Hokkaido has long been one of Asia’s most popular skiing and snowboarding destinations—and for good reason. Lift passes at many Hokkaido ski resorts are more affordable than those in Europe and North America, while the long winter season—typically from December to May—offers excellent snow conditions, well-developed facilities and convenient transportation.
However, if you are planning a family ski or snowboard holiday, choosing the right resort is especially important.
Hi! I’m Lorraine. I’ve been teaching skiing in Japan and China since 2018—spending winters in Japan and summers at indoor ski resorts in China. Over the years, I’ve taught more than 10,000 students, many of whom were children and families.
I’ve combined my years of teaching experience with feedback from my guests to rank the best family-friendly ski resorts in Hokkaido. In my opinion, a truly family-friendly ski resort should offer:
- Wide, gentle, beginner-friendly slopes
- A Magic Carpet beginner area
- Convenient accommodation and transportation
- Snow activities for non-skiers
In this guide, we rank the top five family-friendly ski resorts in Hokkaido based on the criteria above.
Top 5 Family-Friendly Ski Resorts in Hokkaido: Quick Ranking
- No. 1: Furano — Best overall choice
- No. 2: Tomamu — Best family resort facilities
- No. 3: Rusutsu — Large ski area with plenty of entertainment
- No. 4: Kiroro — A powder paradise
- No. 5: Niseko — One of Hokkaido’s largest ski areas
If you simply want to choose a resort quickly:
First ski trip with children: Furano
Skiing plus a resort holiday: Tomamu
Experienced skiing parents with children: Rusutsu
I also made a video explaining why I chose Furano and Tomamu as Hokkaido’s most family-friendly ski resorts. The video is in Cantonese, with Chinese and English subtitles.
No. 1: Furano Ski Resort
Family-friendly rating: ★★★★★
Furano is a top choice for many family ski holidays. One of the biggest reasons is its child lift-ticket policy:
- Children ages 12 and under receive a free lift pass.
At many other Hokkaido ski resorts, children need a lift ticket from the age of four or six. Furano’s policy can therefore save families a considerable amount of money.
Why Is Furano Suitable for Families?
- Long beginner slopes
- A free Magic Carpet beginner area
- Night skiing is available, so families can enjoy a relaxed morning
- Snow Land is located next to the ski resort and offers plenty of snow activities, including snow tubing, snow rafting and banana boat rides. Children can still have a wonderful time even if they do not want to ski.
- Furano has ski-in, ski-out hotels, but the resort is also close to Furano town, where families can find a wide selection of accommodation and restaurants.
No. 2: Tomamu Ski Resort
Family-friendly rating: ★★★★★
Tomamu is one of Hokkaido’s most complete destination-style ski resorts.
It is particularly suitable for:
- Family holidays
- Families looking for more than just skiing
Why Is Tomamu Suitable for Families?
- Children ages 7 and under receive a free lift pass.
- A free Magic Carpet beginner area
- A wide range of family-friendly attractions and snow activities
These attractions include Mina-Mina Beach, a heated indoor wave pool; the magical Ice Village; and activities such as snow karting. If the children become tired of skiing and snowboarding, there are still plenty of other facilities to keep them entertained for the entire day.
SSWBoardHouse provides officially registered ski and snowboard lessons at Tomamu in Cantonese, Mandarin and English.
Our instructors have extensive experience teaching children, and the programme is led by Lorraine, a Hong Kong–born CSIA Level 3 Ski Instructor and CSIA Trainer. Families can enjoy professional instruction with quality assurance.
Learn more about SSWBoardHouse ski and snowboard lessons at Tomamu
No. 3: Rusutsu Resort
Family-friendly rating: ★★★★☆
Rusutsu offers some of the best entertainment facilities of any ski resort in Hokkaido—there is even a carousel inside the hotel! Imagine coming off the slopes and stepping into what feels like an amusement park. Although the outdoor rides are closed during winter, the resort still offers plenty of entertainment for the whole family.
The ski area is also very large. However, Rusutsu is more expensive than Furano and Tomamu, and there are fewer accommodation options outside the main resort.
Rusutsu is Hokkaido’s second-largest ski area and covers three mountains:
- West Mountain
- East Mountain
- Mt. Isola
The resort offers varied terrain with long, wide runs, great tree-runs and a well-designed freestyle park, making it suitable for skiers and snowboarders of different ages and ability levels.
Family Highlights at Rusutsu
- Indoor entertainment facilities
- Indoor swimming pool
- Onsen
- A wide range of snow activities
If you are looking for a combination of skiing and family entertainment, Rusutsu is an excellent choice.
SSWBoardHouse provides officially registered ski and snowboard lessons at Rusutsu in Cantonese, Mandarin and English. Our experienced instructors are strong skiers and snowboarders with extensive experience teaching children, helping your family enjoy a relaxed and well-organised Rusutsu holiday.
