Budget Skiing in Hokkaido: Where to Stay, Ski, and Save

Budget Skiing in Hokkaido: Where to Stay, Ski, and Save

Looking for champagne powder on a beer budget? We’ll show you how we skied some of Japan’s best powder and explore Hokkaido for less. It’s our last day skiing HKO, so I thought I’d share a little bit about what we’ve learned here. Starting with the top tips, book accommodation as early as possible. Places are filling up faster and faster, especially the popular resorts. So, you want to start looking as early as possible to get yourself the best accommodation for the best price. Buy Shoe Spikes as soon as you get here. Don’t wait until halfway through your trip like we did. These are an absolute game changer for getting around on the icy roads. Buy your lift tickets online. Not only will you skip the morning queue and be first in line for first chair, you’re also going to save between 5 and 20% depending on the mountain. Check out the secondhand store, Second Street. It’s all over Saporro. There are a number of branches that have a whole lot of really good gear, especially the Second Street outdoor. It has heaps of ski gear, specifically and other outdoor gear. Just be aware that you won’t be able to resell gear at the end of your trip unless you have a Japanese residence card. Get a local SIM, especially if you’re going to be here for a while. It’ll end up saving a lot of money. Don’t rely on the generic SIMs available when you land in the airport. Pre-arrange a secure SIM. You can get an eim before you even get here, or you can arrange to pick up one at your airport or even at your hotel. Take advantage of the Comini. The local convenience stores here are epic, especially for grab-and-go meals. The food is tasty, the food is cheap, and there’s a pretty wide selection. It’s an absolute gamecher for quick, convenient, cheap meals. Make sure you carry cash and a physical copy of your credit card. Japan isn’t the exclusively cash society that it has been in the past, but there are still places that only deal in cash, and there are also places that are slow on the uptake when it comes to things like Paywave, so they may not accept the card on your phone, and you’ll need to show them a physical copy of your credit card. 7-Elevens are a great place to take out cash cheaply. And we recommend using a international online bank. We use Revolu. I know Wise is another popular one, but um definitely sort that out before you come. you’ll save yourself a lot of money. So, those are our top tips for skiing Akaido on a budget. We’re going to take you now through some of the places we visited, some of the ski resorts we skied, and at the end of the video, we’ll share what we think is probably the best place to stay to ski Hokkaido on a budget. [Music] So, I’m just now packing up. We are going to one of my all-time bucket list destinations, Japan. Our first stop is Hkaido, where we’re going to ski. We’re going to explore some of the local culture and of course we’re going to eat our weight in sushi, ramen, yakuri, all ideally without breaking the bank. We’re flying out of Australia with Jet Star. Japan has really opened up to budget travelers in recent years with a variety of lowcost airlines flying from Asia, Europe, Australia, and the Americas. Keep an eye out for deals starting about 8 months out from your trip, and use Google Flights to track prices. Just make sure to budget for extra baggage fees if you’re bringing your ski gear. After an overnight layover in Asaka, we’re headed back to the airport for a 2-hour flight to Hokkaido. We’re landing in New Chosi airport outside of Hokkaido and it is flat out. Just landed in Hokkaido and it is pandemonium already and I was just not really prepared for being in Japan. A quick bowl of airport ramen gets us back on track. We drag our stuff below to catch an airport train to the center of Saporro. [Music] You have to have that ticket. We’ve only bought reserve seat upgrades, but after buying the proper tickets, we’re out into the brisk Saporro night. Oh my god, it’s really coming down. I’m really excited about being here. So, this is one of the few budget hotels we’re able to find in Saporro, especially at this time of year when they’re having the snow festival. It is cozy and it’s convenient to Saporro station. But when I say cozy, I mean really cozy. So, it’s basically just one room. Uh, but it has everything you need. It’s very wellappointed and they’ve got lots of clever things. They’ve got a projector. They’ve got a desk so we can do a little bit of work during the day. They’ve got a kitchenet which really is enough to make simple meals. It’s got in burner, a very small refrigerator, basic utensils, basic supplies. They’ve also got some handy things like a microwave, a kettle, a rice cooker. There is a full bathroom, although it’s certainly compact, but you’ve got a shower, all your bits and pieces, and then of course, it wouldn’t be a Japanese house without the piece to resistance. The toilet with inbuilt bedet. We’re also using this as storage room for gear. In fact, everywhere is storage room for gear because yeah, it’s a shoe box. But all in all, it works pretty well. We’ve got Nora sleeping in the corner. She seems happy enough. And I think after this, our accommodation is going to get bigger when we travel to Nco and Ataru. We’re going to head out today into Saporro and try to track down some secondhand skis. The rental prices in Hokkaido are pretty steep. you’re looking at like 40 to 60 USD per day depending on the quality of the gear and where