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Ski touring on Rishiri Island and around Hokkaido
Join IFMGA certified guide Josef for this fantastic 10-day ski touring trip spent between the stunning wilds of Rishiri Island and the best freeride runs in central Hokkaido, Japan!
Highlights
Explore the island of Rishiri and some of the best freeride terrain in Hokkaido
Ski from the summit of Mt. Rishiri down to the sea!
Discover Hokkaido´s world-renowned powder snow for yourself
Join highly experienced and passionate mountain guides
Description
Beautiful Rishiri Island lies off the north eastearn coast of Hokkaido in Japan. The magnificent Mount Rishiri, an extinct volcano, dominates this 183 square kilometre land mass.
This trip will be split into two halves with the first 4 days being spent on the spectacular Rishiri Island and volcano. After a day of transit our next 4 days will be spent on the best freeride terrain of Central Hokkaido. On this 10-day program, we will enjoy 8 days of skiing.
Our time on Rishiri Island will be spent ski touring in its abundant powder snow. This is the perfect opportunity to explore this wild and remote landscape in the company of a certified guide.
We will dedicate one day to reach the summit and its 360 degree panoramic views will take your breath away. What’s more, we have the option to take the Volcano from any side, you will be spoilt for choice!
It’s rare for us to come across many other people so we will likely have this epic mountain terrain to ourselves. You´ll find plenty of pristine slopes for your pleasure!
We will use snowmobiles for the first 300 vertical metres on each tour so as to save our legs from over-exertion.
During our time in central Hokkaido we will discover some of the best runs for freeriding that are accessed by ski lifts.
This trip is open to both skiers and snowboarders. You need to be comfortable con black pistes and, ideally, have some freeriding experience (though this isn´t mandatory). A good fitness level is also required, although you can always choose to have more rest days if you need to.
As part of the program, you will undergo an Avalanche Training Session to learn how to navigate the backcountry safely. You will be accompanied by certified guides who will observe your technique and give you feedback as well as video analysis.
If pristine volcano slopes and the best runs in Hokkaido sound like fun, then don’t hesitate to sign up! I can’t wait to share this wonderful experience with you in such an epic location!
Excited by this experience? Perhaps you also want to check out this 10-day ski touring trip in the breathtaking fjords and mountains of the Lyngen Alps in northern Norway!
Accommodation On Rishiri we will stay in a comfortable and spacious Japanese lodge. Lodge serves breakfast and dinners with the opportunity to relax in the onsen every evening. Rooms are twin. During the second part of the trip on Hokkaido Island, we will stay in a hotel in Asahikawa with good access to all neighboring freeriding and backcountry options. |
Photos
Itinerary
Day 1: Japan arrival - Flight to Rishiri Island
Arrival to Japan (Sapporo airport). Connection flight to Rishiri Island.
Day 2: Ski Touring Rishiri
Ski touring on Rishiri (each day with UIAGM guide)
In the evening: Avalanche Awareness Presentation
Day 3: Ski Touring Rishiri
Ski touring on Rishiri (a different face) + Avalanche Rescue Practice
In the evening: Onsen (hot spring) relaxation (like every evening)
Day 4: Ski Touring Rishiri
Ski touring on Rishiri (different face)
In the evening: Onsen relaxation
Day 5: Rishiri Summit
Today we will attempt to reach the summit of Mount Rishiri
Weather permitting
Day 6: Cetral Hokkaido
Transfer to Central Hokkaido (Asahikawa)
Day 7: Furano
Day 8: Kuro-Dake
Kuro-dake (longest top-to-bottom run on Hokkaido)
Day 9: Undisclosed!!
Undisclosed location in North Hokkaido
Day 10: Return
Return to Sapporo and end of the trip.
About the guide
I'm a UIAGM certified guide, skitouring-freeride and heliski guide. I'm a lifelong skier, climber and mountaineer, born in Prachovske skaly, a famous sandstone climbing area in the Czech Republic.
I've personally participated in 13 expeditions to 8thousander peaks and stood 5 times on an 8000m peak. I have guided guests on all continents (7 summits, etc..) in numerous treks, climbing or skitouring expeditions.
I run a guiding company in Prague and work for Patagonia, SKI TRAB and ABS avalanche backpacks. I spend my winter guiding in the Northern hemisphere, including heliski in Lappland (SWE), ski touring in Morocco or enjoying the best powder snow on earth in Japan.
The rest of the time I'm on expeditions in Nepal or South America and I spend most of the summer climbing in my hometown or guiding in the Alps.
I like Czech beer and food, passionate guests and jokes. If I'm not available my team will guide you instead.
