Kashimayari is a medium size ski resort and is the first one you will see coming to Hakuba from Tokyo. It is also one of the least crowded resorts as most people tend to bypass it on the way to Hakuba proper. That is a pity as it has a good range of courses including some very challenging steep ones and some good beginner runs. It also has some great views of the Northern Japan Alps and Kashimayari peak itself is perhaps the prettiest in the whole range. As always in Japan it has a great snowpark. There are free buses there - see the shuttle bus timetable.