you’re renting it from. So, I think by buying our own, we should be able to save some money. We’re heading to Second Street Outdoor, which is a popular secondhand shop about 7 km south of the city center, which looks like they’ve got a lot of good ski gear. We picked up some really good gear today at the second outdoor and so now we’re just trying to set it all up so we can go hit the slopes tomorrow. What are you wearing? I’m wearing a face mask to exfoliate. You look insane. Just about to head out to Saporro TNA, one of the resorts outside of the city of Saporro. It’s about an hour on public transport. We’ve got to catch a train then a bus. So, not exactly ski on, ski off, but interested to see what some of the lesserk known resorts within Saporro are like. So, it’s been snowing quite a lot since we got here. It’s still snowing today, so hopefully should be pretty good. Let’s go. [Music] One of the benefits of staying in Saporro is that the city’s public transport is really good, and getting to the surrounding ski resorts like Saporro TNA is straightforward with a train ride and a bus that goes directly to the mountain. Facilities are a little tired, but there is everything you need, including ski rental, lockers, even baby changing facilities can be found in the ski center at Sapora Tenny Highlands. Lift tickets are also cheaper, starting around 45 USD for a daily. The lack of crowds means there’s rarely a queue and on a clear day, you get amazing views back to Saporro. I’m out here at Tenny on a Monday morning and there’s absolutely nobody here. Although it’s smaller than the bigname resorts, it does have a nice mix of mellow beginner tracks, intermediate runs, and some steeper, ungroomed terrain, which with few crowds can remain unttracked for a while after fresh snow. Just did my first run. Um, I’m a bit wobbly given that last season I was out being pregnant. Nobody out here. Fresh snow, freshly groomed. I don’t think maybe one person had gone down the track before me. Definitely recommend coming to Tien Saporro during the week because it seems like it’s the best time. Really good weather. Really excited to spend the day here. You won’t find any resort style dining options here. A no frrills cafeteria serves up a surprisingly wide range of delicious traditional options at fair prices. Tienne Saporro is just one of a handful of local ski resorts close to Saporu. It includes Moya, Bana Kai, Kukasai, and Foo. Exploring Saporro’s resorts works up a hunger. If you’re really wanting to save a buck, getting accommodation with the kitchen and cooking at least some meals for yourself will help. The convenience stores here known as Kambinis are another great budget food option with an impressive selection of cheap and tasty ready to eat meals. Eating out in Saporro is one of the highlights of a trip here and doesn’t need to break the bank. Saporro isn’t just the gateway to Hokkaido ski resorts, but it’s also a great destination in its own right. From the historic Saporro Beer Museum to shopping in the malls and department stores, there’s so much to explore. By chance, we’re in Saporro for the Snow Festival, which is well worth a visit if you’re going to be there. The city doesn’t slow down at nighttime, and you’ll find all manner of things to do, from bars and nightclubs, bowling to karaoke, just to name a few. Next stop, Nico. It’s one of the most famous ski resorts in Japan. There are a few ways to get there, but we’re taking the bus. A compromise between the low cost of the train and the convenience of a private transfer. We arrive and it’s bucketing. Accommodation is very expensive in Nico. To try to keep cost down, we’ve booked early and found a self-contained house we’re sharing with friends. A free shuttle service runs throughout the town, making getting around simple. On the mountain, lift tickets start around $70 per day for a United Pass, giving you access to any of the four United Resorts, Anapuri, Nisso Village, Herafu, and Hanzono. [Music] As you’d expect, infrastructure is mostly really good across the expansive Nico United area. There’s a great mix of beginner and intermediate terrain, plus plenty of steeper and ungroomed terrain, as well as gates into the side country where experienced skiers and snowboarders with the right avi gear can go exploring at their own risk. When conditions are good and all the lifts on the mountain are operating, the crowds disperse and there’s not too much of a wait for gondilas or chair lifts. Lights are turned on in the evenings and night skiing is available on the main trails until 7:00 p.m. and the crowds really thin out, making for some fun runs. A guide or instructor can be really helpful to get the best out of your time in a sec. Of course, not every day can be a bluebird day, and the seco gets frequent snowstorms that can bring the resort to a halt. However, they also bring the powder that the region is so famous for. But it doesn’t last long. Fresh powder gets tracked out quickly. Refilling on the mountain can be expensive and in our opinion, not the best quality. Check out Bo Yoso tucked away off a steep run under the King Gondelola for a more authentic option. Or hit up the food trucks back in town for more affordable lunches. After the skiing day is done, grab an onen to unwind before heading back into town. There are plenty of options from cheap and cheerful izakayas to fine dining, cozy cocktail bars to party bars like Wild Bills. Don’t forget your shoe spikes for the walk home. Local taxis can be quite expensive and there’s often a long way. The