Hokkaido Japan Ski Tour 

Many years ago we began making an annual pilgrimage to Japan’s North Island of Hokkaido. We have found Japanese backcountry skiing every bit as remarkable as all the hype suggests. Hokkaido's bottomless powder is almost effortless to float through and the serene backdrop, ornamented with occasional sun pillars, makes this a truly magical experience. Our tours are focused on ski touring though we will occasionally use a lift to access backcountry terrain. On storm days we tour in endless, deep, untracked powder through well spaced trees, and on sunny days where we poke up onto the higher peaks such as Yotei (skiing into the crater if we are really lucky) and Asahidake (the highest peak on Hokkaido).

Over time we have most come to appreciate the warmth and hospitality of the Japanese people, and the incredible local cuisine, almost as much as the skiing. Speaking of warmth, the Onsens are an experience in their own right and we end each day by soaking in a different hot pool - an Onsen sampler if you will.

Our week-long tours splits time between the two main backcountry ski zones of Hokkaido - the Niseko/Otaru area (to the SW of Sapporo) and the more remote Furano area (NE of Sapporo). Each of these areas has its own unique character and it is worth experiencing both. Splitting our lodging between these two areas allow us the flexibility to search out the best snow while sampling the wide variety of the terrain Hokkaido has to offer.

At the start of the trip we meet as a group at our Chitose hotel to prepare for our week of skiing. After a team meeting the guides will help ensure everyone has what they need and knows what to expect in the coming days. The next morning, after an early breakfast, we will hit the road in the group 4WD van, in search of the goods!

We will ski every day, including our transition day, though there is often an option for individuals to take a rest day if needed. At the end of our 7th ski day we will return to our Chitose hotel, reuniting everyone with their stored luggage, so they are in position for a flight home the next day, or to transition to further exploration of Japan on their own.

Sample Itinerary 

Day 0: Group will meet at our hotel in Chitose, Japan near the Chitose Airport (airport code CTS) for a briefing on the upcoming trip, an equipment check, and dinner.

Day 1: We will enjoy an early, and delicious breakfast, before loading the van and heading out for our first day of touring. There will be a bit of driving this first morning but before long we will be earning our delectable turns. After skiing we will visit our first of many onsens for a relaxing and cleansing hot springs soak! We will drop our bags at our accommodations for the next 2 nights before heading out for a town dinner.

Day 2: Mt Yotei (1,898 m / 6,227’), known locally as the Mt. Fuji of Hokkaido, is one of our favorite tours in this zone and is a likely candidate for this day's tour. Yotei allows for long runs of phenomenal powder skiing among the silver birch trees. It is possible to ski here in most conditions, but only possible to ski to the summit in good weather. It is truly special when the stars align, allowing us to ski 400 ft of powder from the summit down into the crater. We will wrap up the day in our favorite way - with a pre-dinner onsen soak. This is definitively the cleanest you will ever be on a ski touring trip!

Day 3: Today we will travel to another touring zone in the area, followed by, you guessed it - another new onsen. We will spend this night in Otaru which will set us up for our transition to the northern portion of our tour.

Day 4: This is our transition day and we will ski at one of the several touring venues between the southern and northern zones of this trip (i.e. Kiroro, Kokusai, etc., before driving to Furano in the afternoon. We will once again enjoy an onsen soak before moving into our favorite lodge ever and enjoying the delectable local cuisine prepared by our hosts in the comfort of our new "home."

Day 5: We will base in Furano for the reminding three days of our tour. This area is known as the Hokkaido Powder belt and has a much more remote feel than the areas we have visited earlier. The mountain summits are a bit higher and have a wilder quality. Skiing will be a mixture of summit climbs and tree skiing, depending on the current weather & conditions. Today we will make a short drive from our guest house and ski tour on the flanks of Furano-Dake, in Daisetsuzan National Park. The skiing consists of several climbs up elegant ribs followed by great powder skiing in the chutes and glades on either side of the ribs. In good weather we can poke up high and in more typical weather we can ski the trees down low.

