Hokkaido, Japan: Backcountry Powder Skiing

Itinerary

Visiting three different regions, all within a 2 – 4 hours drive, will give us a great sample of the best backcountry skiing that Hokkaido has to offer. Our exact daily itinerary will be determined on a daily basis during the trip, depending on snow and avalanche conditions. From our hotel-base our guides will drive you every day to the best venue. Either lift access powder skiing (in times of abundant snow fall), entirely muscle driven ski touring the classic way or often a combination of both, namely in the afternoon when lift accessed skiing is getting tracked out. Given good weather, we often ascend the highest peak of Hokkaido, Nt. Asahidake (2300m), which is a great ski mountaineering adventure.

We will spend the first four days / five nights ski touring out of Furano, also known as the “belly-button” of Hokkaido due to its location right in the centre of the island. Furano is famous in summer for its extensive and lovely lavender fields and in winter for its deep powder skiing.

We will then travel 2.5 hours with our van to the port city of Otaru for two nights. Otaru boasts fine glassworks, music boxes, sake distilleries, an interesting herring fishing history, and of course, fantastic skiing.

The last days will be spent in the Niseko and Rusutsu area, 75 km south of Otaru and 100 km southwest of Sapporo. Mount Yotei, an active (but currently dormant) volcano, stands impressively with almost 1,900 metres of vertical relief above the surrounding lowlands. Ski areas around Niseko are the most famous in all of Japan, and the backcountry skiing is simply divine.

What’s Included

Services included in the total price

• Guiding by two internationally (UIAGM / IFMGA / ACMG) certified mountain guides or ski guides and guides’ expenses
• 11 nights double room lodging with breakfast. Single rooms available with surcharge.
• Ground transportation including parking fees and road tolls

Not included in the total price

• Airfare
• Transfer costs to the airport and back
• Lift tickets
• Rental of avalanche safety equipment (OnTop can provide for CAD $150)
• Lunches, daytime snacks, dinners, alcoholic beverages (expect similar prices to Canada)
• Single room surcharge for all lodging (when possible)
• Any additional cost due to changes in the itinerary, may they be caused by weather, mountain conditions or personal preferences

Good to know

Weather and climate  

Getting there

Meeting point

We will meet at our hotel in Furano on the island of Hokkaido the evening before our first ski tour. This night’s accommodation (including breakfast) is included in the trip cost.

Airports

The two closest airports to where we will be skiing are Asahikawa and New Chitose. Asahikawa airport is just 45 km north of our first destination, Furano, but 222 km from our final destination in Niseko. The New Chitose Aiport is 125 km southwest of Furano, but only 108 km from our final destination in Niseko. Ideally, you can fly into Asahikawa and out of New Chitose.

Asahikawa

Asahikawa plans to have expanded international flight options starting in the winter of 2019/2020, but in the meantime, you can easily connect to it from Tokyo (Haneda Airport), Osaka (Kansai and Itami Airports), Nagoya, and Seoul. From there, you can:

Take a bus
Hokkaido Resort Liner runs buses several times a day from the Asahikawa Airport to major Furano hotels. The trip takes 1-1.5 hours. Be sure to book the bus at least a couple of weeks in advance.

Take a taxi
Taxi service is available between the Asahikawa Airport and our hotel in Furano, but it is quite expensive (about $180 CAD). The trip takes about an hour.

Take a train
It is possible to get to Furano from the Asahikawa Airport by train, but it involves first taking a taxi in the wrong direction to the city of Asahikawa and is not recommended.

Rent a car and drive
Car rentals are easily available at the Asahikawa Airport and the drive to Furano is straightforward, however, you won’t have much need for a rental car when the trip begins as we will all be travelling together in a large van.

New Chitose International Airport

You can catch a flight to the New Chitose International Airport from Hong Kong, Tokyo (Haneda) or Tokyo (Narita). From there, you can:

Take a bus
Hokkaido Resort Liner runs buses several times a day from the New Chitose Airport to major Furano hotels and the Furano ski resort. The trip takes about three hours. Be sure to book the bus at least a couple of weeks in advance.

Take private transport
Private transfer service is available between the New Chitose Airport and our hotel in Furano with Sky Station. The trip takes about 2.5 hours.

Take a train
It is possible to get to Furano from the New Chitose Airport by train, but it involves at least two transfers and is not recommended. You can find out more about this option at jrhokkaido.co.jp.

Rent a car and drive
Car rentals are easily available at the New Chitose Airport, however, you won’t have much need for a rental car when the trip begins as we will all be travelling together in a large van. If you rent a car, be sure and ask for an English GPS or bring your own.

