Japan Ski Touring: Aomori 8 Day Trip

Our 2027 Japan Ski Touring trips will expand on our annual forays into the lesser known areas of Aomori & Hakkoda. Located as far north as you can get on the main island of Honshu, just south of Hokkaido, the home of Niseko, Aomori is famously home to the snowiest inhabited city on earth, the city of Aomori! It's also our favourite zone in Japan to ski as it doesn't get the crowds that you find in many other areas, the snow is incredibly deep and light (deeper than any other Japanese destination that we've found) and the terrain offers long runs, big volcanos and perfectly spaced trees with few benches. Whether you've been to Japan before and want to check out a new area or if this is your first trip, look no further! Aomori really is the STATE OF JAPOW (as the t-shirt says).

The Plan:

This 8-day trip hits two absolute gems of ski areas starting with Aomori Spring before heading over to Hakkoda.

Arrival:

After flying in from Tokyo on a short regional flight you will arrive at the Aomori airport where you'll hop in our van for a short drive west to the town of Hirosaki, our base of operations for the first half of the trip and walking distance to some of the best Japanese restaurants around. After check-in we'll have time to get organized for the coming week's skiing, relax, and go for a soak in the relaxing onsen before our group dinner.

Aomori Spring:

It's a short drive from the hotel to the Aomori Spring Ski Resort on the northern slopes of the volcano Mt. Iwaki. Using the Aomori Spring ski lifts we can gain access onto the large volcano and explore some of the best backcountry tree skiing we've found in Japan. With long and consistent fall-line pitches, perfectly spaced trees, soft snow, and amazing views of the ocean, this area is hard to beat. There's also the opportunity to summit Mt. Iwaki for some alpine skiing and views when the clouds break and we get some sunny weather.

Hakkoda:

After three days at the Aomori Spring it's time to move onto Hakkoda. It features a ring road that surrounds a group of peaks, including more iconic volcanos, that get an amazing amount of snow. The road often has vertical walls along the side that are 10' (3m) high! Even better, there's a ropeway (tram) that provides a 650m lift up onto a high bench near the summit of some of the peaks that can be used to get a head start on a day of ski touring though touring from the road or the hotel are also great options.

Departure:

After your time at Hakkoda it's time to move on. After a quick breakfast at the hotel (time allowing) we will pack up and drive down the mountain and back to the Aomori airport for the quick flight back to Tokyo. We can also drop you off at the train station if you wanted to take the bullet train back to Tokyo instead.

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, omurice 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 Whisky 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. This trip starts with a stay at a hotel with dual occupancy, western style beds and a really cool onsen on the roof. Then, when we head over to the Hakkoda zone we will be staying at a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn. This type of accommodation features tatami floors with futon beds, set-menu meals and great traditional onsens. The tatami rooms generally accommodate 3-4 people per room though there are a few western style rooms 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.

Other Japan Trips:

If this isn't the right trip for you check out our other options:

• 8-Day Hokkaido Touring Trip
• 8-Day Iwate Freeride Trip
• 12-Day Tohoku Touring Trip