nearby town of Kachan can offer more authentic and affordable options. Not for me. Kelly’s reached her limit and it’s time for us to leave Nco and head to Ataro. Luggage shipping is very common in Japan and allows you to send your bags on ahead to your next accommodation so you can travel light. We are taking the bus back to Kuchan and from there a train straight to Ataro. Ataro is a port town known for its oldworld charm. [Music] So this is our place in Naru. It’s the first hotel we’ve stayed in. We had the self-contained apartment in Saporro. We had the house in Nico. Now in a hotel, but it’s massive. Of course, you’ve got your toilet um with heated seat and bedet, which we love. U have a desk which we can work at. We’re going to be here for about two weeks, so it’s going to be really helpful. Separate bedroom with three beds and a tatami mat for the baby, which will be nice. Really big living room, small kitchenet with a fridge, and then this awesome massive window overlooking the old building that they’ve built the hotel out the back of and the mountains behind Otaru, which if it snows here, we should be able to go ski um this week or next week. big bathroom with a bath. So, it’s probably double the size of the apartment we had in Saporu. The only downside is it doesn’t have a kitchen, so we’ll be eating all our meals from the convenience store. But, it does have a onset on the top level, so we’ll check that out. All in all, I think it’s about 100 bucks a night. Way more space than Saporro, and it’s going to make a good base for a couple of weeks. There’s no shortage of things to do in Ataro. You can explore the canals, visit saki distilleries, experience the busy seafood markets, sample local favorites like yam and oysters, and find your favorite counter restaurants [Music] at night. Uncover cozy zakayas, saki bars, and beer halls. [Music] If you’re staying in Ataro and wanting to ski, you should definitely rent a car because there are a number of resorts around, but they’re not so easily accessed by public transport. There are two small hills just outside Ataru, which you can get to on the bus in like 10 minutes. But to get to the real sought after resorts like Kuroro and Saporu Kukasai, it’s about a 30 40minut drive. And then if those resorts there’s too much snow there or not enough snow, you can keep driving another hour or so to Rutsu or Nco. And again, it’s going to be much easier if you have a car. We rented a car for the first time. I’m driving in Japan and I’m driving in the snow and the ice. So, a little bit nervous. Just taking it nice and slowly, trying not to turn or break too aggressively so we get to the mountain in one piece. We’re headed for Cororo. It’s been closed for 2 days. It’s just opened up today, so should be plenty of fresh snow. Resorts like Kerooro and Rasutsu don’t get as much attention as Nico, but they often get more snow. Both resorts have great amenities and infrastructure, although they don’t have the same scope as Nco United. Rzutsu is quite expensive with lift tickets at more than $100 a day, while Cororo is a little bit cheaper, around $60. Buying tickets online as you need them allows you to save money and stay flexible. Pro tip, buy the tickets after confirming resorts are open and lifts are running. We also got a full guided day in Kero, which was fantastic to discover some of the amazing side country. It comes to exploring the back country and the side country. A local guide that has been skiing the area their whole life is strongly recommended. The terrain changes each year and every year skiers get lost in underground rivers and avalanches. Skiing Japan with a baby has been amazing. We found Japan really easy to travel with great facilities everywhere, even in the ski centers. Our time in Hakaida has flown by, and all too soon, it’s our final day. [Music] Okay, so the place that we would choose to stay if we came back to ski Hokkaido is right here in Ataro. Probably a little bit counterintuitive because you actually have to drive to the ski resorts, but we see that as a plus. It means you can wake up here, see what’s happened overnight in the different microclimates around Ataru and pick the best resort to go to that day. You’re close to several resorts. You’ve got Kukasai, you’ve got Kuroro, you’ve got TNA. Even closer, you’ve got local mountains behind us 10 minutes away, and then you’ve got Nco and Razutsu. The other thing about Ataro is it’s cheap, it’s very authentic, and there’s heaps to do when you’re not skiing, heaps of great small, fun little bars, markets to explore, canals to walk. If I came back, I’d probably choose Ataru. That being said, if you’re looking for an all-inclusive stay, Nco might be more your bag. So you can just wake up in your apartment, catch the bus to the lifts, come home whenever you want. But if you’re looking to experience the best of what Hokkaido has to offer, we reckon it’s right here in Ataru. That being said, we haven’t even scratched the surface on skiing Hkaido. There are more than 100 resorts here. We didn’t go to the northeast where Ferrano is. We didn’t go to the south. We stayed here in this central bit. So get out there, explore some of the lesserk known resorts, the lesserknown towns, and uh really sink your teeth into skiing here. That’s it for our video. Hopefully, we’ve answered some of your questions. If you have a different question, let us know in the comments below. If you enjoyed the video, please drop us a comment, a subscribe, or a like. And hopefully, we’ll see you in the next one. [Music]

