Backcountry Skiing in Japan
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If you’ve been dreaming of shredding the deepest snow imaginable, this Japan ski tour will satisfy all your cravings for the best skiing in the world. Hokkaido is the northernmost of Japan’s main islands and it has gained an international reputation for incredibly deep and light powder, with over 15 m / 600’’ of snowfall each winter. Your guides will lead you through some of Hokkaido’s most scenic ski trip destinations, like Otaru, Asahikawa, and Furano. The slopes aren’t very steep compared to the Alps or the Rockies, but the champagne powder and plenty of tree skiing among the white birch trees, Shirakaba, is pure bliss—especially on bluebird days. Combine this with Japanese culture, cuisine, and bustling party scene, and you’ve got yourself a bucket-list trip for travel lovers and powder hounds alike.
A ski trip to Japan is strikingly different from what you’ll experience anywhere else in the world. Get a taste of Ja-Pow over 7 powdery days on mellower terrain (30 to 45 degrees) and deep stashes. Join an American guide who knows all the best pow stashes on Hokkaido and head right into the backcountry, where you’re virtually guaranteed to find a blank canvas of the lightest, deepest snow on the planet. End each ski tour day by exploring Japan’s vibrant culture, restaurant scene, bars, and unique nightlife.
Fly into Japan a day before your ski trip, and meet your backcountry skiing guide at the New Chitose Airport near Sapporo. Once you get to your accommodation, get to know your guide and group, make yourself comfortable and get ready for a quintessential ski touring adventure in Japan!
Your Japan ski trip itinerary starts off with a bang in Otaru! You’ll find fantastic terrain for all ski levels here, with easy sidecountry access, tons of secret pow stashes, and some of the best snow on Hokkaido. The soaring views of the sea and the city will serve as an epic backdrop.
Spend your evening admiring Otaru’s traditional architecture, sampling the excellent local sushi (Otaru is a port city, after all), or hanging out at one of the local whiskey or sake bars. If you’re visiting in February, make sure to stop by the colorful Otaru Snow Light Path festival!
Your ski trip in Japan continues in Niseko, with graduated terrain perfect for leveling up your backcountry skills. Choose between mellow groomers, tougher non-groomed runs, or even 1,500-ft vertical lines in avalanche control areas!
Once you’re off the slopes, why not pay a visit to a traditional hot spring, a.k.a. Onsen? The hot water is perfect for resting your ski muscles and recuperating for the days ahead!
The next stop on your Hokkaido ski trip is Asahikawa, the access point to the island’s tallest mountain and its finest advanced ski runs. You’ll shred perfectly light, dry powder here, with everything from wide-open slopes to fantastic treeline tracks. Ready to ski in the eroded crater of a Volcano?
Asahikawa is Hokkaido’s second-largest city and the closest thing to Tokyo outside of Tokyo itself — there’s plenty to do in your free time. Visit the Onsens, stop by the Snow Museum, do some souvenir shopping, or try a regional delicacy, the soy-based noodle soup.
Spend the final three days of your Japan ski trip in Furano, renowned for its long runs, panoramic views of Hokkaido’s central ranges, and 8 meters of snowfall per season. The runs are steep and fast — you’ll really end your ski trip with a bang!
Spend your final few evenings in Japan exploring Furano’s parks, gardens, and ancient stone houses! If you’re looking to taste some local specialties, pay a visit to the Furano Winery or the town’s famous Cheese Factory.
Like all good things, your ski trip in Japan has come to an end, Say “sayonara” to the Land of the Rising Sun and head back home with a JaPow addiction and plenty of good memories. See you soon!
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Hokkaido, please visit Japan Travel.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get in this adventure:
What’s not included:
While this skiing trip in Japan does require some experience with backcountry skiing in variable conditions, the difficulty scale isn’t that high. Most of the ski touring terrain in Japan is mellow, the slopes aren’t that steep, and the altitudes are pretty low.
You will be skiing in the 1300-1500 m range, downing mostly intermediate runs with the occasional advanced pitch, and doing plenty of treeline skiing. You have to be comfortable with multiple hours of skinning, diving into deep powder, and navigating between trees to fully enjoy the terrain.
To participate in this backcountry skiing trip in Japan, you need to have previous off-piste experience. You will be shredding in deep Japow for 5-7 hours every day. Your guide will take care of the planning, oversee your technique, and teach you how to better manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training necessary to keep you safer on the slopes. For those looking to take their first foray into backcountry skiing, we suggest joining a guide for a day of Intro to Backcountry Skiing. Find a guide close to you on our Adventures site.
Clothing list
Snow Safety Equipment
Gear
Personal Equipment
If you have any questions regarding the equipment list, feel free to contact us prior to booking.
All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:
Ski rental locations are in Sapporo and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.
Group sizes and pricing:
Ski touring in Japan can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
For these skiing holidays in Japan, we strongly recommend trip and cancellation insurance. This protects you from losing your investment in case of illness, injury, or other unforeseen events. Because booking hotels, transportation, etc. in foreign countries requires planning ahead and often has no potential for refunds, your guides cannot offer refunds on the trip.
Also, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan was subject to a long and strict lockdown period, and the borders have just recently begun to open. In case Japan closes again before your trip, your guide can postpone the trip to a later date, offer you an alternative trip (e.g. a backcountry ski tour in Chamonix, France or Georgia), or find a third option that you find satisfactory. However, this only applies if you choose to get trip and cancellation insurance.
To start this tour, most people fly into New Chitose Airport 45 minutes from Sapporo, Japan. Your skiing guide will meet you at the airport upon your arrival in Japan and arrange your transportation to Otaru, the starting point of the tour.
A 50% non-refundable deposit secures your spot. Because your guides need to book hotels and transportation assets far in advance, they request a 50% non-refundable deposit six months (180 days) before departure. The full price is paid three months (90 days) before departure.
If you need to cancel a reservation, please do so in writing (best by e-mail). Once your booking is confirmed, you and your Guides enter into financial obligations and they cannot refund payments or release you from your contractual obligations. Therefore, it is highly recommended buying cancellation insurance.
Your Guides do reserve the right to change guides, particular lodging or the itinerary or venue should unforeseen circumstances (guide sickness, hut or route closing etc.) force them to do so or should the physical condition of the participants, weather or mountain conditions make a continuation as planned too risky.
Your Guides will not be deemed to be in default for any delay or failure to perform their obligations under this agreement resulting from acts of God, the elements, war, acts of government, civil or military authorities, natural calamities, catastrophe, fire, flood, accidents, epidemics, shortage of transportation, or any other like events beyond our reasonable control.
Early Bird booking
Want to be the first one to know when we publish new dates or secure your spot well in advance? Select a future month that suits you best and lock in your Early Bird spot in time with just a 10% deposit.
As soon as our guides publish new tour dates, you’ll be the first one to know. We’ll hold your spot for 2 weeks until you choose the date that suits you best.
More about how Early Bird bookings work below:
