Sapporo backcountry skiing, private guided trip
Wataru, a JMGA mountain guide, takes you on a 1 to 7 days private backcountry ski trip in Sapporo, chasing the best powder snow areas and enjoying traditional Onsen and local cuisine.
+1 Days
Jan - Mar
High
Intermediate
Description
Sapporo is the largest city of the Japanese northern island of Hokkaido. It’s very famous among skiers for its amazing high-quality powder snow. Come with me and enjoy the best of Sapporo’s backcountry!
This is a private tour, so I will be guiding you and your partners exclusively. You can choose to make it a 1 or several day trip (up to 7 days).
I will take you to the best backcountry skiing areas around Sapporo, according to each day’s weather, mountain and snow conditions. We can combine some hike-ups with lift assessed side-country skiing.
These are some of the mountains we can visit on our BC ski trip: Mt. Yoichi (1,488m), Asari, Sapporo Kokusai, Mt. Teine (1,023m), Mt. Shakotan (1,255m), Mt. Yotei (1,898m), Rusutsu, Niseko (1,308m), etc.
After skiing, we can relax in a traditional Japanese Onsen (hot spring) and have a taste on the delicious local cuisine of Sapporo. We can also visit Susukino, which is the main entertainment area and it’s just three minutes on foot.
As regards accommodation, I own a cozy mountain lodge type hotel, that has been basically handmade by me and my friends. It will be a pleasure to have you there.
Would you like to join me on a great backcountry skiing adventure in one of the best ski areas in Japan? Send a request to book this private guided trip!
In case you prefer to join an existing group, you can check out the group version of this backcountry ski programme in Sapporo.
Useful information for rental gears
Please prepare your own gear as much as possible (you’ll find a complete kit list below). However, if you could not bring yours, the following items can be rented by prior arrangement. There is always a risk of avalanche for all backcountry mountain activities. In order to execute a fast and structured rescue operation following an avalanche incident, it is crucial that all participants of backcountry skiing / snowboarding tours carry a set of 3 avalanche safety gears – ‘beacon, probe, and a shovel’.
Please let me know which gears you would like to rent when you contact me.
ItemRental Price per dayBeaconJPY 1,000ShovelJPY 500ProbeJPY 500Snowshoe (for snowboarders)JPY 1,000Extendible polesJPY 500Backpack to strap skis or snowboardsJPY 500ALL of aboveJPY 3,000Gloves / GogglesJPY 500Gore-tex hard shell jacket and pantsJPY 1,000Skis with tour-able bindings and skinsJPY 2,000
Gentemstick Snowboard Demo Centre
Gentemstick is a Niseko based Snowboard brand, famous for riding powder like surfing.
Gentemstick snowboardJPY 3,000 per day
JPY 4,000 for 2 daysGentemstick Splitboard (without bindings)JPY 3,000 per day
JPY 4,000 for 2 daysKarakoram bindings for splitboardJPY 500 per day
JPY 1,000 for 2 daysSkins for splitboardJPY 1,000 per day
JPY 1,500 for 2 days
(These split boards I’m renting usually cost around USD 1000-1500 per board!)
Price includes
- Guiding fee
Price details
- The following items are not included in the trip:
- <br>
- Gear rental fee
- Accommodation fee
- Transportation fee
- Meals and Snacks during tour
- Lift pass
- Onsen (hot spring) entrance fee
- Insurance
Itinerary
Day 1 to 7: 1-7 days Backcountry ski tour in Sapporo
Sample Itinerary
Day 1-7:
We will leave SappoLodge at 7:00 a.m., make a quick stop at Sapporo station at 7:15 a.m. then drive to the mountain of guide’s choice of the day. The drive is expected to be around 1 hour. I will decide the best ski/snowboard area the night before. If you want, we can stop at a convenience store to buy some snacks. At the entrance of the mountain, we will prepare for hike-up and also will pack our gears. After a mandatory briefing, we’ll start our tour! It will be ca. 2-4 hr ascent and total tour will be approximately 4-6 hours a day. You can ski up several lines of fine powder snow depending on the condition. After skiing, I will take you to my favourite Onsen (hot spring) to relax the muscles. You will then be able to enjoy some fresh local cuisine. We head go back to Sapporo with full and satisfied stomach.
Tour length will be flexible. It can be from 1 day trip to 7 days trip. Please contact me in advance for reservation.
Details
More info
Technical Level:
Intermediate - you need to be able to ski off-piste without problems
Physical Level:
You need to have good fitness for 4-6 hours of skiing / snowboarding in a day including 2-4 hours of hike-up.
Previous Experience:
Previous backcountry skiing experience preferred
Requirements for joining the trip:
- Have your own skis / snowboards / splitboards / telemark ski gear with touring / hike-up set up.
- You need to be covered by an appropriate insurance that covers mountain rescue and off piste / backcountry skiing in Japanese mountains.
Course change option: If you would like to go sightseeing around Sapporo, this tour could be flexible. In that case, I will take you to approximately 5 to 8 of my recommended sightseeing spots around Sapporo area. For sightseeing guide, the guide fee will be 30% off of ski tour guide fee. Please feel free to contact me.
Kit List: -Ski gear (skies, split board, snowboard) -Skins / Snowshoes -Ski poles -Ski / Snowboard boots -Sunglasses -Goggles (better to bring extras) -Helmet -Gloves (better to bring extras) -Ski wear -Avalanche safety gears (beacon, probe, shovel) -Backpack (for snowboarder, board attachable type) -Thermos flask (500ml-1L) -Headlamp (with spare batteries or new batteries) -Sunscreen -First Aid -Cap -Hooded Jacket & Pants (breathable) -Down Jacket (compact enough to put in backpack, hooded) -Clothes (fast dry inner, layer, cotton not acceptable) -Snacks or Energy bar -Map (photocopies available on the day of tour) -Compass -Whistle
It will be better if you have these:
Airbag, Bivouac shelter, Personal medicals items, Rope (6-7mm x 20m or more), Carabiners (2), Sling (60cm, 90cm or 120cm), GPS, external battery for cell phones, Goods for Onsen (hot springs: change of clothes after tour).
Meeting point
FAQs
What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?
About the guide
Wataru
4.4
(11)
Mountain Guide
I am a Japan Mountain Guides Association (JMGA) mountain and ski guide, born and raised in Sapporo. I have been an avid traveller all my life, starting as a hitchhiker as a primary school child and travelled around 40 different countries in the world since then, including South America (Aconcagua and Andes), USA (Denali), Greenland etc. I have been involved with the JMGA for about 18 years now, guiding in the mountains both in the summer and in the winter on skis. I am a board member of Hokkaido Mountain Guides Association (HMGA). I also have an experience as a field guide in Antarctica between 2011 and 2013 as a part of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. Since my return from Antarctica, I have been running my own guesthouse and a bar, SappoLodge, which is located at the heart of Sapporo, Hokkaido. It has approximately 30 beds and is always filled with travelers from all over the world. I am happy to be able to guide these diverse and curious visitors in the nature around Hokkaido.
My main field of guiding is in the backcountry all around Hokkaido in the winter. My choice of toy in riding the pow is a snowboard but depending on the type of guests I’m happy riding on my skis too. In the summer, I enjoy guiding in the mountains (climbing and grand traverses), sea-kayaking and canoeing in the river or lake. I full heartedly recommend these fun activities to explore the nature of Hokkaido too!
Get in touch with me if you’d like to enjoy the nature of Hokkaido with me!
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