Chisenupuri Ski Area
チセヌプリスキー場42°52′ N 140°36′ Ecat skiing
Chisenupuri's chairlift stopped years ago, and today snowcats and skinning tourers share the old runs below Chisenupuri's summit.
Rankoshi town opened Chisenupuri in 1977. It closed the lift in 2012 and took the hotel down, and JRT Trading has held the lease since 2016. The operator runs snowcats with Hokkaido Backcountry Club and says it will keep doing so until it can work out how to pay for a new lift.
The cat drops at the 832 m knob on the south ridge, and each run gives about 280 m of vertical down to the old base at 555 m. Expect around a dozen laps and close to 3,400 m over the day. Lunch is in the old warming hut, and the ticket includes a soak at Yukichichibu Onsen afterwards.
How it rides
- Powder
- 5 out of 5
- Trees
- 4 out of 5
- Steeps
- 2 out of 5
- Sidecountry
- 5 out of 5
- Park
- 1 out of 5
- Beginners
- 1 out of 5
- Family
- 1 out of 5
- Quiet
- 5 out of 5
- Value
- 2 out of 5
- Après
- 1 out of 5
Plenty of people know Chisenupuri only as a trailhead. The car park at the old base fills on busy weekends because the south face of Chisenupuri starts right there. It is about 540 m of climbing to the 1,134 m summit, and Shakunage-dake lies beyond it to the west. Public cat bumps cost ¥3,000 cash at 08:00 and 08:30 for the terrain behind the ski area.
Every run at Chisenupuriコース
Peaks, gates and named areas
Know the zones before you goエリア
Chisenupuri summitチセヌプリ
peakAdvanced
The 1,134 m summit sits about 540 m above the car park. The east face above treeline is classic avalanche terrain, and the south face is the common tour.
Good for south-face tour, views of the range
Cat terrain
zone
Four official runs fall from the 832 m knob to the old base at 555 m. The terrain is marked yellow and reserved for cat guests.
Good for cat laps, powder
Public uptrack
zoneAdvanced
Tourers skin up a track with orange markers on the far skier's left of the old ski area. It leads toward the south face and the ridge to Shakunage-dake.
Good for touring access
Beyond the ropes · open
The old ski area doubles as the main trailhead for the western Niseko Range. Tourers skin the orange-marked uptrack on the far skier's left and keep off the yellow-marked cat runs.
- Uphill traffic stays on the orange-marked track on the far skier's left
- Areas marked yellow are for cat guests only
- Public cat bumps are cash only and drop you behind the ski area
- Beyond the ski area you are in uncontrolled avalanche terrain; check the Niseko avalanche bulletin and carry full rescue gear
Check the daily avalanche report before you leave the resort. Carry a beacon, shovel and probe and know how to use them.
Worth knowing before you go
Yukichichibu Onsen closes on Tuesdays, so book your cat day for another day of the week if the soak matters to you.
Carry cash for the public cat bump.
Arrive before 9:00 on weekends if you want a space in the car park.
A taxi from Hirafu costs about ¥6,500, and the drive from Niseko Village takes about 15 minutes.
Getting thereアクセス
From New Chitose Airport
- Drive
- About 2 hr 15 min via Niseko
From Sapporo
- Drive
- About 2 hr 15 min via Niseko
About 12 km and 15 minutes by car from Niseko Village. Route 66 is plowed from the Rankoshi side up through Chisenupuri to the Yusato Gate just above the area. Cat-ski guests get Niseko transfers; a taxi from Hirafu costs about ¥6,500.
Paid links
Line up the trip around Chisenupuri Ski Area
Some of these links pay us a commission. It costs you nothing and keeps the guide independent. How the links work
Where to stay nearby宿
Soak after温泉
Touring close by山スキー
Towns to base in町
Ride these on the same trip近くの山
Quick answers about Chisenupuri Ski Areaよくある質問
How big is Chisenupuri?
Chisenupuri has 4 runs over 280 m of vertical, from 555 m at the base to 832 m at the top.
Can you ride off-piste at Chisenupuri?
At Chisenupuri: The old ski area doubles as the main trailhead for the western Niseko Range. Tourers skin the orange-marked uptrack on the far skier's left and keep off the yellow-marked cat runs.
How much is a lift ticket at Chisenupuri?
An adult day ticket at Chisenupuri costs ¥175,000 in the 2026/27 main season.
Does Chisenupuri have night riding?
No. Chisenupuri closes its lifts at dusk.
How do you get to Chisenupuri from New Chitose Airport?
Chisenupuri is about 2 hr 15 min via Niseko by car from New Chitose Airport.
When is the season at Chisenupuri?
Chisenupuri usually opens late December (23 Dec for 2026/27) and closes mid March (15 Mar for 2026/27). The deepest, most reliable snow comes january to February.