Kiroro has abundant fluffy soft snow, modern lifts and resort infrastructure, excellent rental gear, luxury all-inclusive resort hotels, tree run zones, low crowds, and unbelievable backcountry – but what really sets it apart in Japan is how accessible it is.
Just an hour and a half’s drive from New Chitose Airport (with the entire journey along expressways and national route main roads), under an hour from Sapporo, 45 minutes from Kutchan, and 30 minutes from the quaint harbour city of Otaru, Kiroro is the king of day trips in Japan. If you want to make a trip to Hokkaido and split your time between sightseeing, dining, shopping, bar-hopping, and cultural immersion alongside a few days skiing or snowboarding, then Kiroro should be top of your list.
It snows pretty much every day in winter here, but that much snow so close to the ocean means wind and visibility can sometimes be a problem, which adds weight to the idea that it’s best to come just after a storm. The residents of Sapporo know what they are doing, and they flock to Kiroro after a big dump.
That’s not to say Kiroro isn’t also a big draw for families who keep coming back to stay in-resort. There are two ways to approach a visit to Kiroro: use it as a base for your family, enjoy the stress-free luxury of an all-inclusive family ski trip and visit the tree runs or backcountry while your kids are taken care of, or, come for one or two day drips from Otaru, Niseko or Sapporo.
“If you want to make a trip to Hokkaido and split your time between sightseeing, dining, shopping, bar-hopping, and cultural immersion alongside a few days skiing or snowboarding, then Kiroro should be top of your list.”
Snowfall
Kiroro gets a lot of snow. It’s probably the snowiest resort in one of the snowiest places in the world accessible without a helicopter. It generally opens first in the region and closes last. The snowfall average of 21 metres is often mentioned, but it’s measured at the peak, and it’s probably more like the average of the last year, with averages of 17-21 metres.
Nearby Niseko reports an average of 14 metres, but it’s hard to compare depths between resorts and countries as they are all measured differently. Kiroro is comfortably in the top 10 snowiest resorts in the world – but let’s look at it another way. According to Snow Forecast, from 4 December to 17 January 2024, it snowed every day at Kiroro – that’s 45 days in a row. And, between 27 November and 27 February, there were only 8 days without snow (I say “days,” but the snow often accumulates at night here). It’s very snowy, but it’s also reliably snowy. If you’re used to skiing in Europe or Australia, where actual snowfall is becoming more rare (or you’ll get a metre in 72 hours, then no snow for three weeks), Kiroro is as close as you can get to guaranteeing the white stuff during a one-week trip in peak season.
Lifts and terrain
Kiroro has 23 official courses and eight lifts, including a gondola, all of which are modern and speedy. The longest course is 4km, but from top to bottom, you can cover a total of about 5km. Kiroro has the same topography as many Japanese resorts, where it starts out steep at the top before flattening out about halfway down for the run out.
The Kiroro course map. Image: kiroro.co.jp
On weekdays, Kiroro isn’t very busy. There are no lift lines to speak of anywhere except for a short 15-20 minute wait at the base after lunch to ride the gondola. At weekends or after a big dump, it gets busier, but still nothing to slow you down too much.
Long cruisy deserted groomers at Kiroro. Image: Jamie O’Brien
On piste, Kiroro is excellent for kids, beginners and intermediates, as there are lots of low-angle, cruisy reds and gentle green runs. Even most of the blacks aren’t that steep apart from a short section or two. For more serious skiers and riders, the real attraction is the easy access to off-piste and backcountry terrain.
The view from the top of the gondola, looking down the Asari Dynamic course. Image: kiroro.co.jp
Off-piste is allowed – but only in the five designated tree run areas. It’s strictly controlled elsewhere.
Initially, this doesn’t look like much terrain on the normal map, but as you can see from the tree run map above, the light blue areas make up a large part of the skiable area. The tree runs are a reasonable length, but they are wide in places with varied routes and features, so they don’t get boring on laps. Snowboarders will need to be cautious in certain areas, as getting out isn’t possible unless skiers have set a track.
The tree run area map. Image: kiroro.co.jp
That’s why we recommend a guide for your first trip to Kiroro, just to find your way around and scope out the best tree runs and the places to avoid. We spent a day with Sam from Hokkaido Mountain Experience and did a full tour of all the courses and tree run areas on one of the rare days last season when it didn’t snow at Kiroro. Sometimes it can be hard to see when there are storms, so it was great to get a clear view of everything when the sun was out.
