The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Hoshino Tomamu operates 29 runs across 306 acres spanning two peaks in central Hokkaido, with a vertical drop of 585 metres between its 586-metre base and 1,171-metre summit. The resort receives an average 14 metres of annual snowfall and sits within the 200-kilometre Hokkaido Powder Belt, where inland conditions and temperatures dropping to minus 30 degrees Celsius produce exceptionally dry powder. The ski area totals 21.5 kilometres of piste, including a 4,200-metre top-to-bottom descent, and participates in the Hokkaido Powder Belt Pass alongside Furano and Kamui Ski Links.
Terrain distribution favours progression, with 38 per cent beginner runs, 48 per cent intermediate and 14 per cent advanced. Tomamu Mountain and Tower Mountain form two distinct sectors connected by the Romance chairlift, with the former housing the gondola-accessed summit terrain and Powder Express quad, whilst Tower Mountain concentrates gentler slopes near the hotel towers. Registered experts access designated sidecountry zones including Powder Heaven at Tower Mountain's summit, plus snowcat operations on Mount Karifuri.
The resort anchors a 1,000-hectare development dominated by twin 40-storey hotel towers housing Tomamu the Tower and Risonare Tomamu properties, alongside Club Med Hokkaido Tomamu at mountain base. Hotaru Street provides ski-in dining and retail, whilst the Mina-Mina Beach indoor wave pool, Ice Village winter attraction and Terrace of Frost Tree at 1,088 metres elevation expand the non-skiing programme. Night skiing operates 16:00 to 18:00 on Tower Mountain from late December through March.
The 38,000-yen Hokkaido Powder Belt Pass grants five days' skiing within ten days at Tomamu, Furano and Kamui, valid throughout the December-to-March season. Adult day passes run 6,800 yen regular rate to 7,500 yen peak, with season passes priced at 85,000 yen. Tomamu suits families seeking resort infrastructure and intermediates chasing groomed cruisers, though limited steep terrain constrains experts compared to Niseko or Rusutsu.
585m
Vertical
29
Runs
306 acres
Skiable
14m
Annual snow
The Terrain
29 runs across 306 acres skiable
Hoshino Tomamu spreads 29 runs across 306 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 48%, with 11 beginner runs to find your feet and 4 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
29
runs
29 runs across 4 grades
Beginner11 runs · 38%
Intermediate14 runs · 48%
Advanced4 runs · 14%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Hoshino Tomamu
The 2025-2026 season spans 5 December 2025 to 29 March 2026, offering 116 days of operations. This four-month window aligns with Hokkaido's prolonged cold inland climate, where March temperatures remain sufficiently low to preserve snow quality into spring. Tomamu's season length exceeds coastal resorts that close earlier as temperatures rise.
Annual snowfall averages 14 metres at mid-mountain elevations, with the 2024-2025 season recording 749 centimetres total accumulation. The resort's inland position within Shimukappu Village shields it from maritime moisture, producing lighter, drier snow than coastal equivalents despite marginally lower precipitation totals. Temperatures between minus 20 and minus 30 degrees Celsius maintain powder structure throughout winter, with snowmaking supplementing natural coverage on key pistes.
January and February deliver peak powder conditions when Siberian cold fronts dominate, though the resort maintains quality snow into late March due to persistent cold. Early December offers quieter slopes as the season builds, whilst mid-season holiday periods around New Year bring maximum crowds. The Ice Village attraction operates January to February when temperatures support ice construction.
Night skiing runs two hours nightly from 26 December through 31 March on lit Tower Mountain terrain. The resort's 40 per cent probability of witnessing the Unkai sea-of-clouds phenomenon attracts summer gondola riders from May to October, extending Tomamu's calendar beyond winter operations. Spring conditions favour long groomed turns on Tomamu Mountain's extended fall-line runs.
Season 2025-2026
5 Dec 2025
Opens
29 Mar 2026
Closes
114
Days open
14 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Hoshino Tomamu, and where to stay
Hoshino Tomamu occupies Shimukappu Village in the Yufutsu District, central Hokkaido, at the southern slopes of Mount Tomamu within the Daisetsuzan mountain range buffer zone. The base village sits at 586 metres elevation in a forested inland valley approximately 200 kilometres north-south within the designated Hokkaido Powder Belt. Shimukappu, population 1,251, gained resort status in the 1980s when Alpha Resort Tomamu opened, later acquired by Hoshino Resorts.
Tomamu Station on the JR Sekisho Line provides direct rail links, with the resort located five minutes' drive north. Sapporo lies 90 minutes north by limited express train, whilst Obihiro sits 60 minutes east on the same line. Furano resort operates 90 minutes northwest via Routes 237, 38, 1117 and 136, making multi-resort tours practical for mobile skiers.
Road access follows the Doto Expressway from New Chitose Airport via Chitose-higashi interchange, reaching Tomamu interchange in 100 minutes covering approximately 110 kilometres. Sapporo drivers take the Douou and Doutou expressways from Sapporo-kita interchange, completing 120 minutes to Tomamu interchange. Route 136 connects the interchange to resort base, with 1,500 parking spaces available.
New Chitose Airport, Hokkaido's primary international gateway, lies 90 minutes south by car or train with one transfer at Minami-Chitose Station. Hokkaido Access Network operates direct resort shuttle buses requiring two hours, departing three times daily at 5,500 yen per person. Limited express services Super Tokachi and Super Ozora stop at Tomamu Station throughout the day, with all trains requiring reserved seating and free resort shuttles meeting arrivals.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Hoshino Tomamu, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
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31 Aug 2026
Hoshino Tomamu Snow Report
Snow Report
Updated 27 Sept 2026
1171m
summit
+0cm
new snow · last 24 hours
Light Drizzle9°C / 14°C · S 31km/h
Snowfall
24 hours
0cm
48 hours
0cm
7 days
0cm
Base depth
130cm
Season total
0cm
Total lifts6
Live open status isn’t available right now.
5 Dec 2025 - 29 Mar 2026
Hour by Hour
Next 43 hours· Updated Sep 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
1,171 mUpdated Sep 28, 2026 at 5:02 PMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
0.0cm
Days 8–14
0.4cm
Mon, Sept 28
Rain Showers
Temp14° / 9°°C
Snow0.0cm(100%)
Wind31 km/h S
Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Understanding the Hoshino Tomamu snow report
Planning a day at Hoshino Tomamu? Our snow report combines official mountain data with live weather so you know exactly what conditions look like right now, from the 586m base to the 1171m summit.
Snow measurements
Our snow reports measure snowfall in centimeters over multiple time windows — last 24 hours, last 7 days, and the season total. Base depth reflects accumulation at the 586m base area, while summit depth captures conditions 585m higher at 1171m, where snow typically stays colder and lingers longer. Imperial conversions are shown alongside for convenience.
Weather conditions
Wind and temperature swings matter as much as fresh snowfall. Cold, calm conditions hold snow quality well, while wind-loading or a warm-up can change things quickly — especially given the elevation spread between Hoshino Tomamu's base and summit.
Data sources
Snowfall and depth figures for Hoshino Tomamu come from official mountain sources; weather and outlook data comes from independent forecasting services. The mountain is served by 6 lifts, including 3 quad chairlifts and a gondola.
When to check
The biggest swings usually happen right after a storm. Check Hoshino Tomamu's report in the morning for the freshest numbers, and again in the afternoon as conditions evolve.