What you get in this adventure: An experienced, certified English-speaking ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area 7 days of lift-accessed slackcountry skiing and ski touring Accommodation during the tour in luxury hotels Most breakfasts and 6 dinners All necessary road transportation (rented minivans with gas) Taxes What’s not included: International and domestic flights Lunches Alcohol Beverages (above dinner $100/person) Technical backcountry ski touring equipment (can be rented) Lift tickets at resorts Personal expenses

How fit do I need to be?

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 (4,265-4,9230 ft) 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. Each day there will be an option of resort skiing.

What if I’ve never backcountry skied before?

In order to join this backcountry skiing tour in Japan, you need to have previous backcountry skiing experience. But each day we will have an option of resort skiing.

What do I need to bring?

Clothing list Wool or synthetic socks and liner socks Long underwear top — synthetic or wool Light fleece or wool sweater Wind shell — nylon or ‘Schoeller’ type jacket Waterproof breathable jacket Warm insulated jacket — down or synthetic Long underwear bottoms — synthetic or wool Multipurpose stretch nylon or ‘Schoeller’ type pants Waterproof breathable pants Warm hat — wool or synthetic Brimmed cap for sun protection Face warmer — scarf, neck tube or balaclava (optional) Light gloves — wool, synthetic or leather Insulated gloves or mitts with waterproof outer shell Spare gloves or mitts Snow Safety Equipment — can be rented Avalanche beacon with good batteries (and spares) Shovel Probe (2.4m or longer preferred) Gear — can be rented Ski helmet Skis or split board — wider, powder skis, minimum width 108mm are recommended Lightweight, touring bindings (Dynafit or ATK are best) Ski strap Ski or snowboard boots and ski crampons Poles Climbing skins Skin wax (or a candle) Binding repair kit to fix your personal travel setup Personal equipment Day pack large enough to carry things you might need throughout the day (25-40L) Durable duffel bag, preferably just one (approx. 60L) Sunglasses (both orange and dark lenses help a lot for travel in all conditions) Goggles (orange lenses) Sunscreen and lip cream (SPF 30+) Head lamp with good batteries Insulated water bottle or thermos (1-2 L) Lunch bag or container Personal blister kit (i.e: Leukotape-P and Compeed/Second Skin blister pads) Pocket knife — optional Camera — optional, but recommended

Can I rent equipment?

All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. There are numerous rental shops in Sapporo, some of which are Sapporo Kokusai and Sapporo Teine , who have the following gear: Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel, and probe Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots and poles Splitboards 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 prices: For this premium skiing tour in Japan, there will be two guides. The maximum group size is 12. The cost does not decrease as the group grows.

Getting there and meeting location

To start this tour, most people fly into New Chitose Airport (CTS) 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.

Safety measures in Japan

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans. We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!

Three people going uphill on a ski tour with fog and snow in the background.

One person skiing untracked snow through trees.

A boy walking through a snow covered street on his skis.

A zoomed out view of Niseko village at night with lights.

Water flowing into a natural hot spring during the winter.

A person in a natural hot spring while the outskirts are covered in snow.

A skier going through powder and snow covered trees.

HOKKAIDO | JAPAN

Snow, Sushi, and Hot Springs: A Ski Journey Through Japan

Dates

January 7-16, 2025

Duration

10 days

Hosts

Pawel Kunachowicz, Bine Žalohar, Karmen Marohnić, Viktor Marohnić

Questions, additional dates, private groups

Book a call

Intro
Itinerary
Brochure
Hosts
Accommodation
Things to know

You always remember your first ski trip to Japan. In 2012, as a family we went skiing in Niseko, the newcomers’ classic spot. To our surprise, and despite our considerable skiing background, skiing there felt unreal—it is the closest you can get to snow surfing! Ever since, we’ve been dreaming of going back, but this time, we wanted to have an even more authentic experience. As luck would have it, in the meantime, we became friends with Pawel Kunachowicz, who has guided skiing in Japan for 10 years and knows all the best secret spots to ski, eat, and relax. In 2013, Pawel met a New Zealand guide who lived in Hokkaido. They worked together for Pawel’s first five seasons in Japan. He would guide skiers from Europe and the USA all around the country and slowly became a local guide. Now, Pawel knows the area, its secret spots, mountain customs, and the conditions on the island. He helped us put this special adventure together, which is not even close to our commercial experience as novices in Niseko. Knowing that our bases are now well covered, one thing’s for sure: this is going to be a trip to remember!

