Experience the best freeride skiing in Japan on this amazing 10-day tour through Hokkaido's most epic powder spots with a local certified guide! From the world-renowned resorts of Niseko and Sapporo to hidden gems in the backcountry, you'll have the chance to explore some of the most challenging and rewarding terrain in Japan.
Group
10 Days
Jan, Feb, Mar
Fit
Intermediate
* Kokusai resort's long powder lines
* Mount Yotei backcountry tour
* Rusutsu resort hidden gems
* Shirebetsu fun
* Moiwa's amazing powder runs
On this comprehensive 10-day tour through Niseko and Sapporo, you will discover the best freeride skiing in Hokkaido, all while enjoying a full-on Japan experience too!
The famous dry powder of southwest Hokkaido has the island its reputation as one of the best ski destinations in the world. We will prove Hokkaido's fame to be true on an adventure-packed 10 days in which we will enjoy 7 to 8 off-piste skiing days with lift access to the best pow, and 1 to 2 days of intensive backcountry skiing, if you are up for it. Although we have an outlined itinerary, we will be flexible to ski on the best snow each day.
Of course, the tour will not only be limited to skiing. We will have the chance to eat delicious Japanese cuisine and to recover at different onset (hot springs).
In terms of the vertical, we will ski around 10,000 downhill vertical meters each day, with a 500 to 900m vertical drop. As for uphill efforts, the hardest will be the day we climb Mt. Yotei, which will take a total of 4 to 6 hours (1500 m vertical) between ascent and descent. We will spend around 3 hours on each of the rest of the tours and the pace will take the needs of the group into consideration.
This trip is open for both skiers and snowboarders to join. Different levels are also welcome, we will find the right group for you. Each group has a maximum size of 6 people. Keep in mind that safety is the priority for us. If the conditions are not right, our guides will pursue more conservative options for each day.
We'll be based in Kutchan, a small village with easy access to Niseko and Sapporo areas. We'll stay in comfortable and cozy guesthouse for the whole group, in a friendly and unique atmosphere. If you want to travel around Japan after this trip, we can help you with some local tips and flight arrangements.
Please get in touch with us if you want to join this freeriding trip in Japan! It will be our pleasure to guide you.
And in case you're looking for a similar trip with more ski touring and less freeriding, you should consider this road trip and backcountry ski touring in Hokkaido.
- Accommodation included
- Guiding fee
- Lift tickets
- Transport during the trip
- Skis
- Ski poles
INCLUDES:
Guiding
Ski Passes
10 Nights of Accommodation
Breakfasts
Transportation in Japan
Avalanche Training Session
Ski Technique Coaching (optional)
Avalanche Equipment (Backpack, Probe, Shovel) -Beacons are NOT included-
Free rental of Skis and Boards (Kaestle freetouring skis, Nitro boards, Gara splitboards)
DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Lunch and dinner
Beacons (they will be charged 90 EUR/ per camp)
Flight ticket (Europe-Sapporo is approx. 600 EUR)
Travel and Cancellation Insurance (approx. 100 EUR)
Optional Cat Skiing
We will enjoy some great tree-skiing. Evening: Avalanche Safety Presentation.
We will enjoy some great powder skiing and beacon search skills after. Evening: Onsen
We will visit the best ski spots in Niseko (Grand Hirafu, Hanazono, Niseko Village, and Annupurri). Evening: Night Powder Skiing
We will enjoy the less crowded Kiroro and work on our ski technique. Evening: Karaoke Night (optional)
Enjoy skiing on your own, visiting a Whisky distillery, going to Otaru, or planning your own fun.
Enjoy a thrilling day in the backcountry on a Mount Yotei climb that will allow you to ski in the crater and then ski down Yotei! Evening: Onsen
Enjoy the amazing off-piste and access to the backcountry that Kokusai offers.
Ocean views and the steepest terrain in Hokkaido!
