Nestled in the foothills surrounding Asahikawa, Kamui links is a hidden gem just waiting to be explored. The mountain This hidden gem is easily accessible from Furano. Located only? a few kilometers is renowned amongst the locals of Asahikawa for its extremely dry powder snow and off piste riding. Kamui is a small resort with 1 gondola and 7 chair lifts but don't let that put you off as it offers some incredible off piste skiing and riding. Many tour companies operate day tours to Kamui from Furano, usually with a stop in Asahikawa on the way home for dinner. If you are planning to stay at Kamui your best option is mid week as the resort can get busy on the weekends due to the close proximity of Asahikawa. The resort offers a basic website in Japanese so we recommend visiting the Asahikawa tourism website for more information.

Kamui links does not offer any resort accommodation, however in the nearby city of Asahikawa has ample lodging option's from five star hotels to budget backpackers. Don't expect English to be widely spoken when booking your hotel however with a little persistence and creativity you can get around this obstacle. Alternatively the Asahikawa tourist association employs several English speaking staff who are very helpful. Our pick of eating options in Kamaui is Cafe 751. The large open fire in the middle of the building and spectacular views over the ski runs make it a perfect place to take of the ski boots and enjoy a coffee. At the base of the Gondola several other restaurants offer a selection of deep fried foods, curry and ramen. If you are in a hurry a vending machine provides snacks and drinks. Credit cards are not accepted at the Kamui so we recommend taking ample cash.

As the name suggests, Kamui Ski links is all about winter and in particular off piste skiing and snowboarding. The resort has no restrictions on out of bounds skiing, providing a powder haven for skiers and boarders who wish to carve it up amongst the trees and bumps found off the main runs. It is strongly recommended that you ski with at least one other person when going off piste and that you carry the appropriate safety equipment including avalanche beacon and locater. The appropriately named "Bump", Panorama and Ezomatsu trails are not groomed on a regular basis and provide for some challenging mogul skiing.

Undoubtedly the most convenient way to access Kamaui is to fly directly into Asahikawa International airport. The airport serves many domestic flights and occasionally in summer,? international charter flights from within Asia. Once in the township of Asahikawa you can easily access Kamui ski links via taxi or local bus service. It takes about 20 minutes from downtown Asahikawa by bus and a little quicker by car. From the nearby resort of Furano, tour companies operate daily trips to and from Kamui leaving early in the morning and returning late at night. For more information on transport to and from Kamui visit the resort website(please note that the website is in Japanese only).