Most skiers land in Sapporo and head straight out to Niseko, but the city has five ski areas of its own. That includes Sapporo Teine, where the 1972 Olympic slalom races were held. And it’s only about a 40-minute drive from downtown, so you can get a full day on the slopes and still be back in town for dinner. We’ve visited every mountain and ski resort in Sapporo, Japan, and rounded them up below with 2026-27 season dates and lift prices.
Planning a trip to Japan this winter? Check out our guide to the best ski resorts in Japan for bigger resorts outside the city, or, if you’re not sure where to start, book a free consultation call with one of our expert planners.
Sapporo’s Main Ski Areas
Here’s an overview of each major mountain and ski resort in Sapporo, Japan, for the 2026-27 season.
| Ski area | Ward | Drive from central Sapporo | Courses | Night skiing | Adult one-day pass |
| Sapporo Teine | Teine-ku | About 40 min | 15 | 16:00 to 20:00 | ¥8,400 online, ¥9,400 at the counter |
| Sapporo Kokusai | Minami-ku (Jozankei) | About 60 min | 7 | None | ¥6,700 online, ¥7,000 at the window |
| Sapporo Bankei | Chuo-ku | About 20 min | 17 | 16:00 to 21:00 | ¥7,500 |
| Sapporo Moiwayama | Minami-ku | About 30 min | 10 | 16:00 to 21:00 | ¥6,700 online, ¥7,000 standard |
| Fu’s Snow Area | Minami-ku | About 30 min | 6 | 16:00 to 20:45 | ¥3,200 online, ¥3,300 standard |
Sapporo Teine Ski Area
Sapporo Teine is the one to go if you want proper mountain skiing without ever leaving the city. The resort sells itself as the largest in the Sapporo area, with 15 courses. And on a clear day you can see out over Ishikari Bay to the Daisetsuzan range.
This is also where the 1972 Olympic alpine races happened. The men’s and women’s slalom and giant slalom ran in the Highland Zone up at the top, and the Olympia Zone lower down was used for bobsleigh and luge. More experienced skiers can still ride the Women’s Giant Slalom course, an FIS-approved slope.
Its two zones feel almost like separate resorts, each with its own ski centre and 7-8 runs around it. Night skiing is covered by a day lift ticket and takes place only in the Olympia area around the Shirakaba No. 1 lift until 20:00.
- Season: 21 November 2026 to 5 May 2027
- Adult one-day pass: ¥8,400 online or ¥9,400 at the counter until 18 December, then ¥8,800 online or ¥9,800 at the counter from 19 December to 7 March
- Night pass: ¥2,900 online or ¥3,900 at the counter from 16:00 to 20:00
- Address: 593 Teine-honcho, Teine-ku, Sapporo
- Sapporo Teine Ski Area on Google Maps
- Official site: sapporo-teine.com
Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort
Sapporo Kokusai technically has a Sapporo address, but it’s up in the Jozankei hot spring area of Minami-ku, about an hour from the city centre by car.
Of its seven courses, the Rinkan and Marchen beginner runs connect, becoming a long 3.6-kilometre run. It’s great for beginners as they can still get a long cruise from the top, while the more experienced skiers can take the advanced downhill course to the bottom.
The eight-person Sky Cabin 8 gondola covers 2,000 metres to get you to the top. The resort also sells return gondola tickets to sightseers, useful if someone in your group doesn’t ski or snowboard but wants to come up the mountain with you.
- Season: 20 November 2026 to 5 May 2027
- Adult one-day pass: ¥6,700 online or ¥7,000 at the window until 31 March, then ¥6,200 online or ¥6,500 from 1 April, plus a refundable ¥500 IC card deposit
- Night skiing: none
- Parking: free
- Address: 937 Jozankei, Minami-ku, Sapporo
- Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort on Google Maps
- Official site: sapporo-kokusai.jp
Sapporo Bankei Ski Area
Bankei, or ban.K (as it calls itself on social media), is about a 20-minute drive from the city centre. It has 17 courses, and Sapporo’s tourism association pitches it as the resort to drop by after work. This is the resort to choose if you’re looking for some park action or to practice more technical skills, as the resort has an FIS-recognised halfpipe and dedicated mogul runs.
Families can head for Waku Waku Snowland, a snow play area fenced off from the main slopes with sledges, tubes, and Snow Striders. Bankei doesn’t rent hats or gloves, so bring your own or buy them at the shop in the Center Lodge.
