A week-long ski trip to the island of Hokkaido, which is famous for its deep, dry snow and powder skiing!

Duration

6 Days/7 Nights

Departures:

• Jan 21st - Jan 28th Full
• Jan 28th - Feb 4th

About

You will fly into Sapporo, Japan via the New Chitose Airport and be greeted by our guides. From there we make the drive to Otaru where we will be based at the start of the week. This gives us the option to ski the areas of Kokusai, Kiroro, Sapporo Teine, and others while at the same time allowing you to explore the culture, food, and fun of this town in the evening. We choose smaller, less crowded, areas that offer, what we think is, a better, more authentic Hokkaido experience.

We then travel to the northern part of the island and Asahikawa City to ski Asahi-Dake, Furano, and other “secret” locations.

If conditions line up this is a lift-assisted ski touring trip. If it is snowing, which is the norm and we can access untracked snow, lift-served side-country skiing is what we will do. However, if conditions dictate, we could be touring to access good snow for a portion of or, sometimes, all day. Therefore, touring equipment, some touring experience, and decent fitness are mandatory. It is best to come on this trip as an advanced downhill skier, comfortable in black diamond tree skiing (28-38 degrees).

We choose each day's location based on weather, experience, and, most importantly, information that is available to us through Mako and his network of local guides, ski patrollers, and professional skiers and boarders. It is this wealth of information that constantly enables us to find the best snow for our clients. While others sit in the rain or are not riding due to high winds we have consistently delivered the goods.

Location

The island of Hokkaido is famous for its cold, deep, dry snow and powder skiing! Cold fronts coming from Siberia mix with moisture as they cross the Sea of Japan. The result is huge amounts of the cold dry fluffy stuff. The terrain in Hokkaido is mostly Birch Tree glade skiing. On the occasion, when it stops snowing and we can see, there are opportunities to climb and summit some of the bigger mountains and volcanoes.

Sample Itinerary

Prior Day 1: Sunday – Arrive in Japan, Chitose airport, met by guides, transfer to Otaru. Transportation included.

• Day 1: Monday – First ski day at Kokusai, Kiroro, Teine, onsen stay Otaru.
• Day 2: Tuesday – Ski at Kokusai, Kiroro or Teine, onsen stay Otaru.
• Day 3: Wednsday – Ski Kokusai, Kiroro or Teine travel to Asahikawa.
• Day 4: Thursday – Ski Asahi-Dake, Furano, or other backcountry locations, onsen stay Asahikawa.
• Day 5: Friday – Ski Asahi-Dake, Furano, or other backcountry location, onsen stay Asahikawa.
• Day 6: Saturday – Ski a nearby ski area or “secret spot” then drive to Chitose for last night.
• Day 7: Sunday – Return home or extend your stay in Japan to see some sites!

What's Included

• Transportation during the week
• Lodging for seven nights
• Breakfast for 7 mornings
• Lift tickets when needed
• All guide wages

What's Not Included

• Transportation to and from New Chitose Airport Sapporo, Japan
• Lunches and dinners
• Onsen visits
• Gratuity/tips for guides
• Personal AT, telemark, or split-board equipment. (We can help you with the purchase of or rental of gear for your trip.)

Difficulty

Moderate to Difficult • Vert. varies

Venue

Hokkaido, Japan