If you’re staying in bounds and hitting the tree runs, then get up there early, find a good spot, either off Asari lift or Nagemine and lap it until it’s done. This isn’t the kind of resort where you can just roam around the mountain and find steep lines in bounds. It’s all taped off and restricted. On the plus side, what you’ll get is loads of deep, fluffy powder, short lift lines (if any), and a thoroughly good time.
The Gondola and the Asari No 2 Express lift give access to the steeper trees in areas 1 (Powder Ridge) and 2 (Orange Light) on either side of the ungroomed Asari Course 2-C. Here, you’ll find well-spaced trees with over 30-degree pitch in places. This is the best in-bounds terrain, and you’ll see people lapping Asari No 2 lift until the powder is all tracked out. If you want something more gentle, then try the other two tree areas lower down.
Combined with the amazing snow and the lack of crowds, there’s enough here to keep anyone happy for a day or two, but it’s neither the biggest offering of off-piste riding nor the most extreme terrain.
If that’s what you’re after, then you’ll need to step into the backcountry. A ride in the gondola and a 10-minute hike opens up stunning views and endless drops into the valleys and peaks beyond the resort. We did a one-day splitboarding tour with Whiteroom Tours. Everyone in the group agreed it was some of the best runs we’ve done in our lives.
Steep and deep in the Kiroro backcountry. Image: Aron Tarjani
On days when you’ll be fighting past the hundreds of other people heading out at Niseko, you’ll probably have the place to yourself here, just a 45-minute drive away. We saw a couple of small groups from a distance and didn’t encounter any tracks the whole day.
Currently, Kiroro’s website states in its terms that visitors must submit a climbing report before entering the backcountry, but this hasn’t actually been the case for at least three seasons. There’s no need to inform the mountain centre or make any declarations; you just have to enter and exit through the three official gates within the resort.
An adult one-day pass is ¥8,000, with full prices and options listed here. Kiroro is also accessible with the Indy Pass.
Accommodation and Resort Services
Accommodation
If you can afford it and want a worry-free trip, Kiroro offers some wonderful high-end accommodation with all-inclusive, full-service options. For a family ski holiday, you can’t beat Club Med’s all inclusive package that gives you a luxury hotel room at Kiroro Grand (allows kids from two years old) or the new Kiroro Peak (from 12 years old), gourmet food, an open bar, childcare, ski and snowboard lessons, and lift passes (rental gear isn’t included). You can also stay in-resort at Yu Kiroro’s luxury studios and suites. All three are ski-in-ski-out, but Kiroro Grand and Yu Kiroro are just below the main resort, which means you have to take the Gateway Express lift to reach the base and ski back down a flat track to return.
The suites at Kiroro Grand. Image: clubmed.co.jp
If you’re on a budget or would like to sample the local Japanese culture, you can stay in Otaru or even Sapporo if you don’t mind the drive. We chose to stay in Otaru because some of our group were non-skiers and beginners and they weren’t sure how much skiing they would be doing.
We stayed at the stylish OMO5 Otaru by Hoshino Resorts. The hotel building was formerly the Otaru Chamber of Commerce, and it retains several historical features, including the staircase. With their background in ski resorts, Hoshino Resorts has added some handy snowsports-specific features, such as a drying room and a waxing station – amenities that are usually only available in hotels near ski resorts.
OMO5 Otaru by Hoshino Resorts room interior. Image: Hoshino Resorts
Another interesting option for accommodation is Margot’s Garden Farmstay, just an eight-minute drive away from Kiroro resort. It’s a working farm with a restaurant and lounge, farm shop, horse riding, goat petting, and a variety of room options from rustic yurts to modern cottages and standard hotel rooms. It’s a unique place and many people who stay here come back every year. It’s perfect for families that don’t want to just ski every day.
Margot’s Garden Farmstay is just 6km from Kiroro Resort. Image: Margot’s Garden
Rental & Retail
Kiroro has a nice large rentals area that’s well organised with friendly staff and changing rooms. You can rent good-quality skis, boots and poles or a snowboard and boots for ¥8,500 per day, or upgrade to premium gear for an additional ¥3,000. You can also hire clothing, individual items such as a snowboard without boots or sleds. See full details and prices here.