For booking assistance
Have any doubts? Talk directly with an Explore Share assistant.
The Concierge service is a great tool for when you still haven't decided what kind of Adventure you're looking for and you're open to suggestions
Prices per person
Group of 1 | EUR 2980 each |
Group of 2 | EUR 2980 each |
Group of 3 | EUR 2980 each |
Group of 4 | EUR 2980 each |
Group of 5 | EUR 2980 each |
Group of 6 | EUR 2980 each |
Group of 7 | EUR 2980 each |
Group of 8 | EUR 2980 each |
Want a different number of travellers?
Price includes
• Guiding fee
• Accommodation
• Transport during the trip
Price details
• Price also includes: half board while on Rishiri Island, breakfast the rest of the days. Not included in the price are your flights. Flight ticket (Europe to Sapporo costs around 580 EUR, Sapporo to Rishiri Island 250 EUR, we can help out with flight reservation) Insurance - approx. 100 EUR (Travel and Cancel insurance (not taking the trip due to injury illness etc.)) - we can arrange insurance for you Lunches and dinners (on Hokkaido) Please note: The trip with flight tickets, insurance, and all meal expenses will cost you around 3800 EUR.
What people are saying about Josef Simunek
Pfanni
5.00
July 2019
Fortunat Signorell
5.00
July 2019
Booked the Hokkaido Roadtrip - this can be described in one word: Fantastic! I would book this trip again immediately! Super organized camp with excellent powderlines. Guides are also trying very hard to put together an alternative program (ski tours) if it happens that there is no fresh snow for a few days. Really absolutely recommendable Trip to Japan with all-round care.
Martin Vana
5.00
July 2019
What an experience! Vojta, Tomas, Cyril and Kuba run a great camp with good balance of ski touring and lift access to get to the best lines of the day. I liked the idea of not having daily program set in stone but rather wait for morning weather report to decide on the best option for the day. I highly recommend Sherpas ride for Japow experience.
Manuel Wildtgrube
5.00
July 2019
Definitely provided one of the best sports experiences I\'ve ever had. Organization and support was great, staff very competent and ambitious. Skis and boards provided, guides were able to find the best powder lines on the mountains. Big thumbs up!
Bastien Adrien
5.00
July 2019
I recently did the Freeride Camp with Sherpas Ride and it was amazing. First of all the staff is not only very competent but also highly motivated to provide a great experience on and off the mountain every single day. The provided equipment (Skis, Poles & avalanche equipment) was new and worked well. Breakfast was freshly made every day and the guys did a good job creating a relaxed and fun atmosphere throughout the trip. I\'ll definitely try to come back for another trip!
Alex
5.00
April 2017
(Travelled Feb 2017) Josef\'s colleagues Vojta, Cyril, Kuba and Thomas run a top notch guiding company. They led my group on an amazing 8 day trip in Hokkaido during the second half of February 2017. They prayed to the snow gods and we were rewarded with 6 feet (~150 CM) of light delicious JaPow over the 8 days, surfing snow all over the region. It was beyond epic. Great bunch of dudes, highly competent guides, I would ride with them any day! Highly recommend for anyone considering hitting up Japan or any of their other awesome trips.
Paul Gelbin
5.00
March 2017
No words can describe the amazing experience I had with Sherpasride! They are going above and beyond to find places with the best conditions every day and are providing a very professional guiding. The trip was an unforgettable experience which I definitely want to do again and I can highly recommend Sherpasride, you will enjoy the time with Sherpasride to the fullest! Thank you Vojta, Kuba,Cyril and Thomas for everything!!
Benji Merlin Gaub
5.00
March 2017
What a blast! We had the most epic trip with the boys from sherpas ride. Vojta assembled a very good group with strong riders. We got blessed with the weather and found fresh powder lines every day. Vojta always made sure to keep us busy and entertained - no day like the previous one, new highlights every day!! It was a good mix of resort skiing and ski touring. On our off day we went swimming in the ocean followed by whiskey tasting tour. Even got to play around with a drone. Seriously, what more can you ask for? Definitely coming back for more. I 100% recommend this camp. If you want to have a great time in japan with easy going guides that ski hard and always find fresh powder stashes at a really decent price, look no further.
Albert Vicente
5.00
February 2017
Those guys are amazing! 9 days of ski that I will never forgget! Hope to see you soon guys! Spanish kisses!
Anna Slater
5.00
February 2017
Even If snow conditions aren\'t the best ones in the season the guides will always tAke you for the fresh pow! ( Japow:) . Great 10 days of freeriding and enjoying japanese food,onsen and countryside of Hokkaidó.
