FURANO - NISEKO - ANNUPURI - ASAHIDAKE - RUSUTSU - KOKUSAI
Ski the many off-piste and backcountry itineraries of Hokkaido Island.
With 120 ski resorts, and cities buried under several meters of snow most of the winter, Hokkaido prefecture is indeed the nirvana of the powder skier. The quality of the snow is exceptional and we find there the most snowy ski resorts of the country with year after year from 10 to 15 meters per winter of a snow of an exceptional quality since presenting a rate of humidity lower than 5%…
Skiing on volcanoes, hot springs, world-famous and appreciated gastronomy, irreproachable welcome: Japan is worth the detour… The program of this ski safari will allow you to discover 2 very distinct regions of the island:
-Furano, the largest ski resort in the center of the island is an ideal first lodging place. In particular, it makes it possible to radiate and discover several small satellite ski areas, all less than an hour away from each other.
-Niseko located in the west of the island is the largest and the most famous ski resort in Hokkaido. This will be our second lodging place. It is ideally located near the ocean and several other must-see ski resorts. The village of Kutchan at an altitude of 250 mts, located right next to Niseko, holds several world snow records with a peak at 21 meters of snow.
Finally, this tour will allow you to discover 6 different ski resorts, to know a good part of Hokkaido island, to have a good overview of the Japanese way of life and to discover a charming population.
What you will do during your trip
Vous tracerez la fameuse champagne powder généreusement tombée entre les bouleaux recouvrant les montagnes japonaise.
Vous mettrez les peaux de phoque pour skier à coté des impressionnantes fumerolles du volcan Asahidake.
Au retour du ski vous profiterez des onsens pour régénérer vos jambes qui l’auront bien mérité !
Chaque soir, une variété incroyable de curiosités culinaires régaleront vos papilles.
Frequently asked questions
Les guides 9V utilisent et recommandent des skis de freerando de 95 mm à 120 mm de large en fonction de votre gabarit. Équipés de fixations de rando à pin avec stop skis, ces skis sont assez légers et permettent de skier avec aisance et d’économiser les jambes en toutes neiges. Nous vous conseillons des chaussures de freerando à 4 crochets avec 60° de débattement.
Si vous en avez un détecteur de victime d’avalanche (A.R.V.A.), nous vous conseillons de venir avec. Si c’est un vieux modèle, ce sera l’occasion de vérifier qu’il fonctionne bien et de vous entraîner avec. S’il est tout neuf, il est important de l’utiliser le plus souvent possible pour vous familiariser avec son fonctionnement. Seul un entrainement régulier permet d’être efficace en cas de besoin ! Si vous n’avez pas de D.V.A., merci de nous le signaler sur la fiche d’inscription et nous vous le fournirons.
SAC DE VOYAGE ET HOUSSE À SKIS
Étant donné que nous voyageons en avion, en bateau, en voitures ou en minibus, la place est souvent comptée. Il est donc préférable d’avoir des bagages peu encombrants et faciles à transporter. Nous vous conseillons de voyager avec un sac souple avec roulettes, une housse de ski souple sans roulettes et un sac à chaussure de ski séparé.
SAC À DOS (25 / 35 litres avec sangle de portage pour les skis) pour les affaires de la journée, vous y mettrez :
– doudoune bien chaude en fond de sac,
– masque avec un écran pour le mauvais temps,
– tour de cou contre le vent, le froid, la poudreuse, le soleil,
– crème solaire haute protection pour le visage et les lèvres,
– gant de rechange si vous tombez souvent ou moufles si vous craignez le froid,
– thermos s’il fait froid ou camel bag s’il fait doux,
– fruits secs, chocolat, barres énergétiques,
– couverture de survie, pelle et sonde.
HABILLEMENT
Vous passerez beaucoup plus de temps en tenue de ski qu’en tenue d’après-ski.
À toute période de la saison, il peut faire beau et doux, comme il peut faire extrêmement froid, neiger ou pleuvoir.
Emmenez une tenue adaptée aux intempéries : Pendant une tempête de neige, le ski est fantastique en forêt. Prévoyez un vêtement supplémentaire à emporter dans votre sac à dos la journée ; il vous permettra de vous adapter à tous changements de température. La température varie avec l’altitude, de l’ordre de 10°C par 1000 mètres. Par conséquent, la différence de température entre la vallée et le sommet peut varier de 20° ou plus avec l’effet du vent.
Si vous êtes convenablement équipés vous profiterez du ski quelle que soit la météo. Nous skions par tous les temps.
Cliquez ici pour trouver votre niveau.
