Hoshino Resorts Tomamu's "Winter Mountain Liberation Declaration" was born 20 years ago, when it was common for people to have their lift tickets confiscated if they skied off the course. Deep within this free skiing is a determination to pass on snow mountain culture to the future, which goes beyond simply balancing safety and freedom. We delve into the "essence of liberation" that Hoshino Resorts Tomamu continues to strive for
The stage called Tomamu
Hoshino Resorts Tomamu, located in Shimukappu Village, almost in the center of Hokkaido, is characterized by its consistently low temperatures due to its inland climate. It is a one-of-a-kind resort in Japan, boasting the "Ice Village, a town made of ice and snow," which is only possible in the extreme cold, with temperatures sometimes reaching minus 30 degrees. It is popular as a stay-based resort that combines a full range of activities, comfortable hotels, restaurants with a wide variety of cuisine, and unique slopes on two mountains
The unique climate conditions of the northern Hokkaido area result in dry snow accumulation and good conditions being easily maintained, making Tomamu's skiing appeal highly acclaimed by skiers and snowboarders from both Japan and abroad
The slopes, which are centered around two mountains with an elevation difference of about 600m, are rich in natural topography and have the versatility to accommodate beginners to experts. To make the most of the steep slopes concentrated at the top of the slopes, the skier-first environment has been improved. The background to this is the "Winter Mountain Opening Declaration."
2004: Winter Mountain Liberation Declaration
Back in January 2004, this declaration was suddenly made:
Winter Mountain Liberation Declaration:
Skiing and snowboarding are noble sports that bring you face to face with Mother Nature, and winter mountains are the field for that. Hoshino Resorts Tomamu contributes to the development of a culture that enjoys winter mountains beyond managed slopes.
Skiing is only a part of it, and our goal is to embrace and enjoy nature as it is, and experience the richness of its existence. To ensure the healthy development of this activity, we seek out safe methods and conserve resources. We believe in fostering a culture that allows more participants to enjoy the wonders of winter mountains in a sustainable manner.
This "Winter Mountain Liberation Declaration" was written by Hoshino himself, the president of Hoshino Resorts, who skis more than 80 days a year and is known as an avid powder snowboarder
The statement clearly states that "Skiing and snowboarding are noble sports that bring you face to face with Mother Nature. Winter mountains are their field, and Hoshino Resorts Tomamu will contribute to developing a culture of enjoying winter mountains beyond the managed slopes."
This also represents a determination to "pass on to future generations snowy mountains not simply as something to be managed, but as a culture that cherishes the freedom of nature." Rather than closing them off because they are dangerous, they will be opened only after people understand, learn about, and are fully prepared for the risks. Only then can true freedom exist. This shift in thinking is the essence of the declaration of winter mountain liberation
To get closer to the essence of this, there is one key person who is essential: Mr. Omiya Hironobu. He is the driving force behind the declaration of winter mountain liberation and has been in command on the ground for many years, making him a central figure in this project. We spoke to Mr. Omiya, who currently serves as patrol leader
Hoshino Resorts launches and the "Concept Committee" is established
"Hoshino Resorts took over from the previous management company in April 2003 and began operations. A group of young people in their 30s, including myself, were called together to form a 'Concept Committee' to consider how to run the ski resort in the future
Considering the characteristics of the mountain, the committee as a whole was leaning towards a family-oriented approach, with the idea that Tomamu would be better off specialising in families, but then President Hoshino spoke up
"You have to think about it and find something attractive. It's bound to be there," he said. So I said, "I want to open up the off-course areas that are currently off-limits." We had skied all over the mountain while patrolling, so we knew that the off-course areas were actually really great. The upper part of Tomamu is filled with birch, beech and various other trees, and it's beautiful and has a great atmosphere. It makes you feel like you're overseas
Back then, more than 20 years ago, at any ski resort, if you skied off the course, your lift ticket would be confiscated, and we would hide in the shade of trees and keep an eye on the customers (laughs). To be honest, I always wondered what we were doing. But I realized that if we could just let people ski safely, it would be a really fun place."
Hoshino's response to Omiya's idea was, "In that case, you should definitely do it."
"I'll never forget the excitement I felt at that moment. My motivation was skyrocketing. We, the staff in our 30s, were filled with hope
However, there were some voices saying that even if we were to do it, it would be better to take our time and do it carefully because there are various issues involved... but when I told them that I wanted to start this winter, President Hoshino said, 'If we can do it, there's no need to take our time, let's just get going all at once,' and so we set up the advanced player-only area and even launched the CAT tour from the first winter."
