Mt. Moiwa Finally Gets ON BOARD

by Jared Pangier

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For 65 years (almost as long as HIS has been around), Mt Moiwa Sapporo, the oldest ski resort in Hokkaido, has closed off its slopes from snowboarders. But that all changed on February 25th, 2025. On that day, as the first in a series of "tests", the closest resort to Hokkaido International School finally got on board, removing that cute but equally eye-sore of a sign.

The next step was to actually let snowboarders partake in the joys of the mountain. HIS's Ski and Board Club wasted no time, adjusting our schedule to be among the first snowboarders to legally, within business hours, ride down the slopes.

Mt. Moiwa has 10 different runs of varying levels.

The resort offers fantastic views and slopes that cover two sides of the mountain. But what's really special is the naita experience. Unlike most resorts, Moiwa keeps most of its mountain open at night — 8 out of 10 runs to be exact. Not only that but if the night view from the peak is rated as the top three in all of Japan, then the view just 100 meters lower can't be too shabby. And it's not. In terms of views, February 25th, 2025 didn't disappoint. Me, the six students from the ski and board club, my daughter, and Mr. Barry Mernin (the other chaperone) strained our necks as we all rode the lift to the top for our one-run video shoot along kanko-doro — the summer toll road converted to the mountain's easiest and most scenic run. 

Having done a reconnaissance mission with my daughter just one hour prior to the arrival of the Ski and Board Club, we had discovered that the recent warming temperatures had created an unpleasant sheen across the entirety of Panorama, our favorite run. 

Knowing that, we decided to take the club on a tour across the toll road, taking in the night views, before weaving through the forest via Renraku-ro. Yusei, the main student leader of the club, even kitted out his board with lights that would shift from green to red to blue, all to commemorate the H-I-Story that we would make. 

All in all, despite the treacherously icy conditions, it was a good session at Moiwa. I got to introduce some of the club members to my local mountain and we got to explore the biggest nighter in Sapporo. Before the 2024-2025 ski season is over, we hope to ski AND board on Moiwa at least one more time. 

Following this year's season, the new owner (as of this year) of the resort, Hokkaido Square, has big plans to make the resort wheelchair and chair-ski-friendly through the construction of a new lodge and a — drum roll, please — gondola. Yes, you heard right. Not only that but Hokkaido Square is also hoping to construct Hokkaido's most scenic cross-country ski course toward the top of the mountain.

Mt. Moiwa, keep dreaming big. You are making this snow lover very happy to live close to the best mountain in Sapporo-proper. 

And to all of you out there, keep chasing the white rabbit!