Bonus post for readers. TL/DR people :the_finge
You can use Bookingdotcom for all your accommodation needs while in Japan. It is recommended since some websites are hard to find,
some websites do not have English translations (most do), and some websites are not secure. Every time I needed to change or cancel a reservation, I was able to do so free of charge. Agoda, and
Rakuten seem to be the most popular reservationists for Japanese travelers.
PSA: Put
everything you can on your US credit card while in Japan and save 30% due to weak yen/strong dollar.
I have only recommendations for Aomori Prefecture and central Hokkaido. Nothing for Ruseko because you won't find me staying there.
Keep in mind I am a pet-free, spouse-free, dirt-bagging, solo traveler with few needs and high tolerance. YMMV
Below are a list of my favorite places to stay and the ski areas nearby:
Ajigasawa - (Aomori Spring)
Rockwood Hotel & Spa
Asahidake - (Asahidake)
K's House
Asahikawa - (Canmore, Kamui, Pippu)
Tabist The Green
Furano - (Furano, Kitanomine, Tokachidake)
Hostel Tomar
Geto Kogen - (Geto Kogen)
Geto Camp 88
Hakkoda - (Hakkoda)
Hakkoda Sanso
Hakodate - (Niyama, Yanagisawa)
HakoBA
Kamikawa - (Kurodake)
Yukiyumi House
Otaru - (Asari, Kiroro, Kokusai, Onze, Tenguyama)
Guesthouse Otaru Wanokaze
Sapporo - (Bankei, Fu's, Moiwa, Tiene)
SappoLodge
Aomori Spring Resort is an outlier. There is nothing near it so Rockwood is your only option unless you want to spring for The Grand Mer in town, which is spendy and requires hiring a car or taxi. The Rockwood has packages including all-you-can-eat dinner and breakfast buffets. Plus bottomless beers three hours each night for a mere 2000 yen. The resort itself has night skiing, and excellent BC access. I lived here three years so I can vouch. Their website is a joke. If you can crack the accomodations page it says the hotel is sold out for winter. If you try to make a reservation that page returns a "This page is not secure" message. Japanese speakers can book through Rakuten. Mags may contact me directly for an email address to management that will assist you. Free parking, and no restrictions on overnight camping.
There are other places to stay in Asahidake but I think you're crazy if you don't stay at K's House (unless you must have a full-service restaurant). It used to be a Grand Hotel that since went belly up. It now has private and shared rooms, an outstanding onsen, common rooms, wax room, laundry, ping pong, pool table, and a share kitchen with three of everything (sink, stove, oven, fridge). If you go to Asahidake do all your shopping in Higashikawa town as there is nothing east of it but country road. Self-catering, ski storage, boot dryers, and free parking.
Asahikawa seems not to be a favorite of Japanese but I really liked this city because its location is excellent, and it has a growing foodie scene. Also, the airport here is WAY more convenient than Chitose for visitors to Furano and points north. Visit
Diamond Burger if you need that tasty meat fix.
Spray is the best wintersport shop north of Niseko. Most hotels are near the station and suffer noise, but Tabist has a river and park for neighbors. Restaurant/coffee shop, and free parking.
No shortage of places to stay in Furano. Many are good choices. Some might be swisher than Hostel Tomar but none have a better downtown location. This place was completely rebuilt from a retail store just before COVID-19. It is sparkly new and ultra clean. The Chamber of Commerce/Information Center is in its lobby, as well as the
Baristart coffee shop playing ski videos. Killer bakeries on two sides of this joint. Western breakfasts, comfortable common areas, share kitchens, ski storage, and free parking. (
La Vista is where I would take a fussy splittail - the breakfast is best in town, and the rooftop onsen is very, very nice.)
What can I say about Geto Camp 88 except that it would not exist in the USA. 88 dorm beds right in the base lodge of the ski area, and the nightly rate includes dinner and breakfast, entry to the onsen, and discounts on lift tickets. If you don't stay here you have to stay in Morioka, which is not close enough for first chairs. Wax room, drying room, board lockers, free parking.
Hakkoda Sanso is a bit of a legend. Access to the gondola requires walking 100 meters, and a double-chair is only 15 meters. Breakfast and dinner can be added to the room rate and since there are no other food options within 20 miles I suggest you sign up. In fact, the meals were delicious. Good whiskies at their bar as well. The
Hakkoda Guiding Club is in the same building which gives this place a very genuine feel. Craig Kelly stayed here. Best parking lot scene in all of Tohoku. Free parking.
I include Hakodate in this because it is my favorite city in northern Japan. Thanks to Commander Perry it has an amazing collection of western colonial architecture the like you will rarely see elsewhere in Japan. Hakodate saw very little destruction in WW2, so almost all of it is intact. What remains unpolished is being quickly, steadily gentrified. The HakoBA is a former bank that has private as well as shared rooms. It's location in Motomachi is fantastic. Trolley stops at the front door (and
Lucky Pierrot is adjacent).
There are some swank joints at the foot of the gondola at Kurodake but you will pay as these are onsen resorts. Yukiyumi House is a small B&B/Ryokan-style owned by
Gerard Martinez who is one of the best guides in this area, not to mention that his friends are the other best guides in this area. If you want to ski the best terrain in the Daisetsuzan NP (and you should) you can't do much better than this. Fluent in Spanish, English, Japanese. Free parking and gourmet meals.
Not fancy but huge value. Guesthouse Otaru Wanokaze is family-owned and has a
sento on the first floor as well as a ridiculously good location in this fantastic little city. This was my base for several weeks while I was storm-chasing central Hokkaido. The owner is the sweetest woman and you will feel good dropping yen here. (Avoid the first two rooms on the left as these get fumes from the sento boiler.) Discounted rates at the sento, a laundry, and free parking on-site.
There are a jillion hotels in Sapporo but only one with a climbing wall in the bar that is on the first floor. The restaurant serves great homemade meals, and the bar is popular. The only downside is the bar allows smoking and stays open until the last customer passes out. There are two dorm rooms and one is above the bar. Avoid that one if you want to sleep. The back dorm room has four beds so if you and three mates can get that to yourselves you are gold. Toilets are on the first floor so if you wake up in the night for a slash put a few yen in your pocket - some of the girls in that bar are worth chatting up. Friendly place, snowboarder-owned (sick Gentemstick collection), and a super short walk from
Susukino, which has a LOT more to offer than just titty bars.
Happy trails