Sapporo Kokusai 札幌国際スキー場 to Teine Ski Area 手稲スキー場 is a classic ski traverse across the hills west of Sapporo City. Fully situated within the city limits, this traverse introduces the skier to the vast alpine playground sitting on the Sapporo City dweller's doorstep. The traverse takes in the full gamut of ski-touring terrain. Knife-edge boot-pack ridges, vast alpine snowfields, steep traverses, heady cliff bands, backcountry huts along the way, and some top-shelf ski descents to top it off. Fully public transport accessible, with a final ski descent right into town, this traverse should be on ..read more

Sapporo, JAPAN | Northern Japan outdoor website and voluntary association HokkaidoWilds.org announced Friday charitable donations of 1,438,000yen (US$9,500) to mountain safety and infrastructure initiatives in Hokkaido. Funds were made up of Rob and Chris's proceeds from sales of Niseko Backcountry, website reader donations, personal donations by Niseko Backcountry co-author Chris to top up some causes, and a generous gifting match by Chris's employer for his personal donations. Source ..read more

Daisetsuzan's Higashidake 大雪山系東岳 (2067m) is one of the more easily attained 2000m+ peaks on the eastern side of the Daisetsuzan National Park in central Hokkaido. The long approach is amply rewarded with access to a smorgasbord of freeride terrain on the peak's broad and varied eastern face. Exposure to technical terrain can be easily dialed up and down depending on skiers' appetites. The summit affords expansive views across the vast alpine Daisetsuzan plateau that makes up Kamui-mintara, the playground of the gods. Source ..read more

Etai-dake 恵岱岳 (1060m) is a prominent tabletop mountain sitting at the far northeast edge of the impressive Mashike mountain range 増毛山地. Its broad northeast-facing slopes below the flat summit stand out against the sky when viewed from the Etai Pass road. The approach to the main skiing face is along an undulating forestry road, but once you're at the northeast face, it's perfect for lapping. Views west towards Shokanbetsu-dake 暑寒別岳 (1492m), and north to the Japan Sea are stellar on a clear day. Source ..read more

Kiroro's 1107m and 992m peaks 1107峰／992峰 just west of the Kiroro Snow World ski resort afford excellent access to some amazing backcountry terrain away from the madding crowds of the resort. Kiroro is known for abundant powder snow, and this area east of the resort is no exception. Close proximity to the lower backcountry gate makes for very efficient access to great powder-lapping terrain. There are plenty of options here to dial up and down the exposure, from ridgelines, well-spaced glades, and large open bowls. Source ..read more

Within the Asahikawa City limits, Yunai-yama 湯内山 (501m) is a very easily accessed low peak perfect for multiple laps of cold, dry powder. Furthermore, the ridge extending north from the summit allows access to a huge acreage of terrain. This means that despite the peak's popularity among local backcountry skiers, there'll always be fresh snow to ski for those willing to walk just a little bit further along from the summit. The trailhead is only a 20 minute drive north from central Asahikawa City, so it should be on any skier's radar in the Asahikawa area, particularly when alpine areas are ru ..read more

Fuyuji-yama 冬路山 (625m) is a low-lying peak in the sprawling northern Hokkaido backcountry playground, the Horokanai valley. Don't let its low altitude fool you. Horokanai consistently gets Hokkaido's lowest temperatures and holds the record for Japan's lowest recorded temperature of -41.2℃. Despite this, the area also gets enormous snowfall, with none of the high winds of higher alpine areas of Hokkaido. Fuyuji-yama offers easy access to supremely lappable slopes. Slopes are relatively low-angle, but the north-to-south ridgeline offers a huge acreage of skiable terrain on the eastern side. So ..read more

Dokuya-mine 毒矢峰 (885m) is a minor peak in the low mountains to the west of Sapporo City in the Toyoha Mine area of Jozankei. It's a good challenging peak in mid-winter on snowshoes, with a clear ridge to follow and an interesting plateau-like summit approach. The route ascends through beautiful old-growth forest, and while the ascent is steep in places, the steepness lends well to a fun descent in deep snow. In firm spring conditions, the up-and-back climb can take as little as five hours return, but in deep winter, after fresh snowfall, it can take up to 7 hours. Source ..read more

Sandan-yama's (三段山, 1748m) Higashi-no-tani 東の谷 is a spicier descent off one of Hokkaido's most popular backcountry ski peaks. It's a short but sharp drop into a playful half-pipe-like gully that will keep more freeride-oriented skiers entertained, just in case the bottomless powder in the tree runs on the classic route don't. This route still hits the impressive summit of Sandan-yama, taking in the full grandeur of the Tokachi Range amphitheater rimmed by Tokachi-dake, Furano-dake, and Kamihorokamettoku-yama. Source ..read more

Furano-dake's 富良野岳 (1912m) Nishi-shamen 西斜面 (literally West Slope) is a beautiful powder run off the skier's left of the popular Giant Ridge ジャイアント尾根. In perfect conditions, skiers could have up to 500m of vertical descent, from well in the alpine to well below the treeline. In most cases, the skiing from the ridge down into the gully at around 1350m will allow for some fine lappable tree skiing even when the alpine is too blustery to get beyond the treeline. Source ..read more