Verena SC
5.00
February 2017
We had an awesome freeride experience with sherpasride last year! Vojta, Tomas and Kuba are doing a great job. The camp is unique and with the best breakfast you can imagine thanks to Kuba. Therefore we came back to Japan shredding some powder with the guys again! It\'s not about business, it’s about passion!
Guillaume
4.00
February 2017
Obviously after a trip like that it goes very well! It was a great trip, the group was great and the guides too !! Very competent and they knew their subject! I found the trip checking on the internet and discovered explore-share.com. I was looking for a freeride ski trip in Japan, that only ! We had heard so much about this famous snow … We choose to hire Sherpa guides for 2 reasons : It was the best price for 9 days of ride, and the stay included very little hiking. Knowing that we were looking for freeride and not ski touring, the choice was quickly made. In addition, all equipment was provided (skiing, safety equipment). It was the first time we made such a trip, and frankly speaking, to be repeated! Great snow. The only downside is that we missed some more steep ski runs. But we are not disappointed as we went there for the snow and it was excellent. The fact of having the guide is useful when you do not know the area, the resort. If I had to go back, I would go without a guide because there is no use for me. Once you know a little bit the area, it is impossible to get lost .. We simply followed the \'freeride doors\' that everyone takes. I would recommend this trip as it was a very good experience, well organized stay, competent guide, and top destination! No regrets!!
Claudio Anthamatten
5.00
January 2017
I had a great week with good snow, a good choice of resorts and restaurants. With Thomas and Vojta you will get in a short time a perfect glance of hokkaido...
Ivan Schellhorn
5.00
January 2017
Best Backcountry tours in JAPOW, awesome spirit, fantastic guiding, good food and excellent local knowledge. Our group has had a blast with Thomas and Vojta. Highly recommend to go with these guys
Christian Gottwald
5.00
August 2016
Best ski guiding in the World..... Awesome Japanese trips. Very good organization... Nice people.... All in all perfect..... Looking forward to book the next trip.
Anja
5.00
August 2016
Vojta and Tomáš create a pleasant and enjoyable atmosphere and always look for the best snow conditions in the region. You will enjoy the best skiing experience ever!
David Urie
5.00
August 2016
I was not backcountry skier before. Thank to Vojta and Tomas it was my experience with powder outstanding. I would recommend Japan trip to any skiing fan. Thank you guys for gr8 adventure.
Martin Klofanda
5.00
June 2016
Best skiing ever with Sherpas Ride in Japan..
Jacqui Benson Ellett
5.00
May 2016
Thanks guys for running a great trip.. 2017, see u there!
Nenad Tripic
5.00
May 2016
Tomáš and Vojta are doing a great job and I can really recommend Sherpas Ride to everybody who\'s looking for an unique experience in Japan.
Junny Lee
5.00
September 2014
Vojta is not only an excellent skiing instructor - he is a great person. It was my second time skiing after a terrible skiing accident ten years ago. Vojta took personal care of me. He improved my technique immensely, gave me confidence and most importantly enabled me to love and enjoy skiing once again. Thanks Vojta!
I participated in the Sherpas Ride Trip Dec/Jan 2018/19 and I loved the experience of freeriding in Japan as well as the guiding and organization of Tomas and Vojta from Sherpas Ride. The trip was booked directly with Vojta and he advised me carefully on fitness level and equipment required for the trip. I felt well prepared and any question or organizational detail was delivered in a timely manner. At arrival the pickup went smoothly and Vojta is great in making you feel welcome and at home from the first minute. The housing, where our group of 12 people, was accommodated was conveniently equipped and close to restaurants and supermarkets. The facilities like bathroom and kitchen are shared and the group was super lovely and easy to deal with. The equipment (ski, poles, backpack with avalanche rescue equipment, and skins) was all comparatively new and well maintained. Tomas and Vojta were always helpful if there was any need or problem with it. The organization of breakfast, driving to the best spot and during the freeriding or touring day went well because the guys mange everything in a nice and relaxed way. I asked for and appreciated that they gave me advise on how to improve my freeriding skills and that they had a good speed and thus, I was also challenged to become better. I felt well informed on where to go and how to behave and there was always room for discussing snow conditions and how to best spot a line and estimate risks. I definitely learned something there and the two guides made things fun, yet clear when limits are reached. The scenery of the volcanos, trees, and the masses of snow is simply faboulous. There is nothing comparable to enjoying the ride in the deep snow spraying all over you. I would definitely do it again! Thanks for the time, Sherpas Ride, and my great group Dec/Jan 2018/19 - you will always enjoy a special place in my memories.