Yubari Resort - Mount Racey

Snow and solitude are what reviewers rate: the mountain collects roughly eight metres over a winter, and untracked lines are said to survive for days. It is low and tree-covered, so it skis better in bad weather than the higher central Hokkaido hills, and the tree skiing is called its strongest suit. Lifts run fast with no lines, restaurant prices are cheap, the staff are friendly, and the airport and Sapporo are close by.

Size and tameness are the drawbacks: the area is small and there is very little challenging on-piste terrain, so a confident skier soon runs out of things to do outside the trees. The gondola is shut down from time to time by wind. Elevation is limited, and once temperatures climb the snow on the lower slopes goes off. In short, it suits beginners and storm-day powder hunting rather than a whole trip built around it.