1819hoshinoresort_trip

Asahikawa, the second largest city in Hokkaido, is located almost in the middle of Hokkaido.There are many slopes in the suburbs, including Mt. Asahidake, a mountain longed for by snowboarders all over the world.
The Asahidake Ropeway in February was frequently suspended due to the weather, and even if I wanted to slide on Asahidake and stayed at the foot of the mountain, I couldn't slide all the time and often went to hot springs.However, if you stay in Asahikawa, you can go to various other slopes even if Asahidake is out of service.Moreover, Asahikawa is a moderately urban area, so there is a lot of fun after snow.
Sora Sora & Kana Izumida, who are based in Niseko, are at "Hoshino Resorts OMO7 Asahikawa", a hotel that has made the "Asahikawa Ski City Declaration" (a snowboard city for us). I stayed and experienced a snowboarding life of 2 nights and 3 days in Asahikawa.


Experience Hokkaido with "OMO base" and "DANRAN room".

OMO7 Asahikawa is in the center of the city, right next to Asahikawa City Hall.There are shops and streets called long-established stores nearby, and it is located in a very convenient location.
It takes about 35 minutes by car to Kamui Ski Links, which is scheduled to go skiing this time, and about an hour and a half to Mt. Asahidake.Even after eating the hotel's luxurious breakfast, you can still get on the first ropeway.
In fact, at this time, overseas shooting crews also stayed at OMO7 Asahikawa and headed for various mountains according to the weather and snow quality.

Check in first.A fashionable counter that does not seem to be the front desk of a hotel.Kana is very excited about the super elaborate miniature figures of animals sold at Asahiyama Zoo and OMO7.
Check in first.A fashionable counter that does not seem to be the front desk of a hotel.Kana is very excited about the super elaborate miniature figures of animals sold at Asahiyama Zoo and OMO7 Asahikawa.

In front of the front desk, there is an "OMO base" that is set up as a place to connect travelers and locals.Since it is located in the center of the city, it is designed to show the direction of the hotel, "Let's go outside and feel the city without staying inside the hotel!"

The birch table is decorated with vintage skis and is full of Hokkaido feeling.If you talk about your future trips and snowboarding here, you will naturally get excited.
The birch table is decorated with vintage skis and is full of Hokkaido feeling.If you talk about your future trips and snowboarding here, you will naturally get excited.

The interior of the "OMO base" is also named after Asahikawa.The tables and chairs of Asahikawa furniture, which is said to be the highest peak in Japan, are used, and the lampshade uses the bowl of Asahikawa ramen shop, which is full of playfulness.
Books related to Hokkaido and Asahikawa are collected in the corner called Book Tunnel.Core information not available online can also be collected here.

There is a large table of Asahikawa furniture in the back of "OMO base".Two people enjoying miniature curling.
There is a large table of Asahikawa furniture in the back of "OMO base".Two people enjoying miniature curling.
A library named Book Tunnel.I'm studying before playing for the time being.
A library space named Book Tunnel.I'm studying before playing for the time being.

There is an outdoor specialty store "iGATE IKEUCHI EXIT asahikawa" that also handles wax services in the hotel.The staff is familiar with the snow situation in Asahikawa and provides accurate information.It will tell you what kind of wax to use as well as the weather and slope conditions.On the slopes of Asahikawa where the temperature is below -20 degrees Celsius, ordinary wax may not slip at all.It is a state of "stop snow" in extremely cold conditions.On this day as well, I had them carefully add two types of wax according to the temperature from the next day onward and the slopes I was planning to go to.Thanks to that, I was able to enjoy comfortable riding the next day.

At the outdoor shop "iGATE IKEUCHI asahikawa" on the first floor, have wax added according to the snow quality the next day.The store manager, Mr. ○○○, is familiar with local snow information and is a reliable person who can tell you exactly anything.
At the outdoor shop "iGATE IKEUCHI EXIT asahikawa" on the first floor, have wax added according to the snow quality the next day.The store manager, Mr. Iwabuchi, is familiar with local snow information and is a reliable person who can tell you exactly anything.

