Skiing Hokkaido
March 24, 2018
Back in February three friends and I rented an RV and spent some time touring Hokkaido on our skis. I have been super busy with an international move and ticking off items on my "must do before leaving Japan" list - hence the month plus delay in posting this trip report. As I write this I am sitting in Los Angeles enjoying some exquisite Mexican food, In-N-Out, and driving on highways that don't cost an arm and a leg - but I am missing my friends and this upcoming keiryu tenkara and sansai season, which is sure to be epic! If you can get to Japan this year DO IT!
![Skiing up Furanodake](https://fallfish-tenkara-images.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/FfT+-+Hokkaido/hokkaido-japow-skiing-adventure-kiroro-tomamu-furanodake-horotachi-japan-first-tour-1024x768.jpg)
First tour (for me). Headed up Furanodake.
I am experimenting with a new format; heavy on photos and light on words - because as you know they say "pictures speak a thousand words". Here's a map of where we went... If you want more beta hit me up.
A video compilation from our trip.
![Ice sculptures in downtown Sapporo](https://fallfish-tenkara-images.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/FfT+-+Hokkaido/hokkaido-japow-skiing-adventure-kiroro-tomamu-furanodake-horotachi-japan-downtown-sapporo.jpg)
Downtown Sapporo is a must visit if you're in the area
![Lunch break on furanodake](https://fallfish-tenkara-images.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/FfT+-+Hokkaido/hokkaido-japow-skiing-adventure-kiroro-tomamu-furanodake-horotachi-japan-lunch-break-1024x768.jpg)
Lunch break on Furanodake with sketchy conditions
![earning our turns](https://fallfish-tenkara-images.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/FfT+-+Hokkaido/hokkaido-japow-skiing-adventure-kiroro-tomamu-furanodake-horotachi-japan-earning-the-turns.jpg)
Epic turns here we come
![Cheesy tourist photo](https://fallfish-tenkara-images.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/FfT+-+Hokkaido/hokkaido-japow-skiing-adventure-kiroro-tomamu-furanodake-horotachi-japan-ice-sculptures.jpg)
Ich, Ni, San Cheesu - Kevin and I getting in on the tourist photo op action
![Japanese curry](https://fallfish-tenkara-images.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/FfT+-+Hokkaido/hokkaido-japow-skiing-adventure-kiroro-tomamu-furanodake-horotachi-japan-japanese-curry.jpg)
Japanese curry
![Earning our turns](https://fallfish-tenkara-images.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/FfT+-+Hokkaido/hokkaido-japow-skiing-adventure-kiroro-tomamu-furanodake-horotachi-japan-up-and-up.jpg)
Earning our turns
![So much terrain! I need at least a week](https://fallfish-tenkara-images.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/FfT+-+Hokkaido/hokkaido-japow-skiing-adventure-kiroro-tomamu-furanodake-horotachi-japan-so-much-terrain.jpg)
So much terrain! I need at least a week
![Bushwacking on skis through a boscage is really hard work, especially on the last day](https://fallfish-tenkara-images.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/FfT+-+Hokkaido/hokkaido-japow-skiing-adventure-kiroro-tomamu-furanodake-horotachi-japan-man-that-sucked.jpg)
Bushwacking on skis through a boscage is really hard work, especially on the last day
![After nearly a mile of ascending we were starving!](https://fallfish-tenkara-images.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/FfT+-+Hokkaido/hokkaido-japow-skiing-adventure-kiroro-tomamu-furanodake-horotachi-japan-just-a-bunch-of-dirtbags.jpg)
After nearly a mile of ascending we were starving!
![Horotachi is a small local resort with only one lift - and some fun albeit short runs](https://fallfish-tenkara-images.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/FfT+-+Hokkaido/hokkaido-japow-skiing-adventure-kiroro-tomamu-furanodake-horotachi-japan-primo-parking-spot.jpg)
Horotachi is a small local resort with only one lift - and some fun albeit short runs
![Our fearless leader Junpei enjoying the downtown Sapporo light festival after a delicious meal](https://fallfish-tenkara-images.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/FfT+-+Hokkaido/hokkaido-japow-skiing-adventure-kiroro-tomamu-furanodake-horotachi-japan-light-festival.jpg)
Our fearless leader Junpei enjoying the downtown Sapporo light festival after a delicious meal
![You gotta love Japlish](https://fallfish-tenkara-images.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/FfT+-+Hokkaido/hokkaido-japow-skiing-adventure-kiroro-tomamu-furanodake-horotachi-japan-god-hotdogs-and-rock.jpg)
You gotta love Japlish
![spiky bush](https://fallfish-tenkara-images.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/FfT+-+Hokkaido/hokkaido-japow-skiing-adventure-kiroro-tomamu-furanodake-horotachi-japan-spiky-stick.jpg)
This little guy looks pretty cute but his bigger brother and sisters aren't so cute...
![Sketchy river crossing](https://fallfish-tenkara-images.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/FfT+-+Hokkaido/hokkaido-japow-skiing-adventure-kiroro-tomamu-furanodake-horotachi-japan-sketchy-stream-crossing.jpg)
This is harder than it looks
![Lake Shikotsu](https://fallfish-tenkara-images.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/FfT+-+Hokkaido/hokkaido-japow-skiing-adventure-kiroro-tomamu-furanodake-horotachi-japan-lake-shikotsu.jpg)
Sunset over Lake Shikotsu on the last day headed back to the airport
To see more photos from the adventure, check out this Google Photos Album here.
Comments:
May 22, 2018
Ronald Bennett
Your posts are just beautiful.....I love the photos and the whole composition of your story.
May 23, 2018
Isaac Tait
Thank you Ronald, I am glad you enjoyed it. Doesn't quite do justice to the adventure though... 😁