Adventure highlights

Ski JaPow with locals

Ski Japan’s legendary fresh powder, considered the best on earth for a reason
Enjoy finest local food

Taste the world famous cuisine, with its unique ingredients, flavors, and history
Onsen for the senses

Nothing beats relaxing in onsens, the traditional Japanese hot spring baths

Itinerary

Viktor, a 57hours founder, and his wife Karmen, partnered up with Tom and Jun, seasoned ski guides, to create a special tour of the northernmost island of Japan. Thanks to the guides’ expertise in navigating Japan’s best secret skiing spots, this will surely be a trip to remember—in the course of 10 days, the plan is to surf fresh powder, eat the finest local food, and relax in onsens, Japanese hot spring baths.

Fly into New Chitose airport, where we will rent our minivans. We will all meet at the hotel in Otaru. Once you get your accommodation, get to know your guide and group, make yourself comfortable, and get ready for the quintessential ski touring adventure in Japan!
You’ll wake up in Otaru, a quaint town with a mix of traditional charm and modern comforts. After breakfast, head out to Kiroro Ski Resort for a day of skiing on its pristine powder slopes. The resort offers varied runs for all skill levels, so you’ll have plenty of options to explore. As the sun sets, return to Otaru and make your way to its vibrant Street Food Market, where you can sample a variety of delicious local dishes, with a focus on fresh seafood. It’s the perfect way to end a day on the slopes.
On your way to Asahikawa from Otaru, break up the journey with a quick ski pit stop at a scenic resort about halfway between the two cities. This convenient detour allows you to hit the slopes for a few runs or just enjoy the snowy landscapes. Afterward, continue your journey to Asahikawa! You are based in Asahikawa for the next three days for easy access to a Japanese city and a wide range of ski resorts.
Take a break from the slopes and explore Asahikawa, a vibrant city nestled in the heart of Hokkaido. For a taste of local culture, check out the Asahikawa Ramen Village, where you can sample different styles of Hokkaido’s iconic ramen. Or visit an onsen, or natural hot springs, which is a quintessential part of Japanese culture.
Wake up in Asahikawa and head over to Asahidake, Hokkaido’s highest peak and a renowned destination for off-piste skiing and snowboarding. Asahidake offers thrilling runs and stunning views of the surrounding national park. After an exhilarating day on the mountain, relax and indulge in a sumptuous dinner at a local tempura restaurant. Return back to your hotel in Ashaidake!
One of the unique aspects of Tomamu is its laid-back atmosphere and escape from the typical Western ski crowds. With most international guests coming from Asia, you’ll enjoy a quieter setting. Here powder days are a thrill with a variety of in-bounds runs, plus enticing sidecountry and backcountry opportunities.
Furano Village, nestled in the heart of Hokkaido, is a charming and picturesque town that offers visitors a delightful blend of Japanese culture and ski resort amenities. Known for its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant flower fields in the summer, Furano transforms into a winter wonderland during the ski season, attracting visitors from around the world. The village is quaint and friendly, with a laid-back atmosphere. Unlike some larger resorts that can feel overly commercialized, Furano retains an authentic Japanese feel.
Furano is celebrated for its long, groomed runs that cater to all skill levels, from beginners to advanced riders. If you enjoy cruising at a leisurely pace or prefer the thrill of high-speed descents, Furano’s on-piste skiing has plenty to offer. In addition to its groomed slopes, Furano has a few runs that are left au naturel. There is excellent off-piste terrain and amazing side-country. The backcountry areas are easily accessible and provide a wealth of opportunities for those with the skills to navigate the more rugged terrain.

Meet your hosts

Pawel Kunachowicz

IFMGA Certified Guide

Pawel Kunachowicz is an internationally certified IFMGA mountain guide and alpine ski instructor. For over 20 years he has been working as a professional in the mountains, first as a ski instructor, then as a guide. He lives in Chamonix and this is where he offers his guiding services almost year-round. Pawel loves chasing the best snow in the world, so he leads multi-day tours around the globe, including Japan, where he provides Western skiers with the best possible backcountry experience due to his English language skills, terrain familiarity, and adventurous sensibilities of a European alpine skier.

Bine Žalohar

Born in the Slovenian mountains, Bine Žalohar has traveled the world skiing and hiking. He is a passionate extreme sports enthusiast; freestyle skier, surfer, mountain biker, climber, and underwater fisherman. Having obtained a sports degree, Bine continued training and went on to become a licensed skiing and mountain guide. His passion lies in sharing the wonders of the beloved Alps as well as destinations in Japan, Croatia, France, Austria, and many more with fellow adventure junkies.

Karmen Marohnić

As one of the 57hours founders, Karmen is always ready to try a new sport or explore a new part of the world. From backcountry skiing in British Columbia to kitesurfing in Peru and mountain biking in France, Karmen loves to venture into unknown adventures.

Viktor Marohnić

57hours founder Viktor is a passionate skier, climber, surfer, and a serial entrepreneur. What he enjoys most is showing people how great the outdoor lifestyle can be—this has led him to start 57hours, as a way to share his passion for the outdoors. Viktor is based in NYC, but he's adventuring around the globe.