Omiya-san spoke while recalling those days
Deep thoughts
However, measures such as the advanced ski area and CAT tours were not just aimed at "discovering new attractions at Tomamu." The underlying idea was to "foster a culture of understanding the risks of snowy mountains and facing nature with a sense of safety."
Safety lectures are given, helmets are loaned, and visitors are allowed to slip on bibs before skiing. Conditions for entering open areas are set, lectures on equipment and precautions are given, information on conditions is provided, and a thorough patrol system is in place. These are the foundations for establishing freedom. The mountains offer the joy of freedom to those who understand the rules, know their own skills, and can make judgments. Tomamu's safety management is closer to the idea of "nurturing" users rather than "protecting" them
"When we first started opening up the off-course areas, word spread that 'Tomamu has done something amazing,' and people who had previously had to hide in the powder snow in the forest could now do so openly, and we heard a lot of people say, 'They've done a great thing.'
However, I wasn't thinking that it would be enough if only our ski resort could ski in the forest. Rather, I wanted more people to know, as if it were common knowledge, that you can ski in the forest if you take the proper safety precautions. So, since then, I've seen a change in perception at many ski resorts, which makes me very happy."
It could even be said that there is a tree running boom now, with more and more ski resorts opening up off-course areas and expanding the forest areas where tree running can be enjoyed. Tomamu also started out with just two areas, but has now expanded to six
What was the background behind its spread?
"First, we opened up two areas of the forest that had a relatively low density of trees and many open areas, in order to thoroughly verify how many accidents would actually occur there. But when we actually opened them up, the number of injuries was only in the single digits. We realized that if we take proper measures, accidents are unlikely to occur, so we gradually expanded the area."
There was an objective judgment that there were no problems after verification from a safety standpoint, and there was a sense on the ground that "it can be done."
Regarding safety
Generally, "safety" and "freedom" are often spoken of as contradictory concepts in snowy mountains. However, Tomamu, which is both a managed resort and a natural mountain, demonstrates that these two aspects are compatible
Its approach of clearly defining the rules, providing proper safety training, and then offering the "freedom to ski" has made it stand out among Japan's ski resorts
"However, although an increasing number of ski resorts are opening up off-piste areas and encouraging side country skiing, what surprised me was that most resorts still require skiers to take full responsibility for off-piste skiing, and that if an accident occurs, they are responsible for search and rescue costs. Even if we go off-piste, the ski resort will cover the costs, as we believe that the ski resort is responsible as long as it is within its managed area
As a patrol, we must be prepared to respond when necessary, as we are tasked with clearing off-course areas. We conduct training every year, including first aid and transport for people injured in high-energy injuries caused by the strong impact of colliding with standing trees. We also need knowledge of avalanches and rescue techniques, so we are taking courses from experts at the Japan Avalanche Network and working to obtain JAN qualifications."
The organization is also working tirelessly to improve safety. Previously, skiers were required to wear and return their bibs to ensure they had descended the mountain properly, but in order to improve the accuracy of safety management, a new GPS-enabled "yukiyama app" was introduced in 2022 and all skiers are now required to use it
"The Yukiyama app makes it easy to see everyone's movements. Not only can you check who's descending the mountain, but you can also get data on which areas are popular for skiing. By the way, the most popular spot is No Gravity, to the right of the Unkai Gondola when viewed from the bottom, and we can see that this is the place where the most skiing takes place. You can even see people going through densely packed areas with trees that shouldn't be open to the public (laughs), so it's fascinating to watch
Although it's still less common than Westerners overseas, the number of people wearing helmets has increased significantly in recent years, and awareness of BC equipment such as beacons and shovels has also increased. I think this is one of the effects of our pioneering efforts, and I think it's a very positive change in the trend."
