Freeride Road Trip and Backcountry Ski in Hokkaido

Question 1

How are groups split?

Answer

We organize guests into groups based on their level and ski touring expectations.

If you book a private tour, then you stay together with your group, and then on big touring days such as when we go to Mt. Yotei

for example, whenever possible, we create a faster and a slower group, which can be different than for freeriding days.

Question 2

What is the average age of the people who join this tour?

Answer

The average age of participants is 30 and 45 years old. However, we had people join us anywhere between 18 and 70 years old.

Question 3

Is this trip more about freeriding or ski touring?

Answer

This Hokkaido Road Trip has usually 70% Freeride/lift access skiing and 30% Ski Touring.

Question 4

What is the skiing/snowboarding level of tour participants?

Answer

The level of our tour participants range, we've had first-time powder skiers as well as back-flipping pillow masters hitting avalanche barriers. By choosing the right terrain and creating an adequate itinerary, we were able to satisfy both.

Question 5

Are debit and credit cards accepted?

Answer

Both are usually accepted in Tokyo and Sapporo and in Kutchan stores although some of the smaller restaurants only accept cash. Keep in mind that you can withdraw cash at any 7-Eleven store.

Question 6

What is the budget for your camps?

Answer

You should count with an average of 4000 - 6000 YEN per day. You will find a wide variety of bars and restaurants with options such as Ramen (starting at 800 YEN), Sashimi (starting at 1000 YEN), and other cuisines as we will as big supermarkets in Kutchan at walking distance from the house.

Question 7

What ski boots should I take?

Answer

You should bring a freeride (downhill) boot with a ski/walk. If you have inserts you can use our pin binding, if not, a frame binding with touring option.

Question 8

What are the requirements related to the VISA?

Answer

Please check visa requirements with your Japanese embassy. Citizens of most

countries don’t need visa to enter Japan. They receive 90 day permit to travel in the

country upon arrival.

Before landing in Japan, you will be asked to fill in an Immigration Form. You will

need our address in Japan: 3-chōme-2-31 Kita 3 Jōhigashi, Abuta-Gun, Kutchan- Cho

044-0003, Hokkaido, Japan. Purpose of travel is tourism.

During a short interview with an immigration officer please state that you're going to

Niseko for skiing. Sherpas Ride is registered in Europe, they wouldn't know the company, so you don't need to try to explain you go skiing with us.

IMPORTANT NOTE: For travel to Japan you will need either biometrical passport or

the one with machine-readable two-line code at the end of the passport (combination of your name, surname, letter,number and other characters). Most of the passports these days are biometrical. Only the express passports (issued in under 30 days) are not biometrical. If you are not sure, please check with the office which issued your passport.

Question 9

When do we have to arrive and leave?

Answer

ARRIVAL DESTINATION: Sapporo Chitose International Airport

ARRIVAL DATE and TIME: First day of the camp around noon or afternoon (no later than 16:00)

DEPARTURE DESTINATION: Sapporo Chitose International Airport DEPARTURE DATE and TIME: Last day anytime (even early morning is fine)

Question 10

Is this program suitable for both skiers and snowboarders?

Answer

This program is suitable for both. Our priority is to accommodate guests into groups adapted to their ski/ride level. We try to create the groups so that all the skiers are together, and snowboarders together rather than mixing them.

Question 11

Do you have travel tips for Tokyo?

Answer

We suggest the following:

Stroll through Akihabara during the day

Sky Tree during the day

Shibuya Crossing - just to see amount of people on one single crossing (can sit down

in Starbucks and watch the mayhem)

Shinjuku during the night

Travel in Tokyo Metro during rush hour

Party in Ropongi

Book Robot Restaurant (book ahead) and all the bizzare stuff Tokyo has to offer.

Regarding accomodation, we have a good experience with MyStays Hotels (note that Japanese size double bed is much narrower than standards)

Question 12

Can I send my luggage via post and travel light to Tokyo, Kyoto etc.?

Answer

Yes. Please check YAMATO (http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/en/) You can send your luggage straight to your terminal of departure to Sapporo. If you travel to Tokyo after our camps, you can arrange it while on the camp.

Question 13

Should I bring my own equipment?

Answer

We recommend that you bring your own equipment, since you will ski/ride on what you know. However we cannot discount the trip, since our costs are fixed. We recommend at

Question 14

What kind of ski, snowboard and other equipment do you offer?

Answer

We provide top-of-the-line equipment for free use while you're touring with us in Japan.

