Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort opened on December 1st (Sunday). Yuhei Yamada from Sapporo reports on his first ski, which was more comfortable than usual this year!
December 1st (Sunday) 9:00 am -2℃ 80cm of snow on top of the mountain Cloudy and partly sunny
Hokkaido's ski season has finally begun. This year's Sapporo International Ski Resort opening date is nine days later than scheduled. You can enjoy light powder from the opening day every year, and the long lines for the gondolas were once a specialty.
Long lines first thing in the morning. However, when I opened the lid, I was able to redeem my online ticket and board the gondola with a much shorter wait than I had previously experienced. I thought it would be empty because other ski resorts such as Niseko area and Furano opened at the same time this year, but when I looked back at the base area from the gondola, I saw a full parking lot.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the addition of the upper Echo Quad lift a few years ago and the fact that much of the course is now open has alleviated the crowds and made it very comfortable to ski.
Available courses are Woody Course, Forest Course, Upper Swing Course, and Echo Course.
Cheers could be heard on the slopes from first thing in the morning as we could enjoy the powder from the beginning of the season. Local riders rush out to get into the fresh snow before anyone else. The feeling of floating when sliding through powder. The feeling of your center of gravity melting into the snow is a fresh surprise no matter how many times you ski.
Once we had eaten up most of the powder, we continued our jumping session on the uneven terrain. Carve along the beautifully leveled Woody Course and Echo Course to get to the point where you can jump. The session I had with young junior high and high school students who were able to unleash their desire to skate that had been building up over the summer reminded me of my passion.
In the sessions with them, the girls are the ones who push harder into the rough and steep slopes from the first day of the season. Meanwhile, the parents' legs become stiff, and the boys gradually become silent inside the gondola... Try harder, boys!
Students on school trips have been seen since the opening day. The appeal of Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort is that it has a wide range of courses, and everyone from beginners to advanced skiers can choose the line that suits them. There is plenty of space during skiing, so you won't feel stressed by crowds.
The students on the school trip also seemed to be enjoying their first skiing and snowboarding experience on the spacious course. Especially this year, you may have been anxiously waiting until the opening date was decided. Since I couldn't predict the snowfall situation until the last minute, I think I was overjoyed at the moment I found out that I could enjoy skiing and snowboarding as planned. Their smiling faces brought a bright atmosphere to the entire ski slope.
As I was taking a break from skiing, I heard cheers of joy coming from somewhere. When I looked back, I saw students on a school trip starting a snowball fight. At other times, local riders threw snowballs at each other every time they stopped. The snowballs made with light powder don't hurt, so it was very impressive to see them smiling while hitting each other with all their might.
The contrast between the ocean and the silver world
In the morning, there were thin clouds in the sky, but as time passed, there were patches of sunshine. By the time we reached the top of the mountain by gondola, the sparkling blue ocean appeared before us, and its beauty took our breath away. A special scenery of snowy fields and the sea that can only be found in the Sapporo area, where there are many ski resorts near the sea. On this day, I was able to fully enjoy the charm of the scenery even for a short time, and there was a moment when I thought to myself, ``I want to skate here again.''
After-ski, hot springs and city sightseeing? How to enjoy the Sapporo/Otaru area
The opening day of Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort arrived with the excitement of the first ski still waning. This year, we were blessed with comfortable skiing conditions and beautiful scenery, and many people, from local riders to students on school trips, enjoyed the snowy mountains in their own way. Opening day is a special day that not only marks the start of the season, but also reaffirms our expectations and passion for winter.
Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort is not only great for skiing, but is also great for sightseeing in the surrounding area. It is also recommended for those who want to enjoy sightseeing in Sapporo and Otaru during their trip, or for those who are planning skiing or snowboarding in a limited time such as on a business trip. There are a variety of hot springs to visit, including Jozankei Onsen near the ski resort, Koganeyu Onsen if you're heading back to Sapporo, and Asarigawa Onsen if you're heading back to Otaru. Even if the ski resort closes due to bad weather, you can flexibly change your plans at one-day hot springs, such as Hoheikyo Onsen, which are popular among locals.
Additionally, if you stay in central Sapporo or the Otaru sightseeing area, you can enjoy an urban experience that is different from snow resorts and hot springs. After feeling the pleasant fatigue of skiing or snowboarding, you can enjoy a luxurious time that combines hot springs and sightseeing, a time that can only be found in Hokkaido.
The long winter has begun at Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort with wonderful snow. During the high season, powder snow falls almost every day, making the area even more appealing. We can't wait to see what kind of scenery this special ski slope will show us this season.