Niseko and Sapporo Powder Hunting
Join a guided 10-day freeride powder safari across Niseko, Otaru and Sapporo, led by experienced local guides who adapt each day to the best snow conditions. Enjoy eight ski days across nine resorts, with 100% lift-accessed freeride terrain and no touring required.
Group
10 Days
Feb
High
Advanced
Highlights
- Ski eight days across nine Hokkaido resorts, including Niseko United, Moiwa, Rusutsu, Kiroro, Teine and Kokusai.
- Follow experienced local guides who adapt the plan each morning to snowfall, wind and avalanche conditions.
- Stay in a private house near Hirafu, with views of Mt Yotei and easy access to Niseko’s ski areas.
Description
Mid-February is the heart of Hokkaido's powder season, and this trip puts you in the right place for it: eight ski days across nine resorts, with local guides who check the snow every morning and take the group wherever it's deepest.
You'll be based in a private three-bedroom house in Niseko's Country Resort, with views of Mt Yotei. Airport transfers, daily transport, ski or snowboard rental, and full avalanche gear are all taken care of. The trip finishes with a ski day above Sapporo and a final night in the city.
It's 100% freeride. Every run is lift-accessed, with off-piste terrain through the resort gates and in the trees. No skins, no touring, and no long climbs. You'll ski across Niseko United, Moiwa, Rusutsu, Kiroro, Teine, and Kokusai.
The plan adapts each day to snowfall, wind, and avalanche conditions, so you ski where conditions are best rather than following a fixed schedule.
Join us in Hokkaido for a full week of powder hunting and discover some of Japan's best freeride terrain with experienced local guides.
Price includes
- Accommodation included
- Guiding fee
- Transport during the trip
- Lifts tickets
Price details
- 9 nights of accommodation: 8 nights in Hirafu and
- 1 night in Sapporo
- 8 days of skiing: 7 guided days + 1 day on your own
- Airport transfers in and out
- Daily ground transport: accommodation to resort
- and back
- 8 days of ski or snowboard rental: powder skis,
- boots and poles, or a snowboard and boots
- 8 days of avalanche gear: beacon, shovel, probe
- and a regular ski backpack (not an airbag pack)
- Complimentary Country Resort shuttle to the
- Hirafu slopes and village throughout the day
- * NOT INCLUDED *
- Lift tickets
- Meals and drinks
- Insurance covering offpiste skiing (mandatory)
- Flights
Meeting point
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Hokkaido
This itinerary is a plan, not a timetable. Hokkaido storms come in fast off the Sea of Japan, so the guide chooses each day's resort based on snowfall, wind, visibility and avalanche conditions. Storm days mean sheltered trees; clear days mean higher, more open terrain.
Arrive at New Chitose Airport (CTS) and transfer to Hirafu, about 2.5 hours by road. Check in to your house at the Country Resort, get fitted for your rental skis or snowboard and avalanche gear, and settle in for the week.
Night in Hirafu
Day 2: Grand Hirafu
First day on Niseko's largest resort. Morning beacon, shovel and probe practice, then a warm-up so the guide can see how the group skis together. Afternoon in the trees and through the resort's backcountry gates, conditions permitting.
Night in Hirafu
Day 3: Niseko Annupuri & Niseko Village
Explore the west side of Niseko United, with open birch glades, gate-accessed lines from the upper lifts and, on a clear day, views of Mt Yotei across the valley.
Night in Hirafu
Day 4: Moiwa
A small, quiet resort next to Annupuri, with steep, well-spaced trees and short lift lines. On a deep powder day, this is often where fresh snow lasts the longest.
Night in Hirafu
Day 5: Rusutsu
About 40 minutes from Hirafu, Rusutsu offers three mountains, West, East and Isola, along with some of the best tree skiing in Hokkaido and views over Lake Toya.
Night in Hirafu
Day 6: Hanazono & Grand Hirafu
Explore Hanazono's tree zones on the north side of Niseko United, with easy connections back to Hirafu. It is also a strong option when the upper mountain is affected by wind hold.
Night in Hirafu
Day 7: Free day (not guided)
Ski on your own, rest, enjoy an onsen, explore Hirafu village, or book an optional day of cat skiing. Cat skiing tends to sell out early in the season, so booking well in advance is recommended.
The Country Resort shuttle runs to the Hirafu slopes and village throughout the day. Please note that the guide is not responsible for participants on this day.
Night in Hirafu
Day 8: Kiroro
About 75 minutes from Hirafu, Kiroro receives some of the heaviest snowfall in Hokkaido and offers wide gladed terrain around Mt Asari and Mt Nagamine.
Last night in Hirafu
Day 9: Sapporo Teine or Kokusai
Check out of the house by 10:00 and drive toward Sapporo, following the coast through Otaru. Depending on snow conditions, ski at Sapporo Teine, the 1972 Winter Olympics venue overlooking Ishikari Bay, or Sapporo Kokusai.
After skiing, check in to the hotel in Sapporo. The evening is free.
Night in Sapporo
Day 10: Departure
Transfer from Sapporo to New Chitose Airport, approximately 1 hour by road.
Details
Accommodation
The group stays in a three-bedroom, three-bathroom house in the Country Resort, a quiet chalet area about six minutes from Hirafu village, with views of Mt Yotei.
The house features an open-plan kitchen and living area, a drying room for ski gear, a washing machine, and Wi-Fi: everything you need to come back after a deep day in the snow, dry your gear, and get ready to do it all again.
More info
Group dynamics
Maximum 6 clients with 1 guide.
The group may include both skiers and snowboarders, and the guide may ski or snowboard.
New participants must have a similar skill level and experience to the confirmed group. This is a group trip, not
a private one, so expect some differences in ability and pace. The group adjusts to the pace of the least
experienced member.
The guide picks the group up at the house every morning and drops you off after skiing.
You can skip any day to rest or ski on your own; the guide is not responsible for participants on those days.
Bring your own crew
Prefer to ski with your own friends or family? The same program can run privately for 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 people.
Get in touch and we'll prepare a custom quote.
About the guide
Nicolas & Guides Team
4.8
(56)
Ski Instructor
From a very young age I’ve had a strong connection with the mountains and nature. Although I grew up in the city, I used to travel to the countryside quite a lot. At the beginning, I approached the mountains in the summer time, hiking, trekking, sleeping in mountain huts, climbing and doing that kind of things. Later on, I started skiing and I just couldn't stopped: I became addicted to the snow!!
Back-country skiing started to grow on me when I was working in the Lake Tahoe ski area. I can still remember the feeling of the first few times I went to the backcountry on my skis, going up and down several peaks with no people around me except for my group of friends and away from the crowds of the resorts. It was fantastic!
After several year of backcountry skiing in Argentina (near Bariloche) and USA (Lake Tahoe), I made it to Niseko, Japan. I have been skiing, teaching, and guiding in Japan for the past 4 years. The snow here is unbelievable and the skiable terrain is huge and diverse. In the Niseko area you can find everything, from easy off-piste near the resort to several days backcountry skiing out there and lots of volcano skiing. Come on, just contact me and let’s go skiing!!
Languages
English
What people are saying about Nicolas & Guides Team
Zeb
Was super helpful !
Alex
Arnold
The guide was very good ! Thanks Kuba for this amazing day, all the sharing and advice !
Sidney
Sean
Kuba was a very knowledgeable guide about the backcountry and terrain. He managed the group well, and we had a very fun day!
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