Canmore Ski Village in Winter: A Visitor's Guide

This guide is for reference only. Always check the official sites for accurate schedules. Services and schedules can change from time to time.

Canmore Ski Village (キャンモアスキービレッジ) is Higashikawa's own ski hill: eight courses, two lifts and night skiing, about 15 minutes by car from Asahikawa Airport. Published hours run to 20:30, so if you want dinner in town afterwards, book a table and leave early.

Neither the 2026-27 opening date nor the day-ticket fares were out when we checked in November 2026. We have used last season's figures, so confirm them on the official site before you travel.

The essentials

A thin early snowpack can shut the hill. Last season it opened on 20 December and shut again from 21 to 27 December, and night skiing only began on 2 January, on one course. There were full-day closures on 23 February and on 16 and 18 March. From mid-January the pair lift ran at night at weekends only, then stopped altogether at the end of February. Night skiing was also called off on several days for wind, rain or poor snow, so look at the news page on the morning you go.

The courses

The eight courses range from a 1,570 m intermediate run to a 103 m pitch of 31 degrees. Beginners have two groomed runs and a children's area for practice and sledding. The four shortest courses are left ungroomed.

Tickets, rental and lessons

These are 2025-26 fares. Child means elementary school age and under, and senior means 65 and over.

Rental of a ski or board set was ¥6,000 a day for adults, or ¥7,500 with a 1-day lift ticket (no night skiing). The Canmore ski school runs two-hour lessons at 10:00 and 13:30. Phone at least three days ahead; booking opens on 1 December. Its 2026-27 leaflet, in Japanese, lists ¥7,000 one-to-one and ¥6,000 per person for a group of two or more at the same level (no beginners). Lift tickets are extra.

The restaurant serves ramen, zangi rice bowls and katsu curry from 11:00 to 19:30, last orders 19:00.

Getting there

A car is the most practical way to reach the hill, especially for night skiing. The official access page gives these drive times.

From Sapporo, take the Doo Expressway to Asahikawa-Takasu IC. Parking is free, and Visit Hokkaido lists 400 spaces, though another listing says about 200. Allow extra time on winter roads and watch for ice on bridges and shaded stretches.

Public transport to the hill needs planning. Last season a free ski bus ran from Centpure (せんとぴゅあ) at 9:30 and 14:30, returning at 14:00 and 16:00. It ran daily from 5 to 18 January except the holiday, then at weekends until 28 February. No 2026-27 notice has appeared yet.

Asahikawa Denkikidou buses link JR Asahikawa Station with ひがしかわ道草館 in the town centre in about 45 to 57 minutes. The last bus back to the station leaves at 19:42, before night skiing ends. Route 66, the いで湯号, connects the airport with 道草館 four times a day. Taxis in Higashikawa must be booked by phone, as the town has no taxi stands.

Where to stay

Stays near the hill are mostly private cabins, villas and cottages, and the larger hotels are at Asahidake Onsen, further up the valley. Confirm winter dates with each one; the town list has more.

How close is Higashikawa town

Most of the dinner options below are in or near the town centre. These times start from ひがしかわ道草館 and are for clear roads.

A distillery tour

Tankyu Distillery (丹丘蒸留所) sits in Higashikawa, 6 minutes by car from the ski area on Google Maps, and our tour fits a rest day, or an afternoon before night skiing. It lasts 60 minutes and costs ¥2,000 per person. You walk through mashing, fermentation and distillation, then taste our craft gin and New Made Spirits. We also serve gin and tonic made with our own gin. Drivers take a mini bottle home instead.

Tours run in English, Japanese, Mandarin and Korean, and times depend on the language. Book at least 24 hours ahead. The distillery is open from 10:00 to 17:00, including public holidays. It closes from 1 to 3 January, and we sometimes take other days off. Guests must be 20 or over to taste; middle-school age and above may accompany them, but preschool children cannot join. There are 10 free parking spaces.

Book your tour online.

Find Tankyu Distillery on Google Maps.

Dinner in Higashikawa

Many kitchens take last orders at about 20:30, so book and leave the hill early if you are skiing at night. Hours come from the tourism association's November 2026 food map. Winter hours can differ, so phone before you go.

Sources

All official pages were read on 3 November 2026: Canmore Ski Village, Canmore ski school leaflet, Higashikawa tourism association, food map, Asahikawa Denkikidou, Tankyu Distillery.