The rentals area at Kiroro. Image: Jamie O’Brien
The shop at the base area is well-stocked with international ski brands and has hardware like skis, boards and boots too, which isn’t always the case in Japan. Prices are high, but it’s the same everywhere in Japan, not just in ski resort stores.
The store at Kiroro stocks everything you need for a day on the mountain. Image: Jamie O’Brien
Snowsports Schools
Kiroro has some of the best options for lessons in Japan. The all-inclusive hotels have their own ski schools, while the Kiroro Kids Academy has kids’ group lessons for ¥10,000 per day (4 hours of teaching with a 90-minute lunch), and they say their Japanese tutors will use basic English to teach foreign kids. It’s rare in Japan to find group lessons for kids who don’t speak Japanese, and it can be a big money saver. Their adult lessons in English are private group lessons and cost ¥70,000 for 1-4 people per day.
Otaru Adventure is the only other company that’s officially allowed to conduct lessons in English at Kiroro. Private lessons start at ¥45,000 for two hours, while full-day adult snowboarding group lessons are ¥26,000 per person.
Attractions & Activities
Onsen
Yu Kiroro has a small onsen with a bookable private bath, both for hotel guests only. Kiroro Grand and Kiroro Peak also offer onsen experiences as part of their all-inclusive packages.
Bars and Après Ski
If you’re staying at one of the resort hotels, then each one has its own bar, usually with free- flow drinks if you’re staying with Club Med. The bars are open to the public at certain times, but if you’re not staying at the resort, then it’s better to retreat to Otaru or Sapporo and enjoy the wonderful range of traditional izakayas or upmarket bars.
Yu Kiroro Bar and Lounge. Image yukiroro.com
Food
Again, there are premium restaurant options in the resort and hotels, but the standard lunch option is Brasserie Akaigawa. It has the usual Japanese ski resort options of ramen, curry, pork cutlets and burgers made with local produce at more reasonable prices and prepared to a high standard.
Brasserie Akaigawa at the gondola base station. Image: kiroro.co.jp
If you prefer a light lunch, then Cafe Crest is a great spot at the top of the Nagamine No1 Express lift (I’m reliably informed that it’s the only place in Kiroro that serves real coffee). They also have cakes, soup and bread.
Cafe Crest overlooks the Nagomine slopes and usually has plenty of space. Image: Jamie O’Brien
WDC Waffles is also a very popular place at the mountain centre to grab a snack on the move.
Culture & Ambience
The vibe is distinctly different here compared to Niseko. There’s none of the trendy international seasonaire crowd or anything to make you feel out of place. It has a more European and family-friendly feel. Also, the Japanese and Asian tourist contingent seems much higher here, compared to the full-on westernisation of Niseko or Hakuba. It feels more Japanese, but it’s still very modern and upmarket.
Demoed at Kiroro: The Moonchild Malibu
I had the chance to try the Moonchild Malibu at Kiroro in January 2025. Moonchild Snowboards are relatively new, founded in 2017 in Slovenia. They make some really eye-catching, high-performance handmade boards. The Malibu was twice chosen as one of the best freeride boards by Whitelines Magazine.
The Moonchild Malibu (left); boards from Moonchild’s Skunkworkx division (right). Image: moonchildsnowboards.com
The Malibu has a huge volume shifted blunt nose that really stands out. It’s stiff, stable, super-quick and was a lot of fun bombing around Kiroros groomers and nipping in and out of the trees. It’s truly a board that’s comfortable on the whole mountain. (I just wish I could have taken it into the backcountry instead of using a splitboard.)
Getting to Kiroro
Kiroro is around one-and-a-half to two hours’ drive from New Chitose Airport on Japan’s north island, Hokkaido, mostly along expressways and main roads, making it one of the quickest and easiest drives to a major ski resort in Hokkaido. The drive from Sapporo is just over an hour, and Otaru is 30-35 minutes away. For more detailed info on buses and trains, see the Kiroro website.
Internal flights from Tokyo are cheap and easy to book, as it’s one of the most frequent flight routes in the world. You can also fly directly to New Chitose from Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, and Shanghai, while Qantas will resume flights from Sydney to New Chitose in December 2025.
AloJapan.com