Join us in Japan for a fascinating cultural experience and an incredible ski adventure with huge snow! More than you have ever experienced over a two week period!
You will be skiing on Japan’s most northern islands of Hokkaido where the secret is slowly getting out on how much snow is found there. You will be skiing in areas that are known a lack of people and for incredible volumes of snow fall – up to three times what you are accustomed to.
In central Hokkaido they average 9 metres of snow in just 4 months!! To put that into perspective, Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies averages 3.7 metres over 7 months. In western Hokkaido they receive even more…a whopping 15 metres of snow! It snows almost everyday in the heart of the season!
Of course there are lots of amazing groomed runs as well, as that is where most of the Japanese ski! They leave the fresh to us!
Don’t let the amount of snow be daunting if you are not experienced in powder. This tour is designed for all levels of experience as we will have 3 instructor-guides to meet everyone’s needs from challenging the experienced powder skier to supporting the less experienced with instruction.
To add more snow to your big snow adventure we offer you optional “out of bounds” days. Certified local back-country guides will safely guide you to all the sweet spots off the back side of some resorts, into areas that will rival your best powder day ever!
To share Japan with you in the DreamSki Adventure tradition of taking you inside the country to experience the culture and the people, one of our instructor-guides is from Japan. They will be invaluable as your translator, cultural expert, and food guru to expose you to all that is Japanese!
It promises to be an adventure of a lifetime! Remember - there is only one thing better in February than skiing with friends on a bright sunny day on good old hard pack snow… skiing waist deep powder in Japan!
Learn more about skiing in Japan
Japan Big Powder Tour
Date: February 13 – February 26, 2010
Skier Level: Strong Intermediate – Strong Advanced
Number of Guests: 16
Number of Guides: 3
Ski Days: 10
This tour is designed for a wide range of skiers as there are 3 instructor-guides to work with all experience levels. As a minimum it is for the skier who is strong on groomed snow with no or little experience off the groomed, but is not intimidated by it, even if they struggle. We will ski terrain and snow that offers the appropriate challenge and opportunities for you to improve your off-piste skiing.
It is also for the experienced skier with many years of experience and is comfortable in powder and variable snow conditions. We will provide you the challenge you seek and take you to the best spots for the best snow each day to maximize your off-piste skiing time.
Please note: To further compliment your Japan experience we offer add-on packages for both before and after the ski tour. You may arrive early into Tokyo to spend some time discovering this amazing city before you meet up with DreamSki Adventures in Hokkaido. And after our time together, you may visit the world famous cities of Kyoto & Osaka to explore their rich history and beauty.
Day 1
Met at airport on Hokkaido by your guides. Transfer to Niseko Ski Resort for the start of something special!
Day 2-4
3 days skiing at Niseko Ski area, considered the No.1 ski resort in Japan by foreigners. It is big comprising of 3 ski areas and will provide for a a great introduction to Japanese skiing. It boasts the big snow falls of 15metres and has the best night skiing in the world with most of the area lit. Option to take a guided trip off the back-side for even more snow. Hirafu village will provide lots of food and night life options.
Day 5-6
2 days skiing at Rusutsu Ski Resort near Niseko receiving the same copious amonuts of snow. It is spread over three moutain faces and you will experience it’s gladed tree skiing – some of the best in the world.
Day 7
Travel day to re-charge and see some of Hokkaido’s landmarks as we travel into central Hokkiado to the town of Furano (pop. 12,000) at the base of Furano Ski Resort.
Day 8-9
2 days skiing at Furano Ski Resort, famous in Japan, unheard of abroad. So you will enjoy uncrowded slopes, some of the steepest in Hokkaido, from your ski-in/ski-out accommodation. Impeccable grooming and the very dry central Hokkaido snow will provide you incredible coudoroy to go with the fresh.
Day 10
Day trip to Kamui Ski Links, the best kept secret in Hokkaido. You will have the hill to yourself on this weekday excursion because it is not a destination resort but a day hill and eveyone will be at work! Kamui is known for its great off-piste on its backside with abundant dry snow and always freshtracks.
Day 11
Day trip to Tomamu Ski Resort. Here you will have access to a great powder bowl and great tree skiing in the “Experts Only Area “. It will be a memorable experience with a Japnese twist as you must register, wear a helmet and number bib to ski these areas. Its well worth the paper work and they can supply a helmet.
Day 12
Option to ski the Furano Ski Resort just out your hotel door, or take the optional backcountry day trip to Asahidake, an active volcano and the highest peak on Hokkaido. It has a single cable car with a small area of grooming and the rest is fresh. It will be a cat ski day with a cable car. This will be a powder day to rival all your previous powder days! Wrap up dinner to celebrate an adventure of a lifetime!
Day 13
Transfers to airport for your flight home or extend your stay with an add-on travel package visiting the famous historical cities of Kyoto and Osaka.
HUGE SNOW – IS IT TRUE?
In central Hokkaido (Furano, Tomamu, Kamui, Asahidake) they average 9 metres of snow in just 4 months!! To put that into perspective, Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies averages 3.7 metres over 7 months. In western Hokkaido (Niseko, Rusutsu) they receives a whopping 15 metres of snow!
These amounts of snow are NOT marketing numbers - it’s for real. The reason is Hokkaido is next to Siberia and is the first land mass Siberian weather systems encounter until they reach western North America. Therefore Hokkaido gets it first, gets it all, and gets it often!
Unlike other big snow areas such as the Andes, British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies where the snow comes in big dumps and then will not snow for a week of more, on Hokkaido it snows almost daily in the heart of the season. It averages 10-30cm per day through January and February. Hokkaido is a snow haven that is consistently and incredibly abundant, while other areas of the world are now having seasons with little snow!
So why such a secret until now? Hokkaido has only been spoken of in the west for the last few years as skiing powder has not been a part of the Japanese ski culture. They love their technical skiing on groomed snow.
About 8 years ago Australian tour companies started bring people to Hokkaido and with that, the demand for skiing the powder slowly developed. Many of the areas have now changed how they operate and allow off-piste skiing. Some areas are still traditional at this point but becoming more liberal.
