A snow playground where the whole family plays all day.
Snowmobiles, plus banana boat rides, snow tubing, ponies, and jingisukan (Hokkaido-style grilled lamb) at the BBQ house. Everyone, including the ones who would rather not drive and the little ones, spends the day in one place. No license needed, with a briefing before you ride.
Prices for rides other than the snowmobile ride will be posted once confirmed. Hokkaido residents receive ¥500 off. Rides may be changed or cancelled depending on weather and snow conditions.
For driversTwo-up OK
Snowmobile ride
After the briefing, ride the snowfield course on our grounds with a guide.
from ¥3,000
Photo slotBanana boat towed by a snowmobileactivity-banana-boat.jpg4:3Image
Our ponies live here. Visit them before your ride or during a break.
Reservation requiredBYO food on request
BBQ house (jingisukan)
Hokkaido-style grilled lamb in a warm cabin, before or after your ride.
from ¥◯◯,000price to be confirmed
Photo slotNight ride: headlights across the snowfield at duskactivity-night-ride.jpg4:3Image
Seasonal
Night ride / summer buggy
The snowfield after dark, or green fields by buggy in summer.
from ¥◯◯,000price to be confirmed
A day at GMR
Here is how a day might go.
Meet us on site. Times are an example and depend on what you book.
10:00
Arrive and check in
Park, come to reception, confirm your names and rides, and collect your helmets.
Photo slotReception at the lodge counterflow-01-reception.jpg4:3Image
10:20
Briefing
Throttle, brake, turning and signals, practiced on flat snow. Non-drivers can go and meet the ponies.
Photo slotPre-ride briefing: guide explaining the handlebar controlsflow-03-lecture.jpg4:3Image
10:45
Onto the snowfield
Follow the guide onto the course on our grounds. Slowly at first, then a photo stop at a scenic spot.
11:30
Banana boat and snow tubing
Everyone piles on and gets towed across the snow.
Photo slotBanana boat towed by a snowmobileactivity-banana-boat.jpg4:3Image
12:30
Jingisukan at the BBQ house
Hokkaido-style grilled lamb in a warm cabin. Bringing your own food is possible on request (reservation required).
14:00
Head home
Look through your photos and take your time on the way back.
Activities may be changed or cancelled depending on weather and snow conditions.
Why families choose GMR
What the snowfields of Rankoshi make possible.
A quiet town in the Niseko area
Rankoshi sits away from the busy resort villages. Our snowfield is on our own grounds, so you ride at your own pace without waiting on other groups.
A briefing first, so first-timers can ride
Throttle, brake, turning and hand signals, all practiced on flat snow before we head out. Even if you have never driven one, you start off calmly.
We maintain the machines ourselves
We also service and sell snowmobiles. Every machine you ride has been checked by our own hands before it goes out.
You can see how the day goes
From check-in to the end of the ride, the whole day is shown with photos below, so there are no surprises when you book.
BBQ house after the ride
Back from the snow, warm up indoors with jingisukan (Hokkaido-style grilled lamb). Ask us about bringing your own food.
English and Japanese
Booking, questions and the briefing on the day are all available in English as well as Japanese.
Safety
What we decide before anyone rides.
Riding on snow carries some risk, and we do not pretend otherwise. With that in mind, we work hard on safety.
Briefing and practice run before departure
Controls, signals and how to stop are checked with everyone before we set off.
A guide leads and sets the pace
The guide rides in front and adjusts speed and breaks to how the group is doing.
Decided by the snow and weather on the day
If visibility or snow conditions are poor, we change the course or cancel.
Helmets and gear check
Helmets are provided. We check your clothing and gear with you at reception.
Guide qualifications and insurance
Details of our guides' qualifications and insurance cover will be posted here once confirmed.
Prices
Choose by how long you want to ride, and who is coming with you.
Activity
What it is
Price
Snowmobile ride
For first-timers. After the briefing, ride the snowfield course on our grounds with a guide. Single or two-up.
from ¥3,000Special price
Long course
For those who want more time on the snow. We stop at a scenic spot for photos.
from ¥◯◯,000Price to be confirmed
Banana boat & snow tubing
Towed behind a snowmobile across the snowfield. Great for kids and anyone who prefers not to drive.
from ¥◯◯,000Price to be confirmed
Night ride
Ride the snowfield after dark by headlight.
from ¥◯◯,000Price to be confirmed
Private booking
Just your family or group. Tell us your numbers and how long you would like.
from ¥◯◯,000Price to be confirmed
BBQ house (jingisukan)
A warm indoor meal before or after your ride. Bringing your own food is possible on request. Reservation required.
from ¥◯◯,000Price to be confirmed
Prices for rides other than the snowmobile ride will be posted once confirmed. Hokkaido residents receive ¥500 off. Rides may be changed or cancelled depending on weather and snow conditions.