I stayed in a very cute room named "DANRAN Room" with the concept of Danran.Beds arranged in an L shape with fun coloring.The green DANRAN table, which has the image of a lawn and is placed between the beds so that it can be surrounded by two people, is the best way to plan a snowboarding strategy from the next day.
Snowboarders have a lot of luggage, but there is a space under the bed to store a suitcase, and storage is perfect.Kana-chan is excited again by the very cute "DANRAN Room".

Two people enjoying a time until dinner in the room.Two people discuss snowboarding from tomorrow at the acorn-shaped room lamp and the DANRAN table with cute greens.
Two people enjoying a time until dinner in the room.Two people discuss snowboarding from tomorrow at the acorn-shaped room lamp and the DANRAN table with cute greens.

 

Have "OMO Ranger" navigate "Go-KINJO"!

OMO7 Asahikawa has one of the most famous restaurants in the city, "Chinese Cuisine Togen", but since it is a hotel in the center of Asahikawa, let's have dinner in the city of Asahikawa.
OMO7 Asahikawa will guide you to local shops within a 500-step walk from the hotel.Go-KINJYOThere is a service called "(Gokkinjo)", and there is a "Neighborhood Guide OMO Ranger" dressed as a hotel staff who knows the city of Asahikawa.It's a homage to heroes with red, blue, green, yellow, and pink rangers, which I think would come to mind if you're a little older.It seems that each color has its own specialty, and on this day I asked OMO BLUE, who is familiar with Asahikawa's classic gourmet food, to navigate Asahikawa at night.

First of all, let's talk about what the neighborhood is like on the Go-KINJO map on the OMO base.
First of all, let's talk about what the neighborhood is like on the Go-KINJO map on the OMO base.
It's very cold outside, but let's go!
It's very cold outside, but let's go!

The temperature on that day was below -10 degrees Celsius.The road was frozen and slippery, and of course my breath was pure white, but while I was walking around the city, I was able to hear information about the deep city and the history, and I felt that I was going and returning in no time.
Even if you want to go to a shop that the locals go to when you go on a trip, it is often quite difficult.Why haven't there been so many services like this that the local staff will guide you?It's a nice service that I think.Hotel stays will be very enjoyable if such services increase in each region.

Within a 500-step walk from the hotel, the long-established izakaya "Fireside Yukara" boasts local food.
Within a 500-step walk from the hotel, the long-established izakaya "Fireside Yukara" boasts local food.

On this day, I was introduced to Asahikawa's long-established izakaya "Fireside Yukara", which opened in 1950.
"Striped atka mackerel from Rausu" that is unthinkable in Honshu."Jaga butter" is so sweet and delicious that it may be different from the one in Honshu.And speaking of Hokkaido, "seafood platter".The "black soybean tofu" requested by Kana was also purchased directly from a local tofu shop.As expected, the OMO ranger who knows all about the local area will not be removed.
I ate a lot, but I went back to the hotel and ate "Shimepafe" which is popular in Hokkaido, and went to bed on that day.

OMO BULE toast with us!
OMO BULE toast with us!

 

Enjoy powder snow at Kamui Ski Links

Based on the information from the previous day, the slope we headed to the next day was Kamui Ski Links. Free buses run daily from OMO7 Asahikawa.
Almost all Asahikawa local riders are slipping on this base because of the ease of access in about 30 minutes from Asahikawa, the very large area, the fine powder snow, and the abundant terrain.By the way, in the early days of snowboarding, legendary rider Kenji Ishikawa was also studying with the half pipe here.By the way, no half pipe is currently installed.

Buy a lift ticket at the beautiful center house and go to the gondola!
Buy a lift ticket at the beautiful center house and go to the gondola!

In conclusion, it was a very good slope.You can comfortably access the peak with a gondola, and even the professional rider Sora has a lot of fun with the long and undulating terrain that makes you feel a little tired when you let it flow to the base.The non-compacted snow tree run course is also open to the public, and it's easy to imagine local riders coming in large numbers the day after it snows.