📝 Read the full blog post for our Hokkaido itinerary, budget breakdown, and all the tips we couldn’t fit in the video: https://thevanabondtales.com/how-to-ski-hokkaido-on-a-budget/

Ever dreamed of skiing in Japan without breaking the bank? We spent a month in Hokkaido — home to some of the best powder snow in the world — and we did it all on a budget.

From flying out of Australia with a low-cost airline to skiing famous resorts like Niseko, and discovering hidden gems near Sapporo and Otaru like Sapporo Tiene, Rusutsu and Kiroro — we’re sharing exactly where we stayed, how we traveled, what we did, and how much everything cost us.

In this video, we cover:

00:00 Intro
00:18 Our Top Tips for Skiing Hokkaido
02:25 Getting to Hokkaido
03:50 Staying in Sapporo
05:30 Second Hand Ski Gear in Japan
06:21 Skiing SapporoTiene
08:25 Eating in Japan on a Budget
08:57 Exploring Sapporo
09:35 Travelling to Niseko
09:54 Accomodation in Niseko
10:10 Skiing Niseko
11:46 Eating and Drinking in Niseko
12:40 Travelling to Otaru
13:07 Accomodation in Otaru
14:14 Exploring Otaru
14:55 Visiting the Resorts around Otaru, Rusutsu and Kiroro
16:45 Skiing Japan with a Baby
16:54 The BEST Place to Stay to Ski Japan

Whether you’re a ski bum, a digital nomad, or just curious about winter travel in Japan, this video will show you how to experience epic snow on a realistic budget.

👇 Drop your questions in the comments & share your favorite Japanese ski resort!

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Budget Hokkaido Itinerary (Free Download): [INSERT LINK]
Our Digital Nomad Budget Template: [INSERT LINK]
Ski Gear Rental Info: [INSERT LINK]
How to Book a Guided Tour in Rusutsu: [INSERT LINK]

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