Ski touring & off piste in Hokkaido

Hokkaido offers some of the best places for ski touring and off-piste in Japan. Yasuko, JMGA certified guide, will take you to her favourite secret spots.

9 Days

Jan - Mar

Description

Please join me for this fantastic 8-day ski touring tour in Hokkaido, between Niseko, Furano and Sapporo… but also some secret spots far from the crowds and full of powder 😉

Our objective will be to go for the best powder snow, give you a taste of the Japanese culture… and of course let you live an unforgettable experience.

The following is a 9-day program that I propose to you. This can of course be adapted based on your wishes and time here. It is given as an example.

Day 1 – SHINCHITOSE – NISEKO
We will go from Shinchitose airport to Niseko, the largest ski resort in Hokkaido.
We will stay there in a Japanese style inn (Ryokan).

Day 2 – NISEKO
We will experience our first day of powder snow. We will use the chair lifts and do some ski touring (or snowshoeing) to access the best parts of the mountain, far from the crowds. The program and exact location will depend on the snow and weather conditions. A full day of backcountry touring could also be an option.
We will stay in the same lodge, to relax, have a good diner and sleep.

Day 3 – NISEKO
During this 3rd day we will go to the other area of Niseko for some backcountry skiing. After the skiing day, we will transfer to Makkari, close to Mount Yotei.

Day 4 – MOUNT YOTEI
The objective of the 4th day will be to skin up the Mount Yotei, Mount Fuji of Hokkaido or Ezofuji because of its strato volcanic shape. It offers a possible elevation drop of 1500 meters through some of the best powder snow available in Hokkaido.

Day 5 – Transfer to FURANO
We will transfer to the Furano area. The Tokachi Mountains in this area offer a variety of excellent spots for ski touring. The trip takes 4 to 5 hours by car, this will be a “rest day”, but a morning session on the resort could also be organised, as an option. We will stay in another Japanese style inn with authentic Japanese cuisine and hot springs… Because coming to Japan is not only about skiing in one of the best powder snow in the world but it’s also about enjoying a different culture!

Day 6 – MOUNT FURANO
Full day backcountry skiing on Mount FURANO.

Day 7 – MOUNT TOKACHI or MOUNT ASAHIDAKE
Full day of backcountry skiing on Mount Tokachi or Mount Asahidake. We can access the great spots on Mont Asahidake with a gondola. If the weather is with us, we will skin up till the summit. At the end of the day, we will transfer to Sapporo and stay there for the night.

Day 8 – SAPPORO AREA
This last day of skiing take place in several places: Mount Yoichi, Mount Shirai… accessible through the Kiroro Resort or the Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort. We will spend our last night in Sapporo, enjoying a great diner and discovering the nightlife of the city.

Day 9 – SHINCHITOSE airport
We will go back to Shinchitose airport to fly back home.

Does this great skiing experience sound interesting? Then please get in touch with me and let’s discuss about it! I will gladly organise the tour you are looking for.

Price includes

- Guiding fee

- Transport during the trip

Details

More info

If you are more than 6 people, a second guide will join us.

Necessary equipment:

Skis or a snowboard.
For mountain safety please bring an avalanche beacon, shovel, and probe.
In order to climb, bring your skins or snowshoes, and take a sturdy pack.
For steep ascents (like Mount Rishiri) it may be necessary to carry crampons and an ice axe as well. I will confirm the equipment you need to have with you when we organise the tour. I can also lend you the Avalanche safety gears (beacon, shovel, probe) at JPY 2,000 per day so please get in touch with me if you would like to rent a set.

Payment: Please pay the full cost of the tour upon your arrival in cash, preferably Japanese yen. Please understand that payments in either dollars or euro will be subject to exchange fees.

You can come to Hokkaido through Shinchitose International Airport. I will take care of the transportation as from your arrival at Shinchitose airport until you leave the island.

Meeting point

We will meet at the Shinchitose airport.

About the guide

Yasuko

4.9

(7)

Mountain Guide

JMGA Mountain Guide
I was born in Kitami city in east Hokkaido. I grew up loving outdoor sports, skiing, and mountain climbing. I now lives in Sapporo and I have been a guide for the last 15 years.
I have accumulated vast experience in mountaineering in both Japan and abroad. I have served on the Canadian Ski Patrol and I have a wealth of experience skiing, rock climbing, and mountain climbing all over the world including Europe, North America, and Nepal.
I pride myself on my skill and experience rock climbing during the summer and backcountry skiing in the winter months. I have climbed Mt. McKinley in the U.S., Mt. Manaslu and Mt. Ama-Dablam, in Nepal, The Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, Chamonix, in Europe and Insubong in Korea.
Please contact me if you want to experience Japan walking, climbing or skiing! I will be very happy to guide you here.

Languages

Japanese | English

Certificates

JMGA

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