Japan Ski Touring: Hokkaido 8 Day

You've seen the videos and instagram posts of the amazing snow Hokkaido has to offer and want to check it out in person? Well join our experienced and internationally certified Canadian ski guides for the trip of a lifetime! Our 8-day Hokkaido trip explores the amazing snow found in the southern mountains on the island of Hokkaido with 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 Plan:

Our Hokkaido trip can be broken up into two main parts: the first half is spent in the Otaru zone followed by a visit to the Rusutsu / Yotei area.

Arrival:

After flying from Tokyo to to the island of Hokkaido we'll hop in our van for a drive along the coastline to the little coastal town of Otaru, our base of operations for the first half of the trip and home of some of the best seafood to be found anywhere. In Otaru we'll check into the hotel and have some time to get organized and relax, maybe go for a soak in the onsen and check out the Otaru canal and some of the best seafood Japan has to offer.

Otaru Zone:

From our base in Otaru we will hit some of the area's ski resorts and backcountry areas depending on where the guide feels the best snow is to be found. One of the main areas we use is the Kiroro Ski Resort, known for it's big dumps of snow, where we'll find some amazing ski touring right from the parking lot as well as lift assisted touring. Another spot we like is the Kokusai Ski Resort, it's a bit smaller with fewer people but set-up a little better for slackcountry. Where you ski on any given day will depend on the weather and where your guide feels that the best skiing is to be found.

Rusutsu Zone:

After three days of amazing sushi and pow in the Otaru area it's time to move on. Our next stop is the Makkari area at the foot of Mt. Yotei, and nearby Rusutsu. We have three days in this zone  and we'll spend at least one of them playing around on Mt. Yotei, a stunningly beautiful volcano that's home to some of the best tree skiing in the world. On a clear day you can summit this majestic mountain and then ski a short lap into the crater! There's also some great ski touring on Mt. Shiribetsu, lift assisted skiing off the Rusustsu ski hill. The list goes on and on.

Departure:

After we wrap up in the Rusutsu Zone we'll drive back to Sapporo for a night on the town. We can check out ice sculptures, an amazing market, classic neon signs and wrap up the trip with an amazing dinner. The next morning we will drive you to the airport for your flight home.

This package will get you a well rounded look at southern Hokkaido while avoiding some of the busiest areas.

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 favourites!

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.

Other Japan Trips:

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

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