- Season: early December to late March
- Adult one-day pass: ¥7,500
- Night pass: ¥2,500 from 16:00 to 21:00
- Parking: free
- Address: 410 Bankei, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
- Sapporo Bankei Ski Area on Google Maps
- Official site: bankei.co.jp
Sapporo Moiwayama Ski Area
You may have read that Moiwayama is for skiers only, but that information is out of date. A new operator, Hokkaido Square, took over in 2025, and snowboarding has been allowed on every course since the 2025-26 season.
Moiwayama’s 10 courses face out over the city, and night skiing with the city lit up below is one of its most popular draws. The Dynamic course is only 290 metres long, but with a 37-degree maximum pitch it literally feels like you’re dropping straight into the streets. The gentler Kanko Doro (Sightseeing Road) course is the longest on the mountain and great for beginners.
- Season: Late December to mid-March
- Adult one-day pass: ¥7,000, or ¥6,700 online
- Night pass: ¥3,000 for 16:00 to 21:00, or ¥2,500 for 18:00 to 21:00
- Parking: free
- Address: 1991 Moiwashita, Minami-ku, Sapporo
- Sapporo Moiwayama Ski Area on Google Maps
- Official site: sapporo-moiwa.jp
Fu’s Snow Area
Fu’s Snow Area is more of a budget pick, with a one-day ticket at ¥3,300, well under half the price of a day at Teine. It’s a small city facility in Fujino, Minami-ku, with six courses.
Night skiing starts at 16:00, and the last lift goes up at 20:45, so it works well after a day of sightseeing in town. A rental set costs ¥6,000 for the day, but hats and gloves can only be purchased, not rented.
- Season: December to March
- Adult one-day pass, 9:00 to 16:00: ¥3,300, or ¥3,200 online
- Night ticket: ¥1,700, or ¥1,600 online from 16:00 to 20:45
- Address: 473-1 Fujino, Minami-ku, Sapporo
- Fu’s Snow Area on Google Maps
- Official site: fujino-yagai-sports.jp
Which Sapporo Ski Resort Is Right for You?
Confident skiers will get the most out of Teine, with the Olympic race courses up in Highland and the advanced Seikadai Ocean Dive course in Olympia. It also works for mixed groups, since Olympia has a beginner snow escalator and a play area alongside the night skiing course.
First-timers with kids should look at Bankei for its kid-friendly snow park. Kokusai is another great option, thanks to its long beginner run. If you’ve only got an evening free rather than a whole day, Bankei, Moiwayama, and Fu’s all have night skiing close to town.
Tips for Skiing in Sapporo
- Buy lift tickets online where you can, as they’re cheaper than at the window.
- Keep coins or a local transit card handy for local buses, as most of them only accept exact change, SAPICA, or Kitaca.
- Pack your own hat and gloves. Most resorts don’t rent them, and buying there can mean very high prices.
- Sort out your ride home from Kokusai before you leave, since the bus runs on reservations and taxis can be hard to get there.
- Check opening and closing dates again closer to your trip, as it can change based on snow conditions.
- If you’ve got non-skiiers in your group, check out our guide to things to do in Niseko besides skiing.
Check out our guide to winter in Japan for more cold-weather trip ideas.
FAQs About Skiing in Sapporo
How many ski resorts are there in Sapporo?
There are five ski areas inside Sapporo’s city limits, which are Sapporo Teine, Sapporo Kokusai, Sapporo Bankei, Sapporo Moiwayama, and Fu’s Snow Area. The city’s tourism association also lists Takino Snow World, a park in Minami-ku with gentle slopes for first-timers, sledging, and snowshoeing.
When is ski season in Sapporo?
Sapporo Kokusai is scheduled to open first, on 20 November 2026, with Teine following on 21 November. Both stay open until 5 May 2027. Bankei, Moiwayama, and Fu’s usually run from December to March.
Can you get to Sapporo’s ski resorts without a car?
Yes, all five can be reached by public transport or shuttle. Teine is a JR train and local bus ride from Sapporo Station, while Bankei, Moiwayama, and Fu’s all have buses from subway stations. Kokusai runs a ski bus that you’ll need to reserve, including for the return trip.
Which Sapporo ski resorts have night skiing?
Teine, Bankei, Moiwayama, and Fu’s all offer night skiing. At Teine, it’s only in the Olympia Zone, and Sapporo Kokusai doesn’t have night skiing.
Can you snowboard at Moiwayama?
Yes. Moiwayama used to be for skiers only, but snowboarding has been allowed on every course since the 2025-26 season.
Where were the 1972 Winter Olympics ski races held?
The slalom and giant slalom were held at Sapporo Teine, in what is now the Highland Zone. The downhill took place on Mount Eniwa, a temporary course that was removed after the Games.
