Why Tomamu is one of the best places to ski in Japan

With perfect powder, a raft of things to do and stunning hotels, Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU have you covered for your ski holiday in Hokkaido.

Ski-in, ski-out Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU

Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU is the perfect winter playground with two different mountains and a diverse range of slopes and terrain. Stay in TOMAMU and you’ll be surrounded by 1,000 hectares of snowy forest, with uncrowded ski runs at your doorstep.

The alpine resort has 29 ski runs across 124 hectares of terrain. Six ski lifts give access to groomers, advanced mogul runs, snowy ungroomed runs and tree skiing. Unlike other Japanese ski areas, Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU allows off-piste skiing. There are dedicated family areas and a kids’ park just for children. This resort surprises first-timers with its awesome beginner area and groomers for intermediates. Advanced skiers will love the range of tree runs, mogul runs, back country and CAT tours to experience the fresh powder-covered backcountry of Hokkaido.

One of the best views from this resort is to head up the Unkai Gondola to the Terrace of Frost Tree. Wrap the kids up warmly as it will be chilly, but the view from the upgraded and revamped terrace over the Hidaka Mountains and the white-coated trees is well worth it. Head inside to the top floor of the three-storey building to warm up and feed the hungry hordes at the aptly named Cloud Café.

The Hokkaido Powder Belt

Powder. It is what attracts skiers and snowboarders to Japan and the place to find it, by the bucketload, is Hokkaido. The Hokkaido Powder Belt has 15,000 square kilometres of snow and includes seven different mountains of the Daisetsuzan Range. This snowy spine sits in the centre of Hokkaido island, which lies to the north of Japan’s main island, Honshu.

For families, the key resort in the Hokkaido Powder Belt is Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU, which is Disneyland on snow for kids. At the south of the belt, it caters to absolutely everyone.

Keep reading:

• Japan’s Best Family Ski Resorts
• The Best Family Accommodation in Japan
  

Family activities

Après-ski fun for families includes an incredible selection of more than 20 dining venues, Mina-Mina Beach, fun activities and the incredible Ice Village.

Mina-Mina Beach is an 80-metre-long heated indoor wave pool. With an inside temperature of 30 degrees Celsius, you’ll feel like you’re in the tropics as soon as you step inside. You can swim, ride a wave, paddle on a stand-up paddleboard, or sit and soak in the outdoor onsen.

For more snowy fun, you can go for a backcountry tour in a snowcat, try snowmobiling and dog sledding, ice fishing, banana boating or go horse riding through the snow. Visit over Christmas for special festive activities.

Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU Ice Village

The spectacular Ice Village is another highlight, with this beautifully lit village built entirely of ice and snow.

It is accessed by an ice slide, and also has an Ice Hotel, shops serving drinks in carved ice glasses, and an awesome outdoor ice rink to skate around before roasting a marshmallow over the outdoor fire. The Ice Village has a nightly fireworks display.

Family Snow Picnic

The magic of TOMAMU extends far beyond its ski runs. On a Family Snow Picnic, we speed across the powder on a snowmobile-drawn raft before trekking pristine snowfields with snowshoes.

Lift ticket price

A one-day lift pass costs ¥5,900 for adults and ¥3,900 for chidlren. In Australian dollars that is approximately $64 for adults and $42 for children. Rates become cheaper the more days you book for. 

On the mountain, you’ll find the resorts longest run, Exhibition, in the Terrace of Frost Tree area by the top of the gondola. By the gondola is the Unkai Terrace. A boardwalk that juts out from the mountain for majestic views over mountains and the sea of clouds. The resort is great for beginners. Nipo Mountain is a dedicated zone for beginner terrain and lessons. The terrain is 48% easy, 39% intermediate and 13% advanced. Lessons from English-speaking instructors are available at the Snow Academy. Kids aged four and over can be enrolled in group or private lessons. Three-year-olds can participate in lessons that include some skiing as well as general snow play.

Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU has two sets of 36-storey high-rise towers, each uniquely styled, giving glorious views and a large choice of accommodation. The two fully integrated, ski-in, ski-out hotels are both uniquely styled. The newest room is the Skiers Suite Room, a suite that comes with boot heaters, storage for skis or snowboards, great views out over the slopes from the 27th-floor vantage point, a sauna and a hot tub with views over the snow.

Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU The Tower

The 36-storey ski-in, ski-out Tomamu The Tower towers sit in the middle of the resort ski area. It boasts jaw-dropping alpine views and a choice of four-star Japanese and Western-style rooms for families of every size.

You can hire ski gear from the Rental Corner on the hotel’s first floor.

RISONARE Tomamu

The five-star, all-suite hotel Hoshino Resorts RISONARE TOMAMU, is located right on the slopes, a little further up the hill, than the tower. The hotel offers spacious luxury living, with some rooms featuring a large living room as well as two bedrooms and two bathrooms, one of which has a large Jacuzzi overlooking the snow.

Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU restaurants

It is not a Japanese snow holiday without great food, and Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU boasts more than 20 dining venues. Make a b-line for the excellent hotalu street, a dining and shopping area. You can ski right through the street, located just before the base of the mountain. It’s perfect for lunch before heading back onto the slopes. The dining facilities at Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU have everything from ramen, Italian and fine dining.

Parents will want to go for après at the ski-in, ski-out Kotatsu Lounge on hotalu street where you can have a beverage – there are 10 different beers from around Hokkaido – at heated tables complete with blankets. Once you get cosy, you won’t want to leave, so order an oden – a type of nabemono or Japanese one-pot dish – and settle in for a while.

Cloud Cafe, located at the top of Mount Tomamu, serves snacks and warm drinks to enjoy with the view of the resort. The Italian restaurant, OTTO SETTE TOMAMU has a child-minding service so you can enjoy your meal while your children are entertained by the restaurants’ friendly staff. For breakfast, head to Forest Restaurant Nininupuri. This buffet-style option is a great place to fuel your engines before a long day on the slopes.

Read: Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU was voted one of Japan’s Best Ski Resorts

Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU ski map

How to get to Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU

It’s a 90-minute flight from Tokyo to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport, followed by a 90-minute direct shuttle to the resort.

Explore further afield in Hokkaido

Beyond TOMAMU, Hokkaido boasts a treasure trove of winter delights, and Hoshino Resorts offers several exceptional properties across the region to experience them. Asahikawa, a lively city in the heart of Hokkaido, serves as a perfect gateway to the snowy pleasures of the island. Here, families can explore local culture and cuisine before heading out to nearby ski areas including Kamui Ski Links, Kurodake, or Asahidake. After a day on the slopes, guests can unwind at OMO7 Asahikawa, which boasts chic, urban-inspired interiors. This sleek property is within reach of Daisetsu Asahidake and Kamui Ski Links. OMO offers an exclusive service for skiers, a drying room, a map of the ski resorts, guests can purchase lift ticket and there’s a direct bus to ski resorts.

For those drawn to the vibrant energy of a larger city, Sapporo is an enticing option. Stay at OMO3 Sapporo Susukino to experience the heart of Hokkaido’s capital, known for its lively nightlife and the famous Snow Festival. Alternatively, the charming port town of Otaru offers a quainter experience. OMO5 Otaru, nestled among historical architecture and unique local eateries, provides a picturesque base from which to explore or hit the nearby slopes of Kiroro for skiing and snowboarding adventures.

Brand new in July 2024, OMO5 Hakodate will offer 245 rooms in 12 styles, a great base from which to explore this fascinating city, which is surrounded by the sea on three sides and features buildings dating back to the Edo period.