An exciting time in a playground of snow

The Hokusei Ski Area blooms with colorful flowers in summer, but every year in early January, it opens as a snowy slope for various winter activities. Beside the single course ski slope, there is a snow playground that bustles with families during holidays and weekends. Both children and parents will be engrossed in the fun of sliding down the slope while riding on snow tubes and sleds.

Choei Lavender Park and Hokusei Ski Area

This area opens as a ski slope from early January to mid-March, and becomes a lavender garden from mid-June to late August. It is the venue for the Winter Festival in mid-February and the Lavender Festival in mid-July.

A fun hike and snack time in a snow-covered forest

In winter, the forests in the area become covered in snow. You can hike into this white wonderland together with Tosshy-san, an outdoor guide from Wokkys. The trails and walkways are buried in deep snow, but with your snowshoes on, it will feel like walking on fluffy cotton. Your guide also prepares for you a warm snack and drink in a tent set up in the middle of the forest.

As you wait for the apples to cook inside the Dutch oven, you can go on a stroll around the snowy forest. You might even find footprints in the snow or scratch marks on the trees as Tosshy-san tells you all about the wildlife in the area. It’s an enlightening experience for both children and adults as you get to see a side of nature that you would have otherwise missed.

Wokkys (Outdoor Guide)

An outdoor activity provider that offers various tours for all ages, such as rafting, canoening, and hiking. In the “Snowshoeing with hot dessert” tour described above, you can enjoy both nature walking and outdoor cooking.

Make your own baumkuchen cake

A unique way to spend a bad weather day is to make your own baumkuchen cake. You can try this at a local cake shop called Hasegawa. Compared to other machine-made baumkuchens sold in the market, handmade ones are usually more uneven and lumpy. But for Hasegawa, this is the secret to the cake’s good taste. They will gladly teach you all about baumkuchen-making from the basics to the details.

Baumkuchen no Hasegawa

The owner previously worked on baumkuchen machines before deciding to make his own handcrafted spit. The cakes are available for sale at their home from Friday to Sunday. Baking classes are held upon advance reservation.

A cozy rental cottage exclusive for your family

After a fun and exhausting day, you can spend the night at a hotel, but a stay in a cozy private cottage like Waki AiAi will make for a more memorable experience. You can cook your own meals and wash your clothes as you please, and you won’t have to worry about disturbing the neighbors when the baby cries. After dinner, why not enjoy movie time or bath time with the whole family? With a comfort that’s just like your own home, you’ll surely want to stay for a while.

Country Cottage Waki AiAi

You can choose from the main cottage or the side cottage. The wooden houses have a clean and cozy atmosphere, with an exciting interior that is sure to impress. For details and reservations, visit the official homepage.