Japan Ski Touring 2027

Our 2027 Japan Ski Touring trips will expand on our annual forays into the lesser known Aomori & Hakkoda areas as they offer absolutely amazing opportunities for lift assisted ski touring in addition to some amazing roadside exploration and epic volcano summits. That trip will be followed by some exploration further north into the central Hokkaido area. The first trip, into the Aomori zone, includes 9 days of skiing. After that, each trip is 8 days long and includes 6 amazing days of skiing with travel days on either end.

Trip Options:

12-Day Tohoku Trip:

This trip hits the three main areas in Northern Honshu for an epic 12 day adventure that includes 9 days of skiing, 2 travel days and a rest day in the middle to recover and explore the area. The cost is $4,499 USD per person and we have 2 departures scheduled for 2027: January 11 & January 23.

About as far north as you can get on the main island of Honshu is Aomori city, the snowiest inhabited city on earth! It also happens to be our personal favorite area in Japan to ski as it doesn't tend to have any crowds, the snow tends to be deeper than any other Japan destinations and the terrain is great with long runs, big volcanos and perfectly spaced trees. For this trip we will explore 3 of the best zones in the area: Hachimantai, Aomori Springs & Hakkoda. And, as it can be hard to ski 9 days in a row, we have added a sight-seeing / rest-day in the middle.

For more Information on this trip click here: 12-Day Tohoku Trip Info

8-Day Aomori Trip:

This trip is a slightly shorter version of the 12-day Aomori adventure as we forego the Hachimantai zone and focus on Aomori Springs and Hakkoda, two absolute gems! This trip costs $3,499 USD and includes 6 ski days and is 8 days overall including travel with bi-weekly Saturday departures starting in January.

For more Information on this trip click here: 8-Day Aomori Trip Info

8-Day Iwate Freeride Trip:

All new for 2027! We're going to be hitting our favorite resorts around Iwate for some epic slackcountry / freeriding! Leave the touring equipment at home, this trip is all about the downhill with 6 days of hitting the best that Iwate prefecture has to offer. Appi Kogen, Amihari, Shizukuishi and many, many more. This trip costs $3,499 USD and includes 6 ski days and is 8 days overall including travel with bi-weekly Saturday departures starting in January.

For more Information on this trip click here: 8-Day Iwate Freeride Trip Info

8-Day Hokkaido Trip:

Our 8-day Hokkaido trip explores the amazing snow found in the southern mountains on the island of Hokkaido using a mixture of side-country and backcountry skiing. The philosophy of these trips is to ski or ride as much amazing snow as possible. If we can get some of that snow using ski lifts and hitting side-country laps, then that's the plan. If we're going to find some better snow heading away from the resorts and going deep into the backcountry, then that's what we'll do. If the sun comes out and we can summit a volcano to ski a lap of champagne powder off the top... well sign us up!

The cost for the Hokkaido Trip is $3,499 USD per person for the package with weekly Saturday departures on January 30 and ending February 13, 2027

For more Information on this trip click here: 8-Day Hokkaido Trip Info

The Scene:

Now half the fun of a Japan ski touring holiday is checking out the local culture and of course the local food. Japanese apres ski culture always involves a long soak in an Onsen, a traditional natural hot spring, to ease tired muscles. That is followed by an amazing meal. Sushi, ramen, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, omo-rice and more might not mean much to you now, but they’ll soon become favorites!

Of course no foreign vacation is complete without sampling some of the local beer and spirits! Not to worry, Japan’s famous for its amazing Scotch and Sake, but of course it also has a booming craft brewery scene that begs to be sampled as well. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Foodie, fine beverage connoisseur or an avid skier just looking for some filling food at the end of a big day you will be more than happy with the local offerings.

Extras:

If you would like to add a few days to your trip we will be offering a few extras that can be tagged onto your trip including:

• Tickets for the Tokyo Grande Sumo Tournament (only available on select dates).
• 3-Day trip to Osaka. Japan’s third-largest city and a vibrant, modern metropolis known as "the nation’s kitchen" for its incredible street food, neon-lit nightlife, and friendly culture. Key attractions include the historic 16th-century Osaka Castle and the bustling Dotonbori district.
• 2-Day Nagano tour. Home of the 1400 year old Zenko-ji Temple, the historic black-walled Matsumoto Castle, and the famous Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park this zone is ideal for a little cultural tour while getting over the jet lag.

The Accommodation:

We use a variety of different hotels and ryokans for accommodation on our Japan trips. The hotels are generally dual occupancy with western style beds but we shoot for ones that have great onsens. The ryokans, traditional Japanese inns, typically feature tatami floors with futon beds, have great onsens and fixed menu meals. The tatami rooms generally accommodate 3-4 people per room though upgrades may be available for guests that would like their own room or western style beds.

Waiver & Risk Management:

As you know, outdoor activities involve numerous hazards including, but not limited to, avalanches, crevasses, rockfall, slips and falls, equipment failure, poor weather, etc. And while we do our best to anticipate and mitigate these hazards we cannot completely eliminate them. So, as with anything fun, you will be required to sign our Participant Release to take part in one of our courses or trips.