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Japan has become the most popular ski destination for Australian skiers and snowboarders by a long shot, and there is a good reason why. Waist deep powder, no jet lag, good dollar conversion and packages that make a week at most Australian resorts seem very expensive. Most Australians congregate in two ski areas in Japan even though hundreds of other resorts offer better value and much fewer crowds. The two most popular are Niseko and Hakuba. Both offer fantastic snow and excellent infrastructure but get tracked out very early in the day and have long lift queues at busy times. Other resorts gaining popularity are Nozawa Onsen, Myoko Kogen and Shiga Kogan. Don't get me wrong, these resorts all get amazing snow and have some of the best terrains in Japan, but skiing in Japan for me is not only about deep powder. It's about Japanese culture and riding waist deep powder last run of the day with no one but my wife in sight.
In my travels to Japan over the last ten years, I have found some excellent resorts that offer all this and more, usually at half the price of Niseko. Top of this list is Tomamu (Alpha Resort Tomamu). This large resort is relatively undiscovered by the Australian crowds yet offers an annual snowfall of over 8 metres of light and dry powder. Tomamu is like Disneyland in the snow, with a massive 50-meter indoor wave pool, fine dining restaurants, a huge ice village (that includes an ice chapel for weddings) and 145 hectares of incredible skiing terrain. The central accommodation is two high rise towers that would look more at home in Tokyo and offer a fantastic view of the resort and surrounding mountains. Tomamu also offers 'Risonare' with high-end deluxe suites for those wanting some extra luxury.
While Tomamu doesn't get as much annual snowfall as some Hokkaido ski resorts, it still sits in the Hokkaido Powder Belt and gets incredible dry power. The terrain is varied and fun for all levels. There are well-groomed beginner and intermediate trails with an extensive lift system, and for advanced riders, there is excellent backcountry and steep tree skiing. While my wife and I were there, we got great fresh tracks almost a week after the last snowfall and felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. Tomamu also offers cat skiing on a nearby backcountry peak for those wanting extra adventure.
Tomamu is a great resort if you have kids. While many smaller resorts don't have the infrastructure to make a trip with the family easy, Tomamu is easy to get and offers so much more than skiing. The ice village and wave pool mean there is always something fun to do, including entry in the package price. Tomamu also ensures skiing is fun for every family member, with a specialised kids forest run to practice tree skiing and a terrain park to keep the older siblings happy.
With so much on offer, you might be wondering what a ski package for a week at Tomamu might cost. Well, to give you an idea, Japan Snow Accommodation was offering a seven-night Early Bird Special this year that included accommodation, lift pass, breakfast and entry to all the resort features for around $1,900 for a family of 4 or $650 per person if you are a couple! That's right, less than AUD 100 per day for everything but lunch and dinner.
So if you are looking for a Japan ski trip with all the powder you can handle but without the crowds, Tomamu is worth consideration.
| Mountain Statistics | |
| Height | 1,239m |
| Max snow last year | 200cm |
| No. of runs | 17 |
| No. of chairlifts | 11 |
| Terrain park | Yes |
| Childcare | Yes |
Getting to this resort is very simple. After landing in Tokyo, jump on a domestic flight to Sapporo (Chitose) that only takes around 1 hour. From Chitose, Tomamu offers a direct shuttle bus (1.5 hours) to take you right to your hotel door. This shuttle is also free if you stay for 5 nights or more.
| Location | |
| Resorts close by | Furano |
| Closest train station | Tomamu - 5 Minutes by bus |
| Closest bus station | Centre of mountain village |
| Closest major city | Obihiro-city |
| Closest international airport | New Chitose Airport, Obihiro Airport, Asahikawa Airport |
| Official resort website |
Overall Rating 8.5/10
Snow 8/10
Uncrowded 8/10
Lift systems 9/10
On Piste trails 8/10
Backcountry 8.5/10
For bookings contact Hisae Cameron from Japan Snow Accommodation at info@japansnowaccommodation or visit www.japansnowaccommodation.com.
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