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Summary
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Trip options

Booking for a group?
Reserve spots for 5 or more people, and get $57 off for each
People
1 Person
Date(s)
--
Duration
11 day
Guide(s)
Tom Wolfe, Jun Yanagisawa, Sawback Alpine Adventures
Reserve deposit (10%) $0
Second Payment Amount: $0
  • 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

      Guests in Japan
    • 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

      Backcountry skiing in Japan
    • 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

      Skiing group in Japan
    • 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

      Skiing in Japan
    • 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

      Skiing day in Japanese Mountains
    • 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

      Powder skiing in Japan
    • 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

      Leaving Japan
    • What you get on this adventure:

        • An experienced, certified ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area
        • 10-day backcountry skiing trip in Japan
        • Accommodation for 9 nights
        • Breakfasts and dinners
        • Lift tickets
        • Transportation during the tour (except Shinkansen)
        • Taxes on above items
        • Pillows, duvets, bed linen and towels supplied at ryokans and hotels
        • Slippers at the ryokans
        • Group gear
          • Altimeter
          • Map and compass
          • GPS
          • Snow study kit
          • Snow and/or bush saw
          • First aid kit
          • Emergency tarp
          • Emergency toboggan
          • Group repair kit
          • Radio & satellite phone

      What’s not included:

        • International and domestic flights
        • Shinkansen tickets
        • Accommodation and dinner in Tokyo
        • Lunches
        • Beverages
        • Technical backcountry ski touring equipment (available to rent)
        • Personal expenses
        • Travel insurance
    • 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.

    • 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:

        • 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
        • Handkerchief for blocking the sun — optional

      Snow safety equipment:

        • Avalanche beacon with good batteries (and spares)
        • Shovel
        • Probe (2.8 m or longer preferred)

      Snow touring equipment:

        • Skis (100 to 125 mm in the waist recommended) or split board (a powder board of course!)
        • Ski strap
        • Ski or snowboard boots
        • Poles
        • Climbing skins
        • Skin wax (or a candle)
        • Binding repair kit to fix your personal travel setup
        • Ski helmet — optional

      Personal equipment:

        • Pack (25-30 litres will work fine, but you’ll want something larger for getting to the Wada Goya mountain hut)
        • 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
        • Binoculars — optional
        • Prussik cord – 5m x 6mm — optional, for contributing to emergency toboggan construction

      Personal belongings

        • Duffle bag for your clothes
        • A larger backpack to get to the Wada Goya mountain hut (e.g. 40-45 L)
        • Shoes
        • Comfortable clothing for travel as well as some nice clothes to wear to the restaurants
        • Personal medications and toiletries
        • Ear plugs
        • Reading material — optional
        • Chargers & adapters for electronic devices (Japan AC power is 100V and should work to power your device chargers, see this page for details)
        • Cash (you should have some Japanese yen in cash as there are still many places in Japan where they don’t accept cards)
    • 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:

        • For this backcountry skiing tour in Japan, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 5:1.
        • The cost is per person and doesn’t decrease as the group grows.

      Backcountry skiing in Japan can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

      Min. age requirements:

        • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
        • Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis.

      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.

    • 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 Japan, please refer to Japan’s COVID-19 travel advice.

      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!

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