Way, way out of bounds

Looking for you next epic ski-fari? Well, if you’ve got a Purg season pass, say “konnichiwa” to Japan.

Purgatory recently announced it has added three free days at the Kiroro Resort, about a 2-hour bus ride from the Sapporo airport, to its repertoire of Power Pass perks.

Located near the eastern coast of the country’s northernmost Hokkaido island, Kiroro is a destination resort boasting 21 runs (or “courses” as the Japanese call them) over two mountains with an average of 48 feet of snow a year and a peak elevation of 3,800 feet.

Sure, this may sound miniscule compared to Colorado, but bear in mind Kiroro sits at a latitude of 43 degrees, about the same as Jackson Hole.

“Kiroro flies under the radar relative to some of the high-profile Hokkaido ski resorts nearby, but the lack of crowds is an advantage for discerning powder hounds who make the most of the abundant snow and the tree skiing,” read a post on powderhouds.com, a ski and snowboard travel site. “Kiroro is a destination that will please most powderholics. Hokkaido is often chilly which keeps the snow in pristine condition.”

The website gave the resort five out of five “dog paws” for snow conditions; four out of five for its lack of crowds and 31⁄2 for its off-piste offerings. Alas, those looking to shake it apres at the local karaoke bar may be left holding the mic. Kiroro only got one paw for nightlife.

In case you’re unfamiliar with skiing in the Land of the Rising Sun, recall that the 1998 Winter Olympics were held in Nagano, in the central part of the country. Japan is home to more than 500 ski areas, which vary in size from large resorts with dozens of runs to small one-lift slopes.

But don’t take our word that skiing does exist in Japan. Queue up the Netlix for “One Day,” a 2011 chick flick starring Anne Hathaway. Kiroro Resort was the main location for the highly acclaimed Thai film, which revolves around many of Kiroro’s landmarks.

One more factor to consider, the dollar has been posting record gains against the Japanese yen recently. As of Wednesday, $1 bought 122.75 yen, the highest since 2007.