As a result, the declaration of winter mountain freedom has not only reduced accidents, but also improved the safety literacy of skiers, while at the same time producing the secondary effect of improving the skills of those who support safety. Safety is not something that can be unilaterally imposed by those in charge, but something that must be supported together with those who use the mountain. Here is an example of this in practice
For Omiya, a born ski lover who "does it all" from alpine skiing, basic skiing, moguls, and powder backcountry, maintaining safety on the mountains of Tomamu is nothing less than preserving freedom
Another face: CAT tours
Another pillar supporting the declaration of winter mountain liberation is the "Dake Karifuri CAT Tour." This special tour takes you on a snowmobile to the Karifuri area, about 20 minutes from the resort, and allows you to freely glide down the pristine natural slopes
Mount Karifuri, 1,323m above sea level, is a treasure trove of dry powder and a wide variety of slopes created by the diverse natural terrain. It is a paradise-like field where you can enjoy everything from exhilarating open runs to tree runs in the beautiful forests
A group of 12 people rented the entire facility, easily accessing the skiing spots on a snow cart, and skiing down 4-6 runs a day, each with an elevation difference of about 200-500m. Let's introduce another key player who made this luxurious and happy skiing experience possible, and who is essential to the declaration of winter mountain liberation
"I was drawn to it"
Koichi Tamai has been in charge of the Mt. Karifuri CAT tour since its inception. He is the operator himself, behind the wheel of the snowmobile, and also serves as a guide, guiding guests to the best spots of the day
Tamai was also a member of the concept committee in April 2003
"At the time, I was working as a ropeway staff member, but when I heard from the Concept Committee that they were going to do something that would promote the appeal of the area in a different way, I decided to run for the position myself. I'm originally from Furano, but I've always loved backcountry skiing, and I just wanted to experience it
The thing I struggled with the most at the start of the CAT tour was choosing the mountain and field. I wanted to do it somewhere away from the Tomamu ski resort. With that in mind, there were several mountains in the area that could be considered candidates, but for some reason I felt like I was being called to Mt. Karifuri (laughs), and it felt like I was drawn to it. This mountain already had a bulldozer road for logging. So there was already a road ready for snow groomers to use. That was also a good point."
The important thing is to get back safely and on time
Tamai has been facing Mt. Karifuri for over 20 years, and no two days are the same. For the guests he escorts, Tamai uses his sharpened senses to select the best conditions for the day
"I don't have a manual (laughs). I choose the spot that I think is best depending on the wind, snow, and temperature of the day, and then approach. The natural conditions change from moment to moment, so it's not like things always follow a manual. I also have to adapt to the guests' skiing preferences and skill level. Basically, I go straight up to the top first thing in the morning, but when I want to gauge their level, I'll take them to a gentler slope first, and then I can plan my trip from there
The most important thing is to get our guests back safely and on time. Ideally, we want them to have a good experience and return feeling refreshed the next day."
This philosophy is shared with the advanced ski area. In a natural field with no restrictions, guests can consider what kind of run they want to ski while questioning their own strength and skill. Facing nature and themselves is a precious experience that goes beyond the simple enjoyment of skiing
What the numbers reveal
80% of the CAT tours scheduled to operate during the season every year are booked up quickly by repeat customers. The tours are held on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays during the season, and Fridays and Mondays are reserved for private guests, but the private days are filling up quickly, and it is already difficult to make reservations this season
"What makes me happiest is when people come back. I think the track record of repeat visitors tells us everything about how people perceive the value of this experience. Sometimes people call me directly and say, 'Mr. Tamai, I want to come on such and such a date!'" (laughs)
A look at the history of the advanced ski area and CAT tours reveals some interesting trends: a low number of accidents, safety-conscious guest behavioral changes, and a high rate of repeat visitors—all of these indicate that Tomamu's initiatives are no longer a passing fad or a mere activity, but are beginning to take root as part of the local culture
Hoshino Resorts Tomamu envisions the future of snow mountain culture
Omiya said
"My ideal would be a world where no prior application is required, where everything is free, but where everyone is able to enjoy skating while taking responsibility for their own safety. I would like the term 'open area' to no longer be something special."
These words are very symbolic.
Tomamu aims to bring Japan's winter mountain culture to maturity.
The advanced-only areas and CAT tours are not just a service that provides freedom. They are a field where each person who is fascinated by winter mountains can come face to face with nature and themselves, and a special time can be had there
Visitors respect the mountains, learn from them, and return.
Perhaps it is at the end of this chain of events that the future truly represents, as expressed in the "Declaration of Winter Mountain Liberation."
Information
Hoshino Resorts Tomamu
Address: Nakatomamu, Shimukappu Village, Yufutsu District, Hokkaido 079-2204
Official website: https://www.snowtomamu.jp/winter/
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