Skiing in Japan… a cultural shock cushioned by a thick mattress of powder snow
A ski trip to Japan is a unique experience, the ideal ski safari, combining the exploration of several ski resorts on the island of Hokkaido and the discovery of an extraordinary snow with all the cultural side effects immersing the skiers in an unknown universe…
The snow of Hokkaido, the mother of all powder snow
Hokkaido Island is the backcountry skiing paradise in Japan. In January and February many intense storms cross the island dumping several meters of very cold and extremely light snow. Everyone agrees that the quality of this snow has little or no equivalent anywhere in the world. The many ski resorts in Hokkaido such as Niseko, to name but one, provide easy access to the pristine slopes of the volcanoes. To reach the summits and immerse yourself in the birch forests without tracks, it will sometimes be necessary to put the skins on.
A Japanese ski safari along the roads of the island to discover the Japanese way of life
The originality of a ski trip in Japan is the encounter with really different people. Our itinerant tour encourages this kind of experience since we are always on the move, in contact with the locals, interacting with them whether they are hotel receptionists, restaurant owners, skiers, gas station attendants, people we meet in a gondola, on a street corner or sometimes even naked in an onsen. Skiing in Japan is all this and it is above all the guarantee of a great skiing adventure.
*The island’s roads are in good condition and thanks to our 4-wheel drive vehicles, it’s fun to drive around the island to ski a new spot each day.
