Come and introduce yourself to the real Hokkaido backcountry. We’ll spend 5 days following the best conditions around Central Hokkaido, staying, eating and riding where the locals do. Come and see our version of real life without having to completely neglect your own.
You’ll get a taste of authentic Japanese hospitality, eat at some of the best local joints, and ride great lines in amazing snow.
Suits:
Group size: Maximum 5 people, but we recommend no more than 4.
Rider ability: Strong intermediate or above.
Fitness level: Moderate or high level of fitness (able to hike uphill on skins or a splitboard for 4 hours a day).
Backcountry experience: This trip is suitable for enthusiastic backcountry beginners and grizzled veterans alike.
Make sure your group is all at a similar level of fitness, ability and ambition.
Location and accommodation:
Locations and itineraries are not fixed - we’ll follow snow and good weather.
Normally we move around Central Hokkaido but if conditions are dire we’ll move elsewhere.
We could go anywhere and ski anything.
Accommodation will be typically Japanese style rooms in traditional ryokans, onsens or guesthouses. Expect futons on tatami mats, shared bathrooms, onsen-style bathing areas, etc.
All pricing is for twin share rooms.
The riding:
Join us for a quick tour across the best of Central Hokkaido. We’ll ski and board in the backcountry around Asahikawa, the Souknyo area, Asahidake, Tokachidake and the Yubari Mountains, with the option to venture further afield if the snow and weather suits.
This region has some of the best ratios of powder to people anywhere, with the chance for first tracks in everything from cruisy meadows to steeps or pillows. Spend five days inside your own ski movie and then head home with tired legs and a summer’s supply of good memories. We’ll focus our efforts on the best the backcountry has to offer, with resort riding as a plan B for storm days or a chance to catch our breath.
Days typically involve up to about 1200m of vert (skinning tends to be slow in the deep snow) up and down mellow trees, steeps, chutes, alpine faces, you name it. Runs can be punchy 300m laps or 1000m faces. We tailor the terrain we use to the group’s ability and the weather and snow-safety for the day.
When:
January through March subject to guide availability.
We’re a small company with good guides in high demand. Book early so you don’t miss out.
Pricing:
$2490AUD per person for a group of 4 or 5 people
$2940AUD per person for a group of 3 people
$3540AUD per person for a group of 2 people
The trip includes:
Transport to and from anywhere in Central Hokkaido to start and finish your trip - Asahikawa Airport, Asahikawa JR (Japan Rail) Station, Furano or similar.
Transport to and from trailheads/resorts to ski each day.
Four nights’ accommodation in Japanese inns, guesthouses and onsens. Accommodation usually includes breakfast and occasionally dinners and onsen entry.
Five days guiding.
We plan to ski or board every day, so make sure you plan to meet us early on day 1 and finish your trip late on day 5 so we have time to go riding.
Tips, tricks and local knowledge from genuine guides with a passion for backcountry skiing.
Daily avalanche safety briefing plus rescue training as required throughout your trip.
It doesn’t include:
Rental gear (we don’t have any but we can help you find it - let us know).
Flights.
Lift tickets (we never know if we’ll need them, so it’s easier to get them as we go).
Anything else.
Options:
You can extend this trip for up to a total of 9 days for an additional $500/$590/$700 per person per day (for groups of 4-5/3/2 respectively, all prices in AUD). Let us know if you’re interested in extending the trip when you fill in the booking form below.