Can I Do It?

Skiing on Hokkaido will be nothing but a joy if you are adept at powder skiing. Runs can be up to 1,200 m vertical gain, with additional laps for the energetic.

The terrain is rarely steep, but it is often in spaced trees. You need to be at least an intermediate skier who can safely descend in deep powder snow conditions with a day touring backpack.

You need to be in good physical and mental condition, ready to be on your feet for about 6-8 hours each day.

If in doubt, give us a call!

FAQ

Do I need to sign a Release of Liability & Assumption of Risk Agreement (a.ka. liability waiver)?

Yes, you do. Mountaineering, skiing, climbing, hiking, via ferrata and all other wilderness and adventure travel activities are inherently risky with potential for injuries or even death.
It is very important to us that you are aware of those risks before you start the booking process, which includes filling out a booking form and paying a deposit.
With signing the liability waiver, you confirm that you understand the potential risks and hazards, and are willing to accept the risks, which includes giving up legal rights you may have.
This would also be the time to ask questions or address concerns before you book.
For your reference here is a link to our Liability Waiver. Our booking terms & cancellation policy with more details can be found here

Can I use a splitboard?

The terrain on Hokkaido is splitboard-friendly. We will not normally cross stretches of flat or up-and-down terrain. If you are asking this question, you are probably already aware that the uphill track made by skiers will be more difficult for you due to the fact that skis are narrower and you will necessarily have to make the trail a bit wider. A snowshoe/snowboard combination will not work on this trip.

Can I use telemark gear?

Only if you are an expert telemark skier with deep powder experience!

Hokkaido Equipment List as Downloadable .PDF

Technical Equipment

Bring the following, or rent it (see ‘Trip Info Links’ at the bottom of the page):

 Alpine touring (or telemark*) skis and ski boots – minimum width 100 cm underfoot
 Collapsible, lightweight ski poles
 Climbing skins (stick-on), fitted to your skis

*Only bring telemark skis if you are an advanced telemark skier with backcountry powder experience.

If you do not have one or more of the following items, you can rent them from one of the listed retailers or from OnTop. Please book in advance.

 Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver
 Lightweight snow shovel
 Avalanche probe (two to three meters long)

Bring the following:

 Daypack for ski touring (30-45 liters)
 General repair kit and Leatherman (can be shared between several people)
 Spare parts specific to your equipment

Clothing

Normal temperatures during winter months on the island of Hokkaido range from lows of -10°C to highs of 0°C. As always when doing winter sports, having several clothing layering options is important. We will experience a lot of snowfall – make sure your Gore-Tex is up to the task!

 Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex or similar)
 Wind and waterproof over-pants (Gore-Tex or similar)
 Ski touring pants (eg. lined Schoeller fabric or similar)
 Thick fleece or wool pullover, or PrimaLoft jacket
 Medium weight fleece shirt
 Thin synthetic or wool underwear, top and bottoms
 Two or more pairs of gloves (lightweight and heavier weight)
 Scarf or neck gaiter (eg. Buff)
 Socks (synthetic or wool, thick outer and thin liners)
 Wool or fleece hat that covers your ears
 Gaiters that fit over your ski boot (unless pants seal tightly to your boots)
 Sun hat, preferably with a wide rim
 Bandana (optional)

Around town

 Clothing for wearing around town and in the hotel
 Light down jacket or vest (optional)
 Earplugs (optional)
 Slippers or Crocs
 Toiletries
 Bathing suit (although they are not always worn in the hot springs!)
 Games, books, etc. (optional)
 Phone/iPad/laptop and chargers
 Adaptor for Japanese electrical outlets (it is the same as the North American system but without a hole for the ground plug)

Other items

 Sunglasses with high UV protection
 Ski goggles with high UV protection
 Sunscreen and lip protection with high SPF
 One-litre water bottle with insulator. Water bladders not recommended
 Thermos (optional)
 Headlamp with spare battery
 Snacks (eg. candy bars, dried fruit, nuts, etc.)
 Personal first aid kit and other needs (eg. blister kit, prescription medicine, anti-inflammatory, contact lenses, prescription glasses, etc.)
 Pocket knife (optional)
 Health and travel insurance documents
 Ziploc bags to keep important items dry (recommended)
 Rain/snow cover specific to your pack (optional)
 Camera with spare batteries (optional)
 Compass, maps, GPS (optional)
 Ski wax / skin wax (optional)
 Hand sanitizer or sanitary hand wipes