Accommodation

OMO5 in Otaru

Existing in harmony with its surrounding lush landscapes of the Daisetsu range and Mt. Asahidake, this wooden inn offers a calming retreat after a day out in the snow. All rooms are carefully designed to ensure a relaxing stay.

The best part of this inn might just be its onsens—there are 17 different baths and five hot spring sources. Located on the Yukomansou grounds, this hot water bubbling up from sources is unique. Each bath is fully supplied with this water. As it’s rich in minerals, all dishes are prepared with this water, and it’s what we’ll drink while we’re there.

There is also a terrific restaurant in the inn, where the chef creates dishes with seasonal products, and the focus is on Yushoku-zen—a meal specially created to be a wonderful combination of the flavor as well as the appearance.

OMO7 Grand Hotel in Asahikawa

At 4,200 ft on top of Mount Tokachidake, Ryounkaku is the highest hotel in Hokkaido! Featuring both outdoor and indoor hot spring baths, guests can relax while taking a dip and enjoying panoramic mountain views. There’s also a hot tub, a lounge, and a sauna.

Both Japanese-style (with tatami floors and futon bedding) and Western-style rooms are available. All rooms offer wonderful views of the surrounding forests. There is also a restaurant serving delicious traditional food.

Fenix Furano

Nestled in Myoko National Park, Tsubame Highland Lodge provides an ideal blend of comfort and convenience. The lodge features rooms with nature and forest views, some Japanese style with traditional futon bedding on a tatami floor, some classic Western style with beds.

There are both outdoor and indoor hot spring baths, as well as a bar and delicious Japanese food every day.

Things to know

What you get in this adventure:
- - An experienced, certified English-speaking ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  - 7 days of lift-accessed slackcountry skiing and ski touring
  - Accommodation during the tour in luxury hotels
  - Most breakfasts and 6 dinners
  - All necessary road transportation (rented minivans with gas)
  - Taxes
What’s not included:
- - International and domestic flights
  - Lunches
  - Alcohol Beverages (above dinner $100/person)
  - Technical backcountry ski touring equipment (can be rented)
  - Lift tickets at resorts
  - Personal expenses
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 (4,265-4,9230 ft) 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.
Each day there will be an option of resort skiing.
In order to join this backcountry skiing tour in Japan, you need to have previous backcountry skiing experience. But each day we will have an option of resort skiing.
Clothing list
- - Wool or synthetic socks and liner socks
  - Long underwear top — synthetic or wool
  - Light fleece or wool sweater
  - Wind shell — nylon or ‘Schoeller’ type jacket
  - Waterproof breathable jacket
  - Warm insulated jacket — down or synthetic
  - Long underwear bottoms — synthetic or wool
  - Multipurpose stretch nylon or ‘Schoeller’ type pants
  - Waterproof breathable pants
  - Warm hat — wool or synthetic
  - Brimmed cap for sun protection
  - Face warmer — scarf, neck tube or balaclava (optional)
  - Light gloves — wool, synthetic or leather
  - Insulated gloves or mitts with waterproof outer shell
  - Spare gloves or mitts
Snow Safety Equipment — can be rented
- - Avalanche beacon with good batteries (and spares)
  - Shovel
  - Probe (2.4m or longer preferred)
Gear — can be rented
- - Ski helmet
  - Skis or split board — wider, powder skis, minimum width 108mm are recommended
  - Lightweight, touring bindings (Dynafit or ATK are best)
  - Ski strap
  - Ski or snowboard boots and ski crampons
  - Poles
  - Climbing skins
  - Skin wax (or a candle)
  - Binding repair kit to fix your personal travel setup
Personal equipment
- - Day pack large enough to carry things you might need throughout the day (25-40L)
  - Durable duffel bag, preferably just one (approx. 60L)
  - Sunglasses (both orange and dark lenses help a lot for travel in all conditions)
  - Goggles (orange lenses)
  - Sunscreen and lip cream (SPF 30+)
  - Head lamp with good batteries
  - Insulated water bottle or thermos (1-2 L)
  - Lunch bag or container
  - Personal blister kit (i.e: Leukotape-P and Compeed/Second Skin blister pads)
  - Pocket knife — optional
  - Camera — optional, but recommended
All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. There are numerous rental shops in Sapporo, some of which are Sapporo Kokusai and Sapporo Teine, who have the following gear:
- - Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel, and probe
  - Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots and poles
  - Splitboards
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 prices:
- - For this premium skiing tour in Japan, there will be two guides. The maximum group size is 12.
  - The cost does not decrease as the group grows.
To start this tour, most people fly into New Chitose Airport (CTS) 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.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance.

With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.

We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
A 15% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 3 months (90 days) prior to departure.