Piyashiri

Piyashiri’s magic lies in the combination of its cold climate and its modest popularity. The snow that falls here is the kind of ultra-dry powder that feels like air when it hits your jacket. Even with a “mere” six meters annually — modest by Hokkaido standards — the quality is off the charts. It doesn’t get wet or heavy, even during a sunny spell, and the deep-freeze temps keep it skiable for days.

The terrain is small but surprisingly varied. Beginners can cruise long, gentle trails from mid-mountain, while intermediates get rolling groomers that carve beautifully in fresh corduroy. Advanced riders, though, will spend most of their day in the trees or dipping into the fringes of sidecountry. The upper mountain has open glades that roll into steeper, narrower lines — a natural progression from playful to technical.

Lifts are purely double chairs, so expect a slower pace. But that’s a blessing here — it spreads people out and means the best lines last well into the afternoon. The east-facing chair offers some of the best snow preservation and the quietest terrain. On storm days, stick to the lower mountain trees; they’ll give you shelter from the wind and some of the deepest turns on the hill.

There’s no formal gate system, but the boundaries aren’t aggressively roped. Locals sometimes slip into the low-angle trees skiers’ left of the top lift, where the snow piles up untouched. If you do venture beyond, remember — you’re on your own. Patrol here will clip tickets for reckless line-dropping.

And the crowd factor? Near zero. This is the sort of place where, after a 20 cm overnight dump, you can still find virgin lines at 2 pm. It’s a rare luxury in modern skiing.

Piyashiri is tailor-made for riders who value solitude, quality snow, and an authentic Japanese mountain experience over vertical stats and nightlife. Upper intermediates will enjoy the gentle tree runs and forgiving pitches. Advanced riders will appreciate the room to explore, both in-bounds and just beyond.

If you’re chasing huge alpine bowls or long, steep fall-lines, you might find the scale underwhelming. Park skiers will be disappointed — there’s no terrain park here. But for anyone who measures a resort’s worth by the quality of turns, the hush of untouched powder underfoot, and the ability to ride without playing lift-line Tetris, Piyashiri is gold.

Families will find the beginner terrain and quiet slopes reassuring. Budget travellers will love that they can ski all day, eat well, and still have enough yen left for an extra night’s stay.

Right at the base, Sun Pillar Hotel is your go-to if you want to wake up a few minutes from first chair. Rooms are a mix of Western beds and tatami mats, and the onsen here is the stuff of winter dreams — steaming water, snowflakes in the air, and views of the slopes you’ll hit again tomorrow.

In Nayoro town, a 10-minute drive from the resort, you’ll find Hotel Mystays Nayoro, which offers modern, Western-style rooms and a tidy breakfast buffet. For something more traditional, the town’s pensions and ryokans provide warm hospitality, multi-course Japanese dinners, and the kind of home-cooked breakfasts that will keep you skiing until lunch.

Budget riders can opt for smaller business hotels or guesthouses, where you’ll trade some amenities for unbeatable prices. Staying in town also gives you easy access to local dining and the occasional izakaya evening. Just don’t expect nightlife — this is a town that sleeps early so it can ski early.

The base lodge serves the classic Japanese ski comfort foods — steaming bowls of ramen, rich curry rice, and deep-fried katsu that hits the spot after a cold morning. Prices are low enough that you can go back for a second lunch without guilt.

If you’re staying in Nayoro, dinner is where things get interesting. Small izakayas serve skewers of grilled chicken, plates of sashimi, and hot pots bubbling in the middle of the table. You’ll also find family-run ramen shops where the broth has been perfected over decades.

Après, in the western sense, doesn’t really exist here — you won’t find crowded bars or live bands. Instead, après is slipping into an onsen, grabbing a beer from the vending machine, and watching snowflakes swirl under the night sky.

The easiest way in is via Asahikawa Airport, followed by a 90–120-minute drive. Winter driving here is no joke — icy roads, drifting snow, and visibility that can drop to nothing. A winter-ready rental car with snow tyres is essential.

By train, you can reach Nisshin Station on the Soya Line, just under 5 km from the resort. From there, a short taxi ride gets you to the base. There is a local bus, but services can be sparse in winter. If you value flexibility, a car is the way to go.

Parking is free, plentiful, and never full — another perk of skiing somewhere under the radar.

• Lift hours: 09:00–16:30
• Night skiing: Limited, usually weekends and holidays only
• Cold: This is one of Japan’s chilliest regions — layers are essential
• Language: Japanese is the default — translation apps help
• Nearby: Nayoro town for food and lodging; ski jump hill just across the way