Nakayama Tōge

Riders who love efficiency — early mornings before work, quick road-trip hits, or spring-park fixes. Upper intermediates will love the unconfusing layout and steady pitch that rewards clean edging. Advanced skiers and boarders will enjoy storm-morning corduroy rips and the spring jump line, but if you need gnarly steeps or a sprawling tree maze, this is a warm-up hill, not your anchor venue. Pair it with Rusutsu, Kiroro, Teine or Kokusai and it makes beautiful sense.

There’s no resort village — you’re sleeping down the road. The classic move is to base in Jozankei Onsen (30–40 minutes toward Sapporo): think steam-filled ryokan, river views, and late-night vending machines humming after your soak. Hotels range from wallet-friendly to full-luxury, with big baths and big buffets. If your crew values hot springs over nightlife, this is the sweet spot.

Chasing more amenities? Rusutsu Resort sits the other way along Route 230 — big indoor pools, arcades for the groms, ski-in lifts for your non-Nakayama days, and regular direct buses from Sapporo that even stop at the pass for snack breaks. It’s pricier in peak winter; shoulder season deals can be excellent if you’re here for park in April/May and touring elsewhere.

On a tighter budget, scan business hotels and pensions in the greater Sapporo fringe or the smaller towns toward Lake Tōya. You’ll drive 45–90 minutes depending on snow, but you’ll save coin and get broader food options. Wherever you stay, the winning approach is simple: sleep comfy, shred the pass, eat well.

Right at the pass sits a bustling roadside station famous for ageimo — skewered, deep-fried potato balls that hit just right after cold runs. Add in fried chicken, imomochi, soft-serve, and you’ve got classic Hokkaido fuel with a front-row view of Yotei. The upstairs restaurant serves hearty rice bowls and curry — it’s the low-key après you didn’t know you needed.

Down in Jozankei you’ll find izakaya, ramen shops, and hotel buffets that lean into Hokkaido seafood and dairy. If you’re day-tripping from Sapporo, treat yourself on the return with soup curry or jingisukan; if you’re bouncing to Rusutsu, the resort’s food halls cover everything from convenience bowls to celebratory steaks.

Fly: New Chitose (CTS).
Drive: About 60 minutes from Sapporo via Route 230; winter-driving skills recommended — it’s a bona fide mountain pass. From CTS or Sapporo, you can push through to Rusutsu in ~90–120 minutes and drop into Nakayama on the way.

Bus: Donan Bus runs services between Sapporo and Tōyako; get off at Nakayama Tōge and walk ~15 minutes. Several resort shuttles heading to Rusutsu also pause at the pass for rest stops. Once you’re here, everything is walkable — it’s one parking lot, one lift, and one building.

Pro tip: Weather at the pass can flip quickly. Pack chains if you’re in a rental, and assume ice in the shade even after the sun pops. That same microclimate is why this little hill opens early and stays late.

• Lift hours: Typically 09:00–16:30 in-season; spring hours often 09:00–16:00. No night skiing.
• Operations cadence: In recent years Nakayama runs early season then shuts mid-winter, reopening for spring (April–early May). Plan your visits accordingly.
• Avalanche / off-piste: Not a backcountry hill. Stay in bounds — there’s no gate network. For touring and trees, save energy for nearby heavy hitters.
• Snow & weather: Natural snow only. Early season can deliver legit winter turns; spring is classic corn and park. Wind and fog can affect the pass.
• Language: On-hill English is limited but basic services and signs are straightforward.
• Nearby missions: Rusutsu (varied terrain), Kiroro (storm magnet), Sapporo Kokusai (great on storm cycles), Teine (steeper skyline lines). All are reachable for day trips.
• Facilities: Lodge restaurant (10:00–15:00), shop (09:00–16:00), lockers from early morning — super simple, super close.