6 places to explore Hokkaido with Hoshino Resorts

Hoshino Resorts invites snow-loving families to experience Hokkaido with a range of great accommodations, waist-deep powder, and one-of-a-kind experiences.

Japan’s sensational snow awaits eager powder hounds in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. While it’s a perfect escape for all seasons, Hokkaido is best known for its world-class powder snow in winter, along with its onsen (natural hot springs) bathing, stunning World Heritage-listed national parks and incredible cuisine.

The best way to enjoy the many wonders of Hokkaido in winter is with Hoshino Resorts. The company offers a host of stellar accommodation right across the island. Expect warm and welcoming Japanese hospitality, and next-level experiences that immerse visitors into each destination’s local charms.

Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU

Feature-packed Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU ski area, in central Hokkaido, offers visitors the quintessential Japanese-style resort experience. It boasts some of the country’s best powder snow on 29 meticulously groomed courses over 145 hectares of awesome skiing terrain, catering to skiers and snowboarders of all levels. The resort has a great beginner’s area. There are groomers for intermediates then mogul runs and back-country skiing for the more experienced. The mountain offers a surplus of great runs and tree skiing courses.  Plus the pretty Terrace of Frost Tree, surrounded by a sea of white and offering incredible views over the resort.

The fully integrated resort boasts two separate ski-in, ski-out hotels, each uniquely styled and offering Hoshino Resorts’ superb signature service. The five-star all-suite RISONARE Tomamu is located in a prime position on the hill and surrounded by a pretty snow-dusted pine forest. The 36-storey twin towers of four-star Tomamu The Tower are the centrepiece of the resort, offering views of the surrounding mountains and access to extraordinary facilities. The luxurious hotel is a haven of spacious suite-style accommodation. For the ultimate in comfort, the 27th floor Skiers Suite features ski-specific amenities such as boot heaters and gear storage, not to mention a private sauna and a hot tub with views of the surrounding peaks.

Read: Why Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU is one of the best places to ski in Japan

Après at TOMAMU

The magic of TOMAMU extends far beyond its ski runs. Our own adventures continue with a Family Snow Picnic, where we speed across the powder on a snowmobile-drawn raft before trekking pristine snowfields with snowshoes. By night, we’re captivated by the Ice Village, built entirely from snow and ice, which we reach via an ice slide. Its centrepiece is an illuminated outdoor ice rink, which we spin around before sipping on a steaming hot chocolate. It’s not all icy delights. For a touch of summer, we head to TOMAMU’s Mina-Mina Beach. The 80-metre heated indoor wave pool is among the largest in Japan, and my son is soon riding the waves on a stand-up paddle board, oblivious to the subzero temps outside.

Dining at TOMAMU proves another adventure, with more than 20 venues ranging from cosy fast-food joints to exquisite fine diners. Hotalu Street, Japan’s first ski-in, ski-out dining precinct, is a standout for families offering a medley of international and local flavours, from sizzling steaks to authentic Japanese ramen, all with direct slope access.

Asahikawa

Asahikawa is an energetic and blossoming city in central Hokkaido, with vibrant local culture and cuisine. Your family can get their snow fix at the nearby Kamui Ski Links, Kurodake or Asahidake, and at the end of the day, you go home to OMO7 Asahikawa with its beautiful urban-inspired interiors. You’ll also be close to the Asahiyama Zoo and its polar bears, which, to celebrate, OMO7 Asahikawa has a polar bear and other zoo-animal-themed suites. The resort’s OMO Rangers Ramen Hopping tours take you to experience Asahikawa’s best ramen with a local guide.

© Hoshino Resorts

Lake Poroto

Enjoy a little cultural immersion by adding a visit to KAI Poroto. This luxurious hotel is built along the shore of Lake Poroto in Shiraoi-cho. It’s just five minutes from Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park, an open-air museum where visitors can experience various elements of Ainu culture. The stunning hot spring ryokan honours the local Ainu culture and provides a special place for guests to experience it.

Keep reading:

• Exploring Japan’s Kanto region with kids
• Japan’s best family ski resorts

Otaru

The charming port town of Otaru offers a quainter experience. OMO5 Otaru, nestled among historical architecture and hole-in-the-wall eateries, provides a picturesque base from which to explore. Discover the charms of the city’s history, culture, and food from this lovely hotel. You’ll hear the early morning calls of fishermen bringing in their catch, which you’ll enjoy later on the hotel menus. Or explore the canal and warehouse district, which is dotted with glassworks and music box studios. Here, you can visit quaint cafés, a sake brewery and unique shops. The retro port town about half an hour northwest of Sapporo by train. From Otaru, you can hit the nearby slopes of Kiroro for skiing and snowboarding adventures.

Sapporo

Before you fly home from Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport, enjoy a few nights discovering Sapporo at OMO3 Sapporo Susukino. Stay in Sapporo to experience the heart of Hokkaido’s capital, known for its lively nightlife and the famous Sapporo Snow Festival in February, a week-long extravaganza of enormous ice sculptures, ice slides and mazes made of snow. Sapporo has 3,500 restaurants so come with an empty stomach.

© Hoshino Resorts

Hakodate

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.