You can comfortably access to the peak with a 4-seater gondola.There is a considerable distance from the peak to the base, and even a single stream can be quite exhausting.
You can comfortably access to the peak with a 4-seater gondola.There is a considerable distance from the peak to the base, and even a single stream can be quite exhausting.
The characteristic of this slope is that there are many powder zones of tree runs that are not compressed.The day after it snowed, the locals would be heading here right away.
The characteristic of this slope is that there are many powder zones of tree runs that are not compressed.
The day after it snowed, the locals would be heading here right away.
Sora jumps lightly beside the slope.There are places where you can play like this.
Sora jumps lightly beside the slope.There are places where you can play like this.

The pisten course is also very wide and you can cruise comfortably.Non-compacted snow powder remained on the side of the slope, and even if I went there before noon, the powder still remained. "There is no such powder left in Niseko near noon," Sora said.
The weather was cloudy that day, but snowboarding overlooking the city was still very refreshing.The view will be very good on a sunny day.

A vast slope.It was a weekday and there were few people, so I was able to use the barn widely to skate.Sora, a professional snowboarder who takes a follow-up shot of Kana, who is in her second year of snowboarding, with her smartphone.
A vast slope.It was a weekday and there were few people, so I was able to use the barn widely to skate.Sora, a professional snowboarder who takes a follow-up shot of Kana, who is in her second year of snowboarding, with her smartphone.
Sora appears by kicking the powder on the side of the slope.
Sora appears by kicking the powder on the side of the slope.
The scenery is also very good.You can overlook the city of Fukagawa.
The scenery is also very good.You can overlook the city of Fukagawa.

The center house is very beautiful and the menu of the cafeteria is abundant.The recommended slope is the spicy "Kuppa".
Take a short break and head to the afternoon round.There is still more powder left.Pistenburn is flowed while connecting it in small steps with a lift.You can enjoy jumping on a little terrain while eating the powder on the side of the slope.
Even if you slip a lot and get tired, you will arrive at the hotel in 30 minutes.If you use the bus, you will arrive while you are out.
I envy Asahikawa riders who have such a high quality slope near the city.
When they came to slip slowly again, they were close to each other.

Take a break at the center house.Sora, who enjoys rich strawberry soft serve, and Kana, an adult, have a short break with coffee.
Take a break at the center house.Sora, who enjoys rich strawberry soft serve, and Kana, an adult, have a short break with coffee.
Sora decides Indy while Kana is watching.There are a lot of small undulations and it is very enjoyable.
Sora decides Indy while Kana is watching.There are a lot of small undulations and it is very enjoyable.
Slip a lot and leave the slopes behind.35 minutes drive from here to the hotel.
Slip a lot and leave the slopes behind.35 minutes drive from here to the hotel.

 

Asahidake is closed due to the arrival of the largest cold wave in the history of observation

Sora has never been to Asahidake, and this time it was planned to be a good opportunity for her first experience.However, Asahidake, which was one of the largest cold waves in the history of observation, is closed.I had a faint hope that the weather might recover and the ropeway might start moving, so I waited until noon for the ropeway to move.
When I arrived in the morning, the wind speed at the summit was 20m / s. It doesn't change even after 11 o'clock.There were almost no customers waiting for the drive, and we were the only ones left.By the way, the wind speed of 20m / s is as strong as a typhoon, and you can't stand unless you hold onto something.
I waited until 12 o'clock and gave up, went to a fashionable cafe in Higashikawa-cho at the foot of Mt. Asahidake, and the last day was over.

A signboard for suspension of ticket office.On the left, there is an indication that the temperature is -25 ° C and the wind speed is 20m / s in the weather conditions near the mountaintop station.
A signboard for suspension of ticket office.On the left, there is an indication that the temperature is -25 ° C and the wind speed is 20m / s in the weather conditions near the mountaintop station.
By the way, Asahidake in the "The Day" state of Dopecan looks like this. It is a photograph of January 2019.
By the way, Asahidake in the "The Day" state of Dopecan looks like this. It is a photograph of January 2019.

Asahidake was disappointing, but if it wasn't for this interview, I could have been to Kamui Ski Links for two days in a row, and even Furano Ski Resort could be accessed in about an hour and a half.
Of course, after-snow can be arranged to your liking if you stay in the city.You can eat Asahikawa ramen, the famous salt hormone, and even soup curry.
Many snowboarders think of Hokkaido as Niseko, but the snowboard trips at Asahikawa Stay were very comfortable and satisfying.