Who can ride
Minimum age to drive, and the age and height requirements for riding two-up, will be posted here once confirmed. If you need to know now, please ask us.
Guest comments
Guest comments are coming soon.
The cards below show the layout only. Real comments will be posted once confirmed with our guests.
SampleIt was my first time driving, but the practice before we set off made it easy to relax. (sample)
Family, 40s (Tokyo)
Snowmobile ride
SampleNo other groups around, so we had the snowfield to ourselves. The English briefing helped a lot. (sample)
Group, 30s (Australia)
Long course
SampleThe jingisukan after the ride was great. We don't ski, but still got to enjoy winter in Niseko. (sample)
Couple, 50s (Sapporo)
Ride + BBQ house
E.K.Photo to come
From the owner
Come and enjoy the snow of this land with us.
I guide snowmobile rides on the snowfields of Rankoshi. Whether it is your first time, you are here with your children, or you have come from overseas, I want you to enjoy the snow and the quiet of this place. That is why we take time for the briefing and check the snow conditions every day. We also maintain our machines ourselves.
Eiji KondoOwner
Draft message. Wording to be confirmed with the owner.
The land and the seasons
Land where gold was once mined, through four seasons.
Gold was once dug from this ground. Today it is quiet snowfield, forest and river: snowmobiles in winter, buggies once the snow melts, and ponies you can meet all year round.
Jingisukan at the BBQ house
Hokkaido-style grilled lamb in a warm wooden cabin, before or after your ride (reservation required). Ask us about bringing your own food.
Gold history, quiet snow
This was once gold-mining land. Now it is birch trees, snowfield and a slow river.
Ponies all year, buggies in summer
Our ponies live here year-round. In summer, the fields turn green and the buggies come out.
Photo slotA mittened hand offering hay to a pony in the snowpony-winter-hand.jpg1:1ImagePhoto slotSummer buggy on a green trailactivity-summer-buggy.jpg4:3ImagePhoto slotHot cocoa held in mittenscocoa-mittens.jpg1:1ImagePhoto slotA small snowman on the snowfieldsnowman-field.jpg1:1Image
Photo slotChildren on snow tubes facing Mt. Yoteifamily-walk-to-sleds.jpg4:3
At the end of the day
A day the kids ask to repeat.
Drivers, non-drivers and little ones, all on the same snowfield, sharing the same day.
Image
Questions before you book
Answers to the questions people ask before booking.
Do I need a driver's license?
No. The ride takes place on the snowfield course on our own grounds, so no license is required. Your guide explains the controls and signals before you set off.
I have never driven a snowmobile. Is that OK?
Yes. You practice starting, stopping and turning on flat snow before heading out. During the ride the guide leads and matches your pace.
Can my child ride with me?
Two-up riding is available. The minimum age to drive, and the age and height requirements for passengers, will be posted once confirmed. If you need to know now, please ask us.
What happens in bad weather?
If we judge that it is not safe to ride, for example in a blizzard or poor visibility, we cancel or change the plan. How fees are handled when we cancel will be explained when you book.
What should I wear and bring?
Waterproof, insulated jacket and pants (ski wear is ideal), gloves, a neck warmer, goggles, and winter boots with good grip. Helmets are provided.
Where do we meet?
Please make your own way to our base at 28-14 Kogane, Rankoshi, near JR Konbu Station and Route 5. Parking is available. Roads are snowy in winter, so allow extra time.
What are your hours and season?
We are open 9:00–16:00. The winter season runs from mid-December to late March, depending on snowfall.
Is there a cancellation fee?
Our cancellation policy will be posted once confirmed, and explained when you book.
How can I pay?
Payment options will be posted once confirmed, and explained when you book.
Can I ask questions in English?
Yes. Questions, bookings and the briefing on the day are all available in English.
Book or ask a question
Tell us your dates, group size and any questions.
You do not need to have decided yet. Ask about conditions, prices or how the day works by form, phone or Instagram message.
Photo slotChildren on snow tubes facing Mt. Yotei