Readme before you journey
Sapporo ski resort is only a 20-minute drive away.
Skiing at BAN.K near Sapporo
BAN.K, short for BANKei, is a ski resort conveniently located near Sapporo, Hokkaido. It's perfect for those who want to enjoy skiing without venturing far from the city. Just a 20-minute ride from downtown Sapporo, BAN.K is ideal for a day trip, leaving you time to explore other attractions in the area.
Getting there: Take the subway to Maruyama Park Station and transfer to the BAN.K shuttle bus.
Video:
[iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aggnnLjaFkk"]
The bus departs on time. The numbers 45, 10, and 40 represent the minutes of departure. The fare is 210 yen, which is approximately 60 baht. If you prefer a more luxurious option, you can take a taxi from the city center, which will cost around 2,000-2,500 yen.
We have arrived at the bus stop. Please queue up in an orderly manner. The bus will drop people off at another location before returning to pick us up. Please do not rush to board the bus like we do in Thailand.
Once you board the bus, secure your seat. This bus does not accept any passes, so please have cash ready. For efficiency, prepare the exact fare. The legroom is very limited, making it difficult for passengers carrying their own skis.
Walk carefully, as the stairs may be slippery due to the snow. I didn't wear snow boots when I went, so I had to be very careful. If I may suggest, it's worth spending a few hundred baht on snow boots. They have metal studs that help grip the ground and prevent falls. Even Japanese people fall, so what chance do we have?
We have arrived at the Administration Building. This building serves multiple purposes, including a restaurant, equipment rental, and restrooms.
Let's show off some photos!
For recommended clothing, a water-resistant jacket is essential. Thick, fluffy, and stylish jackets might look good, but they can get soaked if you fall. Similarly, thick gloves are a must. Jeans might not be the best choice for pants, as they can get wet if you fall. Don't worry too much about shoes, as you'll need to change them anyway if you're going skiing.
Upon arrival, head straight to the food stalls. To order, select your desired dishes from the vending machine, which will dispense a ticket resembling a train ticket. Place the ticket on your tray and follow the flow of customers. The vendors will then serve your chosen dishes directly onto your tray.
Water is free or you can pay for it. There is also coffee. I ordered udon, which is hot and goes well with the snowy atmosphere (how does it go together?). Eating while looking at the snowy view is very painful to the eyes, but it is also beautiful. I think just sitting here and eating is a pleasure. Okay, that's the end of the review, let's go our separate ways.
Let's continue. Since I didn't bring my own skis, I had to rent them. But once I got there, I didn't want to just walk around on the snow. I had to ski! This was only the second time I've ever skied in my life. The rental prices here are listed in the table below. For those who just want to ski a little, I recommend the 4,900 yen set, which includes all the ski equipment except for clothes. But if you want the full package, it's 7,500 yen for 4 hours. Why do I recommend 4 hours? Because when I skied for 2 hours, it was too short. I didn't even have time to enjoy myself before it was over. So, if you're going to do it, go all out!
If you are a complete beginner, this package is recommended. A regular 50-minute class costs 5,000 yen, which is around 1,500 baht. If you prefer private lessons, there are special groups available. However, private lessons are more expensive. While they may seem costly, they are not as expensive as you might think. In comparison, my lessons in New Zealand cost 3,000 baht and included equipment and a longer class than the 50-minute sessions offered here. This makes the New Zealand option seem more worthwhile, especially considering the free transportation to the resort.
Let's go, I'm ready to go. I've changed into another pair of pants, these are specifically for snow and the fur was imported from Thailand. Skis are quite heavy to hold, so it's a good idea to be physically fit before you start skiing.
As a beginner, I can only ride in this zone, going up and down. I can't go too high because I'm afraid I won't be able to brake in time and fall, which would be inconvenient for the other riders.
To access the lift, a fee is required. Ascending on foot would be time-consuming. The surrounding scenery is picturesque, adorned with snow.
After finishing playing, please return the equipment. These are ski boots. Wearing them once makes you feel like Iron Man, but they are heavy and make it difficult to move your ankles. When you walk, it feels like you're a robot. It's even difficult to walk down stairs.
We then took a car back down the mountain, but we got in the wrong one. We thought the first car, which was green, would take us back to where we started. However, I didn't check the sign on the front of the car. It did go down the mountain, but it dropped us off at a different location. We ended up at Makormanai Station, which was in the opposite direction from where we came from.
A.
This is a picture of the station, Makkasan, which I mistakenly posted, which is the last station of the T T train line.
For those interested in visiting, a travel map and an English-language website are available at https://www.bankei.co.jp/multilingual/english.html#SkiSnowboardLesson.
If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments below.
กินเที่ยว360
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 9:45 PM