SKIS: Kastle FX and BMX (115mm and 105mm underfoot) Scott Scrapper (120mm and 110mm underfoot) and Armada JJ (117mm underfoot) with a wide variety of lengths for women and men.

SNOWBOARDS: Nitro Slash and Pow (powder specific) and GARA and NITRO Splitboards

BINDINGS: Fritschi Tecton (tech binding) and Tyrolia Adrenalin (frame binding, classic binding with hiking option)

AVALANCHE GEAR: Probe and shovel. Beacon is NOT included, but we can rent it for 90 EUR for the whole trip.

POLES: 2-piece telescopic poles for skiers and 3-piece telescopic poles for snowboarders

CARTRIDGES: We provide cartridges for ABS backpacks, so you don't have to bring your cartridge on the plane. Please bring your avalanche backpack.

We don't have cartridges from Mammut, BCA, Alpride, and other brands.

We do not provide ski boots, helmets, snowboard boots, or snowboard bindings.

You can reserve all the gear we provide in the booking form after you sign up for your trip.

Question 15

Do I need my avalanche bag in Japan?

Answer

Yes. I would definitely bring it for the Honshu Trip and Rishiri Trip, since the mountains are higher and steeper. For Freeride Camp and Hokkaido Road Trip, I would still recommend it. If you absolutely don't want to go through the hassle at the airport, then use our non-avalanche backpack from Pieps.

Question 16

Which is the group size?

Answer

The group is always 6 people + one guide.

Question 17

What will we do the last night in Sapporo?

Answer

After day of skiing (usually in some of the Sapporo resorts) we get to the hotel in

Sapporo (which we cover), go for a good-bye dinner and if the group is up for it we

check nightlife in Sapporo (Clubs, Karaoke, Baseball batting station and more). We

are not able to bring everyone individually to the airport, plus a lot of time it would be

even risky (time-wise) during the snowstorm, so our preferred solution is the suburban train to the airport which takes 45 mins.

We normally try to stay short walk or taxi ride from the train station (if taxi is needed, we will help you organize it)

Question 18

Where do the people that join your tours usually come from?

Answer

Mostly from Europe (Czech & Slovak Republic, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, UK, Sweden, Spain, Poland, and others). We also receive visitors from the United States, Canada, Australia, South America, and other countries. We speak English, Spanish, Czech, and some German. English is the main language spoken by our guides on the camps unless they are filled only with Czechs or Slovaks. In that case, Czech is spoken in the camp.

Question 19

What is the difference betweenthis hokkaido roadtrip and the Powder Freeride Camp?

Answer

While on this Hokkaido Road Trip after 4 days skiing around Niseko and Sapporo area we will move to north to Furano, on the Freeride Camp (https://www.explore-share.com/trip/freeride-ski-niseko/) we will be based in Kutchan all the time (access to Niseko and Sapporo Area).

Question 20

What considerations should I keep in mind when I take out the insurance?

Answer

The insurance you will need requires you to cover freeride and ski-touring and medical care in case of injury or illness. You will also need CANCELLATION INSURANCE in case you get injured or sick prior to your trip.

KEEP IN MIND:

When you choose the right package you should check thoroughly that it covers both freeriding and ski-touring with the following specifications:

Freeriding: Skiing or snowboarding outside of the marked trails and slopes.

Ski-touring: Ski touring in a free terrain, outside the boundaries of the ski resorts and marked trails.

CANCELLATION INSURANCE:

You will need to take out insurance in case you have to cancel the camp on your side (injury, illness, etc.). If you don't have cancellation insurance on your flight separately, include the flight ticket in the total sum for the trip.

Important note:

When you arrange your insurance with ERV (and other companies) and choose the cancel insurance option, arrange it for no later than 2 weeks after you make the first payment for the trip (flight ticket or deposit).

ALPENVEREIN:

The basic version of Alpenverein Insurance is not sufficient for this tour, because it only covers 10 000 EUR of medical expenses. If you choose Alpenverein, please purchase additional insurance (fee 44 EUR - might be different in your country) for a 17-day travel maximum. Please keep in mind that Alpenverein does not have Assistance Service in Japan. In case of an accident, you would be required to pay upfront, take the receipts, and then get a refund in Europe. Alpenverein does not offer liability for damage to property insurance (e.g. loss of our ski) and baggage insurance. We recommend combining Alpenverein with other insurance which covers mentioned accidents. If you are not a member of Alpenverein, you don't have to purchase it just for our trip.