Get the full Japanese experience
On the Honshu island, you get an authentic Japanese experience with both skiing and culture. In six days you will explore at least four ski resorts in company with local mountain guides. Each day the guides will choose the best resort to ski depending on the weather conditions, ensuring you ski in the best possible conditions. After a day in the snow, you can relax in an onsen (spa), drink sake and enjoy local food. To top it all off you will spend the last day in Tokyo, where a private guide will show you the best spots in town.
About the trip
During your trip, you will stay in a lodge owned by the Dutch couple Annie and Dutchie. Both a welcome and goodbye dinner is arranged for you and breakfast is served every day. On the other nights, dinners can be chosen by you. You get a list to choose from, and the dinner will be fitted to your schedule. For lunch, your guides will take you to their favourite restaurants on the mountain.
The lodge is at walking distance to Madarao ski resort and a short drive to other resorts in the area. Your personal mountain guides will each day look at the conditions and pick the right resort. Some of the resort you can possibly visit is:
– Myoko
– Nozawa Onsen
– Lotte Arai
– Shiga Kogen
– And other lesser-known resorts like Kijimadaira, Kurehime and Togari Onsen
Depending on which area your skiing/snowboarding that day, your guides will take you to an onsen in that area. Enjoy the natural hot water that oozes out of the ground and have a chat with the locals.
You will spend the last day of your trip in Tokyo with a private guide, who takes you to the best sights and spots in town.
Travel itinerary for your JaPOW off-piste expedition 🏔⛷ ❄
In cooperation with the local mountain guides, we’ll make sure to provide you with the safety, snow conditions, lines and good vibes needed to make sure you have an experience of a lifetime. The trip is a mix of side-country (off-piste with lift access) and backcountry touring (ski touring/split-boards).
Example of travel intinerary
Day 1 – Departure
Day 2 – Arrival at Tokyo Airport (Haneda or Narita) and shuttle to the lodge in Madarao with welcome dinner in the evening.
Day 3 – The trip begins with chasing the best powder snow in Madarao resort.
Day 4-7 – Ski, onsen (spa), eat – repeat! Your guides will make sure to find the best resorts depending on the weather conditions.
Day 8 – Last day in the snow and goodbye dinner at the lodge in the evening.
Day 9 – High-speed train to Tokyo, where a local guide will greet you and show you around town.
Day 10 – Shuttle to the airport, goodbye and travel home.
***Everything is possible. Each trip can be tailor-made to your wishes e.g. adding days and extra activities like cat ski, snowmobile, cultural experiences and more. 😊
What is included?
Are you also daydreaming about sliding through the massive bottomless Japanese powder snow, fighting with the legendary Japanese mountains and finishing the day with spa and sushi? If so, you have come to the right place. With Snowminds you can live your ski/snowboard dreams with off-piste trips to Japan where everything is arranged and be sure to have a mind-blowing experience under the best circumstances.
Your travel includes:
- 7 nights at Japan Snowsports Lodge (incl. breakfast)
- Welcome and goodbye dinner at Japan Snowsports Lodge
- 6 days on ski/snowboard
- 5 days with a personal guide on a minimum of four different resorts (incl. transport)
- Lift card all days
- Shinkansen train ride from Iiyama – Tokyo Ueno
- You explore a minimum of 4 unique ski resorts (incl. transport)
- Transport to/from the airport
- 1 night in Tokyo
- Private guide in Tokyo
- Local off-piste guides
- Local recommendations to the best restaurants and bars
- An authentic Japanese experience
- Possibility for add-on cultural experiences
- Confidence in an experienced company, which is a member of the Travel Guarantee Fund
- A complete experience where everything is arranged for you
What is not included but can be arranged and bought in addition?
- Roundtrip flights
- Cancellation insurance and travel insurance
- Equipment (skis/snowboard for touring, avalanche equipment)
- Anything not mentioned above
***Everything is possible. Each trip can be tailor-made to your wishes e.g. adding days and extra activities like cat ski, snowmobile, cultural experiences and more.🤙
Travel dates
1. Departure early February (10 days, dates might vary)
- Departure 8th of February / Return 17th of February
- 10 travel days / 9 nights / 6 days of skiing
2. Departure late February (10 days, dates might vary)
- Departure 29th of February / Return 9th of March
- 10 travel days / 9 nights / 6 days of skiing
Price
JaPOW off-piste expedition
FROM 1999 euro
As soon as possible
Madarao, Honshu
10 travel days | 6 days on skis
Details:
What is a typical day like?
A typical day begins with breakfast at your accommodation. On guided days your guides will pick you up in the morning. They will walk you through the weather conditions and choose a resort. The day will be filled with amazing experiences in the Japanese mountains with smooth turns and powder snow in your face (FACESHOTS) all day long. To finish off an epic day on the mountain you can go to a Japanese spa (onsen) and eat dinner (e.g. sushi or ramen). Then you’re ready to explore a new resort the next day!
When can I travel?
We have chosen the periods, which are ideal for this type of travel, and where we can give you the best possible experience.
The off-piste trips are primarily group trips and all trips can be adjusted to your wishes. Contact us so we can create the perfect experience for you.
What add-on possibilities is there?
We have chosen to create a basic package (see: “WHAT IS INCLUDED”), but with full flexibility towards specific wishes, adjustments and add-ons. The following can be arranged:
- Roundtrip flights (incl. ski/snowboard transport)
- Ski/snowboard rental
- Avalanche equipment rental
- Japanese spa (Onsen)
- Extra guided trips (side country, backcountry)
- Snowmobile
- Extra skiing days (extension of the trip)
- Cat ski
- Experience Kyoto (extension of the trip)
- Taste experiences like wagyu beef tasting, whiskey tasting, visit a sake brewery
- Cultural experiences, e.g. sumo wrestling matches or Kabuki theatre
***Everything is possible. Do you wish to add other activities please contact us and we will adjust the trip to your wishes.
What level of ski/snowboard skills is required?
The off-piste travels are primarily for the experienced skier/snowboarder, who have mastered varied terrain outside of the slopes (steep and narrow runs and between trees).
We can tailor-make every day to match the level of the group. That means we can also arrange trips for the experienced skier/snowboarder, who wants to explore the terrain outside of the slopes some more, or try it for the first time.
What equipment do I need?
On the off-piste travels, it’s important to have the right equipment because skiing/snowboarding off-piste requires special equipment. In general, it’s important to have the right clothing and avalanche equipment. Skiing requires off-piste skis and backcountry touring equipment, and snowboarding requires either split-boards or snowshoes (we recommend split-boards because it’s easier to keep up with skiers). We recommend you to bring your own equipment, but we can also help you.
Clothing
- We recommend shell clothing with a snow skirt and warm mid-layers (merino wool is highly recommended), all of them breathable because you’re sweating on the way up, but still need to keep warm in down to minus 25 degrees.
- Goggles with lenses for different weather, but most importantly for cloudy/snowy weather with low visibility
- Two pairs of gloves so you always have a dry pair in the bag.
- A buff (a must that it can be pulled all the way up under the goggles so it covers the entire face because you often get snow in the face).
Avalanche equipment
The danger of avalanches in Japan is in general lower than other ski areas, but you always need to bring a transceiver, probe and shovel – if you have an avalanche backpack with an airbag, this is also recommended to bring, but not required. We recommend a good backpack (+30L) with adjustable chest and waist and room for avalanche equipment, extra lenses for goggles, gloves, water, snacks etc.
- Transceiver, probe and shovel. We recommend that you have your own avalanche equipment, which you use every time. Our guides will of course train you in how to use the equipment. It is possible to rent avalanche equipment at the destination.