Book SSWBoardHouse ski and snowboard lessons at Rusutsu
No. 4: Kiroro Snow World
Family-friendly rating: ★★★★☆
Kiroro is famous for its reliable, high-quality powder snow.
Many families choose Kiroro because:
- Its beginner slopes are very wide.
- Rental equipment is available in very small children’s sizes, making it particularly suitable for young children trying skiing for the first time. (Ski boots at Kiroro are available from 14.5 cm. By comparison, some resorts, such as Rusutsu, start at 17.5 cm.)
- Kiroro receives a large amount of snowfall. If the parents are already confident skiers or snowboarders, a powder day at Kiroro can be an incredible experience.
- Club Med Kiroro provides childcare and supervised children’s programmes, allowing parents to relax and enjoy some time on the slopes by themselves.
Kiroro offers a well-balanced option if you want to:
- Ski or ride powder snow
- Travel with children
- Pay a little more for supervised childcare and family services
No. 5: Niseko United
Family-friendly rating: ★★★★☆
Niseko is one of Japan’s largest and most famous ski areas.
Advantages
- Four interconnected ski resorts: if both parents can already ski or snowboard, Niseko’s terrain, variety and scale are difficult to beat.
- A very English-friendly environment
- A large selection of ski schools
Disadvantages
- It can become extremely crowded during peak season.
- Booking a restaurant for the whole family can be difficult.
- Prices are high.
For these reasons, many families ultimately choose Furano or Tomamu instead.
How to Pick a Family Ski Resort in Hokkaido?
If it is your first time taking your children skiing:
Choose Furano.
If you want skiing combined with a complete resort holiday:
Choose Tomamu.
If you want the largest variety of slopes and terrain:
Choose Rusutsu.
Free Lift Tickets for Children in Hokkaido
Many Hokkaido ski resorts offer free lift tickets for young children, which can save families a considerable amount of money.
Based on the maximum qualifying age, here is our ranking:
No. 1: Furano
Free ski tickets for children aged 12 and under.
No. 2: Tomamu
Free ski tickets for children aged seven and under.
No. 3: Kiroro, Kamui Ski Links, Snow Cruise Onze, Sapporo Teine, Sapporo Kokusai and Asarigawa Onsen
Free ski tickets for children aged six and unde.
- Kiroro
- Kamui Ski Links
- Snow Cruise Onze
- Sapporo Teine
- Sapporo Kokusai
- Asarigawa Onsen
No. 4: Rusutsu and Niseko
Children aged four and under ski for free.
Lift-ticket policies may change between seasons, so always check the resort’s official website before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Hokkaido ski resorts are best for children?
Furano and Tomamu are two of the most popular and kid-friendly ski resorts in Hokkaido.
Furano is particularly well suited to families taking their children skiing for the first time, while Tomamu is ideal for those seeking a complete resort vacation with plenty of activities beyond skiing and snowboarding.
Should a child learn skiing or snowboarding first?
For most young children, skiing is easier to learn than snowboarding.
The skiing stance is more similar to normal standing and walking, so children may find it easier to develop balance and stability on two skis.
Beginners generally fall more frequently when learning to snowboard because the body moves sideways. For young children, getting back up after falling can be difficult. It can be physically tiring and may also lead to frustration.
Snowboarding also requires more strength in the calves and core. Younger children whose muscles are still developing may spend a long time sideslipping or performing falling-leaf movements on their heel edge before progressing to the toe edge and linked turns.
Because the early stages of snowboarding can be more challenging, it may not provide the best experience for families who only want a short skiing holiday. Parents may spend much of the day pulling or helping their children instead of skiing themselves.
Based on our teaching experience, we normally recommend that younger children begin with skiing.
What can a child learn in one day of skiing?
During a one-day beginner ski lesson, a student may learn:
- How to stand steadily on skis and develop both static and dynamic balance
- How to walk and glide effectively on snow
- How to stop by rotating the legs into a wedge or “pizza” position
- How to change direction
- How to use ski equipment correctly and safely
- How to get back up after falling
Actual progress will depend on the child’s age, physical development, confidence, fitness, snow conditions and lesson length.
At What Age Can Children Start Learning to Ski?
Most children can begin learning to ski from around the age of 3.
We normally recommend skiing rather than snowboarding for children under six. Their muscular development is not yet fully mature, so younger children often rely more heavily on skeletal alignment to support their movements. The two-ski stance is generally easier for them to manage.
Around the age of 7 is usually a more suitable time to begin snowboarding.
Toe-side snowboarding movements require greater core and calf strength. Children may therefore progress more slowly and can remain at the heel-side falling-leaf stage for longer than they would when learning basic skiing skills.