JaPow—the perfectly dry and deep powder craved by any serious skier is now, thanks to our guides who put this together, just a few clicks away. And the added bonus? Oh, nothing huge, just an unforgettable, total immersion in Japanese culture, traditions, and lifestyle. This is a one-of-a-kind, 10-day backcountry skiing trip in the Land of the Rising Sun, where the snow is always immaculate, the food exquisite, and the minshukus (family-run lodgings you’ll be staying at) cozy and warm. Off-piste shredding is just an hour and a half away from the cosmopolitan Tokyo, and you can expect fantastic terrain options and less tourists in the several resorts you’ll be visiting: one day you’re zooming past steep trees and chutes, the other you’re cruising down mellow slopes of untouched powder. It’s impossible to get enough of JaPow, but once your legs let you know it’s time for rest, retreat to hot springs, authentic restaurants, and inviting lodgings.
Put together by a Japan native and an avid skier since childhood, this trip is bound to be skirrific. Over the course of 10 days, you will visit resorts primarily frequented by locals, and ride the supreme powder snow in Japan’s backcountry. These will be Naeba, Kagura, and Tenjindaira, with each of them bringing exceptional terrain and even better snow. Apart from everyday snow shredding, your guides’ focus is on experiencing the real, authentic side of Japan—so you can expect delicious food and fantastic restaurants, relaxing hot springs, and the traditional minshukus, with its kotatsus and grass tatami mats.
Use this day to reach Echigo-Yuzawa station from Tokyo, settle in and get some rest! You’ll meet your guides and your team at the Densuke minshuku (family-operated, Japanese-style bed and breakfasts) near the station.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Densuke minshuku
Today you’ll warm up the legs on one of the many local resorts with some slackcountry deep powder laps, looping back into the resort for bumps back up into the alpine. In the evening, gather back at the Densuke for dinner. You’ll discuss your interests and abilities to create the perfect program for all of you!
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Densuke minshuku
Naeba Ski Resort has plenty of terrain to choose from and it’s renowned for its snow quality! Once you’re done shredding snow for the day, return to your Densuke accommodation.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Densuke minshuku
Once you transfer to Kagura Ski Resort, you’ll spend the next 2.5 days here. Due to its high altitude, great powder snow is found here, and the ski area has easy access to the backcountry area that attracts expert riders from all over the world. You’ll find plenty of fresh powder here, and the snow quality in the upper areas is excellent due to the high elevation.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Wada Goya mountain hut
Use this day to ski in Kagura until late afternoon. Then it’s time to transfer back to Yuzawa and stay at Densuke.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Densuke minshuku
Today you’re enjoying world-class amounts of snow at Tenjindaira Ski Resort! You’ll find expanses of backcountry terrain here, featuring mellow trees, steep chutes, and cliffs. Once you’ve had enough for the day, retreat back to Densuke minshuku.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Densuke minshuku
It’s time to bid farewell to the amazing team, guides, and the trip! Take the shinkansen bullet train back to Tokyo, and feel free to stay a little while longer to enjoy the incredible capital of Japan.
Meals: Breakfast
I’ve done several trips and courses with Tom. He’s a fantastic guide. He has a tonne of knowledge, sets a friendly atmosphere on trips, and really works to make trips as good as he can for everyone on them.
My family and I had the adventure of a lifetime. It was an incredible experience and Sawback did an excellent job. We would highly recommend the trip and Tom to everyone.
Included:
Not included:
In order to join this backcountry skiing trip in Japan, participants must have great fitness levels. Though there are options for classic as well as relaxed-paced groups, you’re still going to be touring up to 8 hours a day (with options for early return). The trip is designed to be town-based ski touring, and you’ll use lift access to alpine and treed ski runs. You’ll experience deep powder skiing on non-glaciated terrain.
Expect 1,100-1,400 m (3,609-4,593 ft) ski touring per day (and even more with lift-accessed ski touring).
Tours range from near sea level to +1,200 m (3,940 ft) above sea level. You can expect non-glaciated terrain as well as easy ski mountaineering (bootpacking etc.).
To participate in this tour, you need to have previous backcountry skiing experience. You will be skiing for up to 8 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 safe.
The trip is all lift access with some skinning to get out of bounds or back inbounds. Sometimes the group might stay out for the day and skin up runs. It’s a mix. Essentially, you will use lifts to help with access.
Liability waivers are a standard part of all guided outdoor adventures. Recently, the requirements have become a bit more rigorous for ACMG guides—meaning that you’ll need to agree to the signing of the waiver at the time of booking.
Prior to booking, we ask you to review the waiver. During the checkout process, you’ll have to acknowledge the risks and agree to the signing of the waiver. You are required to bring a printed copy on the trip.
Please note that signing and agreeing to the terms of the waiver is required in order to join this adventure. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us prior to booking.
You’ll need to bring all of the following personal equipment. Please don’t bring extra equipment. If you have any questions at all about gear, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Clothing:
Snow safety equipment:
Snow touring equipment:
Personal equipment:
Personal belongings
All mandatory skiing gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent it from some hotels, all resorts, and rental shops in Yuzawa—such as Benri Rental or Boo Sports.
Ski rental locations are in Yuzawa 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 prices:
Backcountry skiing 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.
To get to Echigo-Yuzawa Station, the meeting point of your backcountry skiing tour in Japan, most people fly into Haneda Airport (HND) since it’s more conveniently located to downtown Tokyo and access to the bullet train (shinkansen). You can also take a direct flight to Narita Airport (NRT).
Once you land, you can reach Echigo-Yuzawa Station by bullet train (shinkansen) in about 80 minutes from Tokyo Station. That’s where you’ll meet your guides.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Secure your spot for 2026 with just a 10% deposit. The remaining 20% of the deposit is due by the end of 2025. Learn about our cancellation policy below.
To secure your spot, a deposit in the amount of 30% is required at the time of booking. The remaining amount must be paid 90 calendar days prior to the trip departure.
Secure your spot for following season with a 10% deposit! This tour gets sold out very quickly, but with early-bird booking, you can rest assured you’ve booked your dream adventure in time.
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 to cover your losses for the case that you can’t participate or have to interrupt your trip “for any reason”.
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.
Please note that booking fees are non-refundable in all cases and will be deducted from the refund amount.
Best skiing of my life! Awesome people, fantastic guides, and superb choice of terrain, and let us not forget all that delicious food. I will come back for more!