The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Kamui Ski Links spans 601 metres of vertical drop between 150 and 751 metres elevation across 30 runs and 24.3 kilometres of terrain on the northwestern slopes of Kamuiyama. The resort receives over 8 metres of annual snowfall, with its inland central Hokkaido location producing exceptionally dry powder snow. Three FIS-approved courses host national Super G and Giant Slalom races, and the resort opened in 1984 on land formerly known as Kamui Village.
The terrain divides into 38 percent beginner, 32 percent intermediate, 20 percent advanced, and 10 percent expert runs across 25 officially designated courses. One-third of the ski area remains ungroomed, including gated tree run zones accessed from the upper mountain. The longest run extends 4,000 metres from summit to base, with the steepest slopes reaching 35 degrees in advanced tree skiing areas.
The resort maintains a low-key local atmosphere with minimal crowds on weekdays, though weekend influxes from Asahikawa occur. A 500-seat restaurant occupies the second floor of the base centre house, whilst a mountaintop cafe features an open fireplace and views across central Hokkaido. Children under elementary school age ski free, and full equipment rental packages cost 13,000 yen per day.
Kamui participates in the Hokkaido Powder Belt Pass, a five-day ticket valid at Furano, Tomamu, and Kamui within a 10-day window for 38,000 yen. The 2025-2026 season runs 13 December to 31 March with daily operations from 9:00am to 4:00pm. The resort suits intermediate to advanced skiers seeking uncrowded powder and tree skiing without destination resort infrastructure or lodging.
601m
Vertical
30
Runs
124 acres
Skiable
13m
Annual snow
The Terrain
30 runs across 124 acres skiable
Kamui Ski Links spreads 30 runs across 124 acres skiable of terrain. It leans beginner at 38%, with 11 beginner runs to find your feet and 9 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
30
runs
30 runs across 4 grades
Beginner11 runs · 38%
Intermediate10 runs · 32%
Advanced6 runs · 20%
Expert3 runs · 10%
Time it right
When to visit Kamui Ski Links
The 2025-2026 season operates from 13 December 2025 to 31 March 2026, a span of approximately 15 weeks. Daily hours run 9:00am to 4:00pm with no night skiing available. The resort typically opens in early December and closes by early April depending on snow conditions.
Kamui receives over 8 metres of average annual snowfall, with some sources citing up to 10 metres in heavy years. The inland basin location produces cold, dry powder with minimal humidity, and January temperatures average minus 3 degrees Celsius with lows near minus 12 degrees. Blue sky days occur frequently due to the sheltered continental position, and fresh snow remains light and untracked longer than coastal resorts.
Optimal timing runs late December through early February when snowfall peaks and temperatures stay consistently cold for powder preservation. Weekdays offer the quietest conditions with fresh tracks available throughout ungroomed zones. March brings milder spring snow whilst maintaining good coverage at 751-metre summit elevation.
Asahikawa City hosts a Winter Festival in early February featuring ice sculptures and regional culture. The resort publishes daily snow reports by 7:30am on its website and social channels. No seasonal night skiing or special events programmes operate, keeping the focus on daytime powder skiing and snowboarding.
Season 2025-2026
5 Dec 2025
Opens
29 Mar 2026
Closes
114
Days open
13 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Kamui Ski Links, and where to stay
Kamui Ski Links sits within Asahikawa City in the Kamikawa subprefecture of central Hokkaido, approximately 20 kilometres from downtown Asahikawa. The base sits at 150 metres elevation on the northwestern slopes of Kamuiyama in the Dohoku region. The area was historically known as Kamui Village before merging with Asahikawa in 1955, with the name deriving from the Ainu word meaning divine being.
Asahikawa is Hokkaido's second-largest city with over 1,200 restaurants and serves as the primary accommodation base 30 minutes from the resort. Furano lies 70 kilometres south, a 45-50 minute drive. Sapporo sits 90 minutes southwest via the Hokkaido Expressway. The resort has no ski-in accommodation, with guests staying in Asahikawa, Furano, or occasionally Sapporo.
By car, take Route 233 north from Asahikawa for 30 minutes or exit the Hokkaido Expressway at Fukagawa IC and follow Route 12 from Sapporo in 90 minutes. Ample free parking exists at the base. Winter driving requires studless tyres on all approaches.
Asahikawa Airport sits approximately 17 kilometres from the resort with direct flights from Tokyo Haneda in 95 minutes, then 40 minutes by bus to Asahikawa City. New Chitose Airport near Sapporo lies 150 kilometres away, serving major international and domestic routes. Dohoku Bus operates Route 455 Rapid Santa Links Line from Asahikawa Station and major hotels in 40 minutes for 1,000 yen, plus direct airport buses from Asahikawa Airport in 60 minutes.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Kamui Ski Links, 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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Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
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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
Kamui Ski Links Lift System
Six lifts service the mountain: one gondola and five double chairlifts totalling approximately 6 kilometres of uphill transport capacity. The bright yellow Kamui Gondola measures 2,327 metres in length and spans the full 601-metre vertical in 8 minutes from base to summit. The five double chairs measure 733, 973, 638, 754, and 999 metres respectively.
The gondola serves as the primary summit access and efficiently delivers riders to the upper mountain tree runs and powder zones. Ski racks accommodate wide powder skis, and the gondola replaced older infrastructure to improve uphill flow. The double chairs access mid-mountain zones and beginner terrain across the lower half of the mountain.
Riders upload via the gondola to reach ungroomed powder fields covering 32 percent of the resort, then download via chairlifts serving specific zones. The lift layout concentrates beginner terrain on the lower mountain whilst expert tree runs occupy the upper slopes. The system allows efficient lap repetition without excessive traversing between zones.
The chairlifts operate at modest speeds typical of regional Japanese resorts, and riders should dress warmly on windy days. No surface lifts or high-speed quads exist, keeping infrastructure simple and lift ticket prices low at 6,200 yen standard and 6,800 yen peak for adults. Elementary-age children ride free, and seniors aged 60-plus pay 5,200 yen.
6lifts across 2 types
1
Gondola
5
Double Chairs
Kamui Ski Links lift system
Kamui Ski Links is served by 6 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 Kamui Ski Links intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.