Program
DAY 1: Meet at New Chitose International Airport in Sapporo.
Meeting with the guide. Transfer with our 4×4 minibus directly to the North Country Inn hotel. This hotel located at the foot of the Furano ski resort will be our base for the next 5 days. Overnight at the North Country Inn.
DAY 2: Furano
With 950 m of vertical drop, Furano offers beautiful descents in large untouched valleys. Safety briefing in the morning and powder skiing in the forest all day. Overnight at the North Country Inn.
DAY 3: Tomamu
It’s a nice little ski resort where there aren’t many people. Skiing between the ideally spaced birch trees is easy and a short hike allows a long descent to the road. In short, powder, long run and no traces … Overnight at the North Country Inn.
DAY 4: Asahidake
Here there is only one ski lift, a cable car that takes us to the slopes of Mt Asahi which rises to 2291 mts high. It is the highest peak in Hokkaido. It is also an active volcano, as evidenced by the fumaroles present at the top of the lift. If the weather permits, a nice hike will allow us to climb to its summit. Change of scenery guaranteed. Overnight at the North Country Inn.
DAY 5: Tokashidake
Located just in front of Furano, the chain of volcanoes of Tokashidake is impressive. With several peaks reaching 2000 mts high the snow there is often exceptional. Underneath the sulfurous smoke of active volcanoes, the forest is magical. This paradise is reserved for ski touring enthusiasts, indeed it is a national park and there are no ski lifts. At the end of the day, we will be able to swim in the natural warm waters of a beautiful Onsen. Overnight at the North Country Inn.
DAY 7: Transfert Furano – Niseko
Transfer by minibus between Furano and Niseko. The highway is surrounded by impressive snow walls which make crossing the island by car an unforgettable experience. Arriving in Niseko at the end of the afternoon, we will be able to enjoy the very popular night skiing in Japan. Banzaï for a few hours of night skiing !!! Overnight at the Green Leaf Hotel.
DAY 7: Niseko
Also called the Snow Factory, Niseko is Japan’s best-known ski resort. Its ski area stretches over a good part of the Annupuri volcano and offers many off-piste itineraries. From the top of the last chairlift, a half an hour boot pack approach allows to reach the top of the volcano. This effort will be rewarded by 360° descents and a good 1000 m of vertical drop in powder snow. Overnight at the Green Leaf Hotel.
DAY 8: Rusutsu
About 45 minutes drive from Niseko, Rusutsu is a little gem for powder and steep slope lovers. Most of the time, there is a lot of snow and very few people as soon as you deign to put the skins on… Otherwise, Rusutsu offers about twenty ski lifts and a playground full of powder snow. Overnight at the Green Leaf Hotel.
DAY 9: Niseko – End of the trip
Back to the snow factory for our last day of skiing, it is with pleasure that we will again enjoy the magical japanese powder snow and the gnarly Niseko ski terrain. Fans of ski touring, it is possible to climb Mount Yotei! After skiing, transfer by minibus to Chitose for an arrival at the airport around 7pm. Those who want to leave right away can book their plane directly for that evening, but if you have some time, we suggest you stay one more night (extra charge) in order to spend a last evening on the island of Hokkaido with your guide who will show you the nightlife of Chitose before your flight back the next morning.
The program is subject to change depending on the conditions on the ground and the fitness of the participants.
Hotels and Huts
Hotels and Huts
NORTH COUNTRY INN HOTEL(base of our central island loop):
Located in the small town of Furano at the foot of the ski resort of the same name. The North Country Inn welcomes us with a perfect blend of comfort and tradition. The hotel has its own Onsen and the English speaking staff is at our service.
GREEN LEAF HOTEL(base of our loop in the west of the island):
This is a luxurious European-style hotel ideally located at the bottom of the pistes (ski-in / ski-out). The rooms overlook the volcano, the buffet breakfast is huge and the Onsen (Japanese-style spa) is first class.
Included
Included 9V GUIDES
Full-time supervision for 6 people by a UIAGM / IFMGA mountain guide or a fully qualified ski guide specialist of the region.
LIFT PASSES
6 days ski pass for all the ski resorts we cross.
ACCOMMODATION
8 nights in double rooms and buffet breakfast.
– 5 nights at the North Country Inn in Furano, and access to the hotel’s “Onsen” natural hot spring.
– 3 nights at the Green Leaf hotel in Niseko Village, with buffet breakfast and access to the hotel’s “Onsen” natural hot spring.
TRANSPORTATION
All transportation during the safari for participants and luggage. The transport will be done in a 4×4 minibus driven by your guide.
Not included 
