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Need to know HOW TO GET THERE Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport is the closest flight hub to Hoshino Resorts Tomamu; visitors can take a rapid train to Minami-Chitose Station before transferring to an express train (called Super Ozora or Super Tokachi) to Tomamu station, around 65 minutes. From Sapporo itself, take the Super Ozora or Super Tokachi directly to Tomamu.
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30 degrees or higher) with one of Japan’s largest wave pools, and smaller wading pools, all with life-jacket and float-toy lending. The resort’s Ice Village (possible thanks to Tomamu’s -20 degrees winter temperatures) has a skating rink, an ice bar and even an ice chapel, where real weddings occur – all beautifully illuminated at night. For those looking for a more local experience, there are several cosy pensions in the area, such as the beautiful wooden Pension Ing, run by its Englishspeaking owners for 28 years. The inn offers a restaurant run by their French-trained chef son, a communal hot spring
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baths, and free rides to and from the mountain. The resort offers around 20 different eating options from Japanese and Western restaurants, to casual cafés and bars.
Further afield Your accommodation can help you book tours including backcountry/ snowmobile skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing. Tomamu is about an hour from two other resorts (Furano and Sahoro). In Sapporo, don’t miss the Snow Festival held in early February. Its intricate snow and ice sculptures attract millions of tourists each year.
The season starts at the end of November, about a month earlier than on Honshu, Japan’s main island, and runs until the beginning of April. The best snow is from January to March, peaking in February. Midweek, prices are cheaper, with costs at their highest over Christmas and New Year. The best powder is from January to March. If you manage to go in February, you’ll get the best conditions and miss the crowds. snowtomamu.jp/winter/en/
ESSENTIALS Remember to take off your shoes in most hotel rooms, especially the Japanesestyle ones. If you visit a local hot spring, brush up on your onsen etiquette: wash well before entering the bath, no bathing suits, and no towels in the bath. Finally, if you’re planning to spend time in Sapporo, bring good, slipproof boots, as the roads can be icy.
HIGHLIGHT Play in the Ice Village, a picturesque winter-only minitown with skating rink, ice bar, ice hotel and more.
Travel info Jetstar has great low fares to Tokyo and Osaka with connections to Sapporo. To book, visit JETSTAR.COM
11/07/2016 1:53 PM