Come and experience a splitboarding day tour in the beautiful back country of Shirakawa in Gifu, Japan, with Ryuta, a JMGA certified mountain guide.
+1 Day
Jan, Feb
High
Advanced
Shirakawa is a gorgeous area within the Gifu prefecture of Japan. It is also a World Heritage Site. Hence making it a worthwhile place to visit. However, for one wonderful day, you will be doing far more than just visiting, you will be exploring it. And because this is a splitboarding tour, you will get to explore its vast and breathtaking back country.
The back country of Shirakawa is like an endless tale. It is full of wonder and beauty. It also includes the amazing Gassho-Zukuri historic village.
Adding to the adventure of the area, this trip is also about having an exciting time. Something made easy due to the abundance of fantastic slopes you will get to descend.
Shirakawa is not a ski resort. As a result, there are no lifts to aid you in your journey. So in order to access the incredible descents, you will have to hike to them. And at times those hikes can be as challenging as the descents themselves. But that is where the glory of the trip is realised because the greater the challenge, the richer the rewards!
The trip will begin at Takayama station at approximately 8:00 am. After that, I can either take you to your hotel, or you can meet me directly at Shirakawago, where the tour will begin until approximately 3:00 pm. Afterwards, you can return to your hotel to rest, relax, and prepare for the next day’s adventure!
If you want to splitboard through the back country of beautiful Shirakawa for one days, all you have to do is send me a request. It would be my pleasure to guide you.
More info
Participants should bring the following items with them: Splitboard, snowshoes, sunglasses, goggles, gloves, ski wear and safety gear (beacon, probe, shovel). Beacon, probe, shovel, backpack, and snowshoes are available for rent, but advanced notice must be given.
Meeting point
4.5
(4)
Mountain Guide
I live in Gifu prefecture in Japan, which is famous for Shrakawago UNESCO World Heritage Site and also becoming famous as the backcountry skiing / snowboarding arena known for its DEEP snow and STEEP terrains.
I am a JMGA certified mountain guide, also certified in Wilderness First Aid. Following my competition years in snowboarding, I became a guide because I liked backcountry snowboarding and wanted to propose safe and fun trips to clients, where I can share my experiences and joys that I felt in the mountains. I spend the winter exploring new backcountry terrains and spend rest of the year climbing mountains. I have accomplished a snowboard descent from the summit of Denali in 2013.
My motto is to guide “safely and fun”, and therefore I aspire to guide small groups. I value the time I spend with each of my guests and this way I can spend more time communicating with clients and for clients to get to know each other better.
I believe that mountain climbing experience should not just be about standing on the summit but also enjoying the nature on the mountain as a whole, learning about the history, and getting a taste of the culture. Shirakawago, in Gifu, is an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you can also enjoy onsen and local cuisine.
Whether it be walking in the mountains, touching the snow, rock, grass or water, or hiking, canyoning, rock climbing, or backcountry skiing, I believe that experiences in the outdoors will enrich your life. Japan is a country of 4 distinct seasons, blessed with rich and beautiful nature. Let’s have fun together in this nature, using all your 5 senses, moving your bodies and feel the rhythm of the nature and of the Earth. I would love to share my outdoor experiences with you and I endeavour to guide in a way to connect people to people, and people to nature in the natural rhythm of the nature.
Languages
Japanese | English
Certificates
JMGA
4
I think Ryuta is a great guide. The tour was quite nice. I loved the lines we did. It would've been 5 stars if his English was better but his assistant guide was of great help especially in communication. Otherwise, I felt quite safe with him and his abilities
5
Without a doubt, Ryuta-san exceeded all of my expectations. His level of professionalism, planning, client care and willingness to go the extra mile are on par with the best in the business. He is also the first dedicated splitboard guide I've toured with, so this was an added plus!
4
Everything was just great, him and his partner were fully dedicated to our group and tried their best to make the most out of our day. The lines were great and they were super safety-conscious. I wish his English was a bit better, so that we'd get to interact more and learn more about the mountain, some local stories etc... Cheers!
Eric
5
Great mountain, awesome guide, good times. Only for dedicated backcountry enthusiasts though.
Stay up-to-date on the best adventures.