We have several options including ski touring in a secret Southwest Hokkaido spot, take the van, or ski all the way to the ocean. Evening: Good Bye Party
Flights from/to Japan-Europe take 2 days. If you need help with your flights, send us a message.
Other gear: We INCLUDE the following: SKIS: Kastle BMX and FX (115mm and 105mm underfoot), Scott Scrapper (120mm underfoot) and Punisher (105mm - 110mm underfoot), Armada JJ (117mm underfoot) in various lengths for men and women. SNOWBOARDS:Nitro Slash (powder specific), Gara Splitboards BINDINGS:Fritschi Tecton (tech binding) and Tyrolia Adrenalin (frame binding, classic binding with hiking option) AVALANCHE EQUIPMENT: Shovel and probe (Beacon is NOT included) PLUS telescopic poles and snowshoes for short hikes for snowboarders and cartridges for ABS backpacks. Please do bring your backpack. NOT INCLUDED: Beacon (available for rent, for 90 EUR for the whole camp), ski boots, helmets, snowboard boots or snowboard bindings.
Where will you pick me up when I arrive in Japan?
When do we have to arrive and leave?
What ski boots should I take to Sapporo and Niseko?
What is the difference between freeride camp and the hokkaido roadtrip?
Do you get skiers, snowboarders or both?
What is the budget for your camps?
Should I take cash or credit card?
What insurance should I take?
What should I bring with me? Do you have a check list?
What's the average age of the participants joining?
Where do the participants usually come from?
How do you split the groups?
What level for the participants usually have?
What ski, snowboard and other equipment you have to use for free?
Do I need my avalanche bag in Japan?
Can I send my luggage via post and travel light to Tokyo, Kyoto, etc.?
What are the requirements related to the VISA?
How does the last night in Sapporo work?
Do you have travel tips for Tokyo?
Should I bring my own equipment?
What facilities are in the house?
What do you recommend for internet & data sim cards in Japan?
Is this trip more about freeride skiing or ski toruing?
Which is the group size?
Mountain Guide
Hi, I’m Vojta, welcome to our profile! We are a small and specialized guiding company based out of the Czech Republic, dedicated to offering freeriding and ski-touring trips mainly to Japan and Norway. We run powder camps and tours across the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu in Japan. In March every year, we move to arctic Norway and run Ski and Sail expeditions around Lyngen Alps. We started as a group of friends guiding in Japan in 2013 and we still beleive you should feel like you are riding with friends on our trips. The tours are flexible with the single purpose of skiing in the best snow and finding the best lines possible. We have strong area knowledge of the terrain and go the extra mile to provide you with an unforgettable experience. Our trips not only include skiing, but also delicious food and local culture as you improve your skills as a backcountry skier or snowboarder.
On our trips, you will be guided by Czech and Slovak UIAGM Mountain guides & Ski Guides (Robert Vrlák, Peter Koteles, Daniel Menšík, Vojta Lím, or Tomáš Prajzler)
If you don't find what you are looking for, get in touch, we will be happy to help and welcome you on board!
Daniel
5.00
Good trip guides had great knowledge of the area pick the right spot for the days condition did halve touring halve at resorts side county our guide Honza was awesome went out his of way to help even took us ice skating The breakfast was great and paw The Cook's a legend
Petr
5.00
Great trip with nice guides, who are dedicated to find everyday the best possible powder. All staff from Sherpas Ride has been very nice a open to anything we wanted. If there is no pow in the resort, they´ll take to the backcountry trip to find fresh lines. I really appreciate their approach and efford to meet our requirments and to secure best possible riding during our trip.
John
5.00
Overall a good ski experience. Seemed a little disorganised at times house sharing with changing and different ski groups, and had 3 different ski guides in our short time their which wouldn't have been my preference.
Tim
5.00
I've experienced a lot of guides and Vojta was clearly one of the best, and probably the best guide and organization to ski with. he can bring you places where normal guiding company's do not know the existence of. he is extremely trustworthy on knowledge and experience.
Stay up-to-date on the best adventures.