (by 9am, the small parking area can be full); 2) if cars are backed up, consider skiing elsewhere; 3) avoid parking on the road, and if you do, spend 10 minutes or so digging out the snowbank so your vehicle isn’t taking up too much of the lane; 4) don’t park overnight on the road or in the parking lot.
Download may take some time
We’ve got affiliate links on HokkaidoWilds.org to help fund the Hokkaido Wilds foundation.
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.
The Hokkaido Wilds Foundation is a fund where 100% of funds are donated to Hokkaido volunteer groups involved in sustainable, safe, and responsible access to the Hokkaido outdoors.
Filter by location
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.
Category
Grade
Points
Strenuousness
Vertical Gain
25
Time ascending
0
Technicality
Altitude
0
Hazards
0
Navigation
0
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.
1 thought on “Tokachi Range Backcountry Skiing”
Hey,
are there any guides left in Furano around Feb 19th and the 3th of march?
We would be a group of 2 guys.
Thanks in advance 🙂