Sapporo Kokusai (札幌, Sapporo Kokusai Skījō) is a ski resort located about an hour's drive from downtown Sapporo, not far from the hot spring town of Jozankei Onsen. Compared to other popular resorts nearby, Sapporo Kokusai is not that large, but in return the resort receives a large amount of snowfall, comparable to the amount seen in Niseko. From the top of the gondola cable car station, you can see the ocean on a clear day.
The convenient location makes it a good choice for those on a tight budget in the Sapporo area or those looking for an alternative to the popular Niseko resorts. Sapporo Kokusai is served by 05 elevators, of which are 02 modern gondola cable cars running parallel to each other, with a capacity of 6-8 people.
Sapporo Kokusai has 07 ski runs, with a total area of 45ha. The maximum altitude is 1,100m and the difference in height when sliding is 460m, along with the longest sliding distance of 3.6km with a maximum slope of 30 degrees. With six of the seven courses rated green or blue, Kokusai is suitable for beginner and intermediate riders with wide slopes that are easy to slide, beginner or advanced. Even children can safely enjoy skiing here. In addition, it has a more advanced black ski track, but may not be as appealing to advanced riders looking for steep slopes.
The ski school here usually only caters to Japanese-speaking guests, however, you can usually reserve an English-speaking instructor for a private lesson. Sapporo Kokusai also has a snow town area where kids can ride a mini sled (10 min ride), banana boat ride (4 laps) or tube ride (for an hour) for 1,500 yen per activity .
Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort is a perfect location for your day trip, and offers the chance to experience exciting and unforgettable skiing in Sapporo.
Hours of operation: Regular season December 1 to March 31)
- Weekdays 9:00 to 17:00
- Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 8:30 to 17:00
Cost:
- Full Day Ticket: 4,600
- 4-hour ticket: 3,900
Website: https://www.sapporo-kokusai.jp/