Hakodate Mountain

Taking the tour bus from Osaka is very convenient. The tour leader will be waiting for you at the agreed-upon point on time and will explain the precautions on the bus beforehand to avoid wasting unnecessary time on-site and to maximize your time playing in the snow. In addition to the basic equipment, you can purchase extra gear on-site if you don't want to prepare in advance, making it a great choice for families and beginners.

This trip included Hakodate Ski Resort, the highland hot springs, and the metasequoia avenue, each one unforgettable. At Hakodate, being surrounded by a silvery-white world completely fulfilled our expectations. The highland hot springs were delicious, and the food was simply amazing. The metasequoia avenue, with its tranquil beauty, is definitely worth a visit. Our guide, Vivian, was a professional, enthusiastic, and attentive guide who provided us with a wonderful experience.

I went to Mt. Hakodate first thing in the morning, and the scenery and snow were amazing. As it got closer to noon, the number of foreigners increased, and I had some scary moments with beginner foreign snowboarders crashing into the children's area. So I think the best schedule for families with small children is to go first thing in the morning, have lunch, and then head home.

This time, I joined a one-day ski tour to Hakodate. The tour included round-trip bus transportation and a one-day lift ticket. The meeting point was at the Kyoto Hachijo Exit bus stop. There were no specific platform signs; you just had to find the bus attendant wearing a bright yellow vest at the designated meeting time. The tour guide will assign seats, and then you board the bus. Most tourists get off at Biwako Ski Resort; very few go to Hakodate. In terms of scenery, both Biwako and Hakodate are beautiful, but Hakodate is farther away, and the snow conditions are slightly better. For equipment rentals, Biwako is far superior, with Step On. Hakodate has better equipment but is an older ski resort. The restaurants at Hakodate are okay, slightly better. I would definitely consider this tour again if I have the chance to ski in Kyoto. The tour guide was Japanese, fluent in English, and spoke excellent Chinese, making communication easy for tourists from all over the world. She was very helpful.