Day 6: Potential objectives for this day include Asahidake (the high point of Hokkaido) or Tokachidake. If the weather is good we can ski to the summit of either of these peaks and peer into the crater, generally a steamy affair, followed by interesting skiing below. At Asahidake we will use the tramway (gondola) to take us to the top of tree line. Evening brings another onsen and delicious meal in our favorite place in all of Japan!

Day 7: On our last day we will enjoy one last tour either in the Furano zone or along the route back to Chitose (i.e. Tomamu). We will finish back where we started, at our Chitose hotel, in time for dinner. From here everyone will reclaim their stored gear and could be ready for an early flight the next morning or further personal explorations of Japan.

Frequently asked questions 

How well do I need to be able to ski? You should have previous ski touring experience to participate on this trip and should be in decent shape. Ski conditions generally include deep powder and you will want previous experience skiing in this type of snow. That said moving through 2ft of Hokkaido powder is almost effortless, so don't fret if you find it challenging to move through 2ft of Cascade cement - we all do ;0). If you are comfortable skiing most black diamond terrain at a ski area, you should have no problem. You do not need to be an aggressive skier, but you should be familiar with use of skis, skins, and able to efficiently get down generally moderately pitched slopes while remaining in control.

Is the inability to speak Japanese a problem? Generally no. We choose lodging where the staff speak some English and the areas we visit generally have signs in both Japanese and English. We do highly encourage you to pick up a few basic phrases in Japanese as makes sense in travel in any foreign place.

Do we primarily ski at ski areas or in the backcountry? We spend most of our time in the backcountry. The ski areas on Hokkaido are many and they are very good, but even the ski areas in Hokkaido get skied out on a busy day. As such we may use a lift here and there to access true backcountry, but we generally stick to more remote backcountry spots as this is where all the untracked powder is!

I have heard it snows every night on Hokkaido? At times it may feel like this, but Hokkaido can also experience periods without new snow. Our trips are timed in January and February to give us the maximum chance of the combinations of new snow and cold temperatures. Some of the best days of skiing are when the snow finally relents and we have the chance to ski cold powder on a sunny day. If your trip happens to not have tons of new snow the north facing slopes tend to hold powder and there is plenty of interesting terrain to keep us occupied.

How do the Onsens work? Onsens are traditional Japanese Hot Springs. The water is usually channeled from its source into what looks like a giant hot tub or pool. Men and women are generally provided with separate facilities and everyone is required to take a hot shower before entering the water. Each Onsen has a variety of pools ranging from warm to almost too hot to sit in.

Is the Sapporo Snow Festival worth checking out? Yes! There are an insane number of huge and varied snow sculptures. There are also street vendors and a festive, though chilly, vibe. We generally schedule our tours so you can visit Sapporo during the Snow Festival, either before or after your scheduled tour.

Getting to and from Sapporo, Japan 

Most of our guests will choose to fly into Chitose Airport (CTS) located on the outskirts of Hokkaido's largest city, Sapporo. It is possible to fly into Tokyo's Narita Airport and take the train to Sapporo. Most people will fly into Tokyo and then connect to a 90 minute flight to Sapporo. It is relatively easy to catch a flight from the west coast of the US to Tokyo, Narita (NRT) and then connect to Sapporo. There are 2 different airports in Tokyo and it will provide for an easier travel experience if you ensure your flight to Hokkaido departs from the same airport you arrived in from the US. If you really want to have the full adventure it is possible to fly on Hawaiian Air from the the US with a stopover in Hawaii on your way to and from Japan. We stay in Chitose for ease of access before and after our trips. That said if you are spending more time on Hokkaido it is easy to take the train into Sapporo and stay in the heart of the city.

Reports from previous Hokkaido Japan Ski Tours 

• January 28 - February 3, 2018
• Washington Post Article by NMS customer Dina Mishev (Nov 2019)