The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Bankei Ski Area spans 200 to 483 metres elevation across 17 runs and 40 hectares of terrain. The resort receives 8 metres of annual snowfall and operates from early December through late March. Terrain splits 30 per cent beginner, 40 per cent intermediate and 30 per cent advanced across three base sectors. The vertical drop of 283 metres concentrates primarily in the central area, whilst east and west zones offer shorter pitches. The resort features an FIS-certified mogul course and a 180-metre halfpipe claimed as one of Japan's largest. February 2017 saw Bankei host Asian Winter Games freestyle mogul and snowboard halfpipe competitions.
The ski area's north-facing aspect helps preserve snow quality despite its low elevation. Runs commence steep at the top before mellowing toward the base. The central sector delivers the longest continuous descent, whilst flanking areas cater to families and progression terrain. School groups frequent weekdays, creating concentrated traffic on narrower runs. The Waku Waku Snowland occupies a separate zone for tubing, sledding and snow striders.
Bankei operates until 22:00 nightly, making it Sapporo's go-to venue for after-work skiing. The extended hours attract locals who value proximity over powder depth. On-mountain facilities include East House, Center Lodge, West House and Bankeien, housing rentals, dining and lessons. A Welcome Team provides English-language support for international visitors. March 2026 will see the resort host FIS Snowboard World Cup halfpipe competition.
No multi-resort pass affiliations apply. Adult day tickets run ¥4,200 to ¥4,600, with half-day and night-only options providing budget flexibility. Season passes cost ¥42,000. Children in elementary school and younger ski free. The resort suits Sapporo-based skiers seeking convenience, families wanting manageable terrain, and intermediates comfortable with compact vertical. Powder hunters and expert skiers requiring extensive steep terrain should look elsewhere in Hokkaido.
283m
Vertical
17
Runs
99 acres
Skiable
8m
Annual snow
The Terrain
17 runs across 99 acres skiable
Bankei Ski Area spreads 17 runs across 99 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 40%, with 5 beginner runs to find your feet and 5 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
17
runs
17 runs across 4 grades
Beginner5 runs · 30%
Intermediate7 runs · 40%
Advanced5 runs · 30%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Bankei Ski Area
The 2025-2026 season runs 5 December 2025 through 29 March 2026, delivering nearly four months of operations. Typical seasons open early December and close late March, weather permitting. Weekend and holiday operations may commence at 08:30, whilst weekday skiing begins at 09:00. Night skiing commences at 16:00. The resort adjusts hours during winter break periods when extended access runs until 22:00.
Annual snowfall averages 8 metres, significantly less than higher-elevation Hokkaido destinations. Mid-winter base depths typically reach 1.2 metres. The 200-metre base elevation limits natural snow reliability compared to resorts starting above 400 metres. North-facing slopes help preserve snow quality through spring. High skier traffic and the urban microclimate can degrade on-piste conditions during warm spells or extended dry periods.
January and February deliver peak snow conditions and coldest temperatures. December sees inconsistent coverage as the snowpack builds. March brings spring conditions with firmer morning snow softening through afternoon sessions. Night skiing offers better surface quality when temperatures drop after dark. Late-week visits avoid the weekend school group congestion that defines weekday character during term time.
The resort hosted the March 2026 FIS Snowboard World Cup halfpipe event, with competition scheduled 6-8 March on the 180-metre pipe. No major festivals or signature events anchor the calendar beyond this international competition. Daily night skiing remains the resort's operational hallmark, differentiating Bankei from daylight-only alternatives around Sapporo. Quieter periods fall mid-December before winter holidays and weekday mornings in January.
Season 2025-2026
5 Dec 2025
Opens
29 Mar 2026
Closes
114
Days open
8 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Bankei Ski Area, and where to stay
Bankei occupies Chuo Ward within Sapporo city limits, 9 kilometres southwest of Sapporo Station. The resort sits at the mountain's base at 200 metres elevation, with the 483-metre summit visible from central Sapporo. Urban development surrounds the lower slopes, placing the ski area firmly within metropolitan Sapporo rather than a mountain valley setting. The site has operated since 1960 as the city's most accessible winter sports venue.
Downtown Sapporo lies 20 minutes away by car, making the resort a genuine urban ski hill. Maruyama Koen, Hassamu-Minami and Makomanai subway stations provide public transport gateways, each roughly 15 minutes by bus to the slopes. The ski area's address at 410 Bankei, Chuo-ku places it within the same ward as Sapporo's entertainment and business districts. Susukino nightlife, Odori Park and the clock tower sit within 9 kilometres.
Route 89 provides direct road access from central Sapporo, with the journey taking 20 minutes in normal traffic. No motorway tolls apply within Sapporo proper. Drivers from other Hokkaido regions access the area via Sasson Expressway to Sapporo Kita Interchange, then 11 kilometres on local roads. Free parking spreads across three base lodges, with central lots filling early on weekends. Taxi packages and rental car options suit visitors without vehicles.
New Chitose Airport sits 45 kilometres southeast, roughly 40 minutes by road or 40 minutes via JR Rapid Airport train to Sapporo Station. The airport serves 30 domestic routes and select international destinations, ranking as Japan's fifth-busiest terminal. From Sapporo Station, regular buses run to Bankei, or taxis complete the 9-kilometre journey in 20 minutes. No direct airport shuttle operates. The resort's urban location makes it ideal for visitors combining Sapporo sightseeing with accessible skiing.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Bankei Ski Area, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
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4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
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2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
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1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
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28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
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26 Aug 2026
Bankei Ski Area Lift System
Five lifts serve the mountain: one triple chair and four double chairs. A single chair exists at the base but rarely operates. A magic carpet handles beginner terrain and the kids' park. Total uphill capacity remains modest, matched to the resort's compact scale and primarily local clientele. The dated lift infrastructure reflects the area's 1960 origins.
The triple chair accesses the central sector and the resort's maximum vertical. Double chairs service east and west zones, spreading skier traffic across the three base areas. Lift operations can be inconsistent, with chairs occasionally closed for reasons beyond obvious weather or snow conditions. The north-facing exposure and limited elevation range mean lifts handle less extreme wind exposure than higher-altitude Hokkaido resorts.
Base-to-summit transport takes under 10 minutes on the main triple chair. The three-sector layout prevents linear bottlenecks but requires walking or short lift connections to move between zones. Car parks spread across east, central and west bases, with spaces near Center Lodge filling quickly on weekends. The separated terrain pods suit families who prefer defined zones over interconnected cruising.
No recent major lift upgrades have been announced. The system functions adequately for the 9-kilometre distance from Sapporo Station and the resort's role as an urban training ground. Queue times remain minimal outside school group sessions. Night skiing operates across all lit runs, with illumination extending until 22:00 daily during peak winter and until 21:00 at season edges.
5lifts across 2 types
1
Triple Chair
4
Double Chairs
Bankei Ski Area lift system
Bankei Ski Area is served by 5 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.
More Bankei Ski Area intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.