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Hokkaido Storm Chaser

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The Hokkaido Storm Chaser is an 7 day ski road-trip where we ski 5 different hills and base out of two main locations. Our exact itinerary depends on where has the best snow on any given day. 


A video made by one of our guests in the 2016 season, used with permission
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2018 Dates

Jan: 3-9, 6-12, 12-18, 15-21, 21-27, 24-30, 30-Feb 5 

Feb: 8-14, 17-23, 20-26, 25- 3/3
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The Storm Chaser is a 7-day guided off-piste ski road-trip that hits 5 different Hokkaido ski resorts for each of the 5 ski days. We base out of two main ski hubs--Niseko and the hidden gem of the Asahikawa region. Where we go each day isn't set--it depends on where the weather report is indicating the best pow will be. 

Our guides will take you to the best possible in-bounds and lift-accessed side country pow--by request certain trips will also have backcountry touring options if the front and side country isn't where the goods are. Aside from taking our people to the best possible pow, we'll also take you to the best possible food. Our guides make dinner reservations nightly for our group--the restaurants are chosen for their authenticity, deliciousness, local specialties, and the ability to meet variable price-points.​

Depending on conditions, you can expect to ski out of bounds about 70% of the time. Not into out of bounds with a guide? No problem, check out more details here. 
Ski Base #1: Niseko Area
  • Don't just ski at Niseko; the nearby resorts of Kiroro and Rusutu offer powder and empty hills that make you wonder why so few people have caught on
  • Relax in the in-hotel hot springs every night and recover the Japanese way
  • Hike up to the summit of Niseko and ski off the back side directly to a remote hot springs*
  • Walk from the top of Kiroro resort and access some of the best and most remote pow of the trip*
  • Ride the best trees in Hokkaido at Rusutsu resort
  • Stay in a hotel suite complete with kitchen, beer fridge and lots of space. 
  • Every night your guide will take you to different Japanese restaurants personally selected for quality, authenticity, and taste; including sushi, ramen, yakiniku, etc. For pictures and more detail of the food line up view this tours food page. 
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        *time/weather permitting
Ski base #2: Asahikawa Area
  • ​Far away from the tourists of Niseko, Asahikawa is where you experience real-Japan. 
  • Ski some of the best lift-access pow in the world in central Hokkaido's "powder belt". 
  • Ski Kamui--a ski hill so empty there's rarely competition for the freshies or Furano-- a large hill by Japanese standards, offering fun off piste runs on some great steep terrain
  • Ski the smoldering volcano of Asahidake, a one-tram backcountry access lift that offers the most consistent high quality pow of anywhere we ski*
  • Relax every night in our in-hotel hot springs complete with indoor/outdoor pools. 
  • Get away from the crowds of foreigners as we base the second part of our trip in Asahikawa. Located in the city center, any number of evening activities are a 5 minute walk from its front door including a Japanese craft beer place, multiple Izakayas, an array of restaurants and a vibrant nightlife that makes an après ski interesting. 

Skill Level - Strong intermediate to Advanced

Your guide will be taking guests to off-piste/side-country areas about 70% of the time. The other 30% of the time, you'll be skiing groomers to access the off-piste (weather/conditions permitting). If you are interested in going with the guide, you must be an advanced-expert skier/rider capable of riding deep powder and have the necessary avalanche equipment which is available for all of our guests if you don't already have your own equipment. 

Strong intermediates are also welcome on the Storm Chaser but some of the places the guide will take guests may be above your level, in which case you'll be asked to stay to the groomers and meet at lunch or the end of the day. 

More details on skier experience level can be found here.  
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Highlights

  • Storm-chase. Is the powder not good enough at Niseko? No worries, we'll hop in our van and storm-chase. Hokkaido's weather is unbelievably variable for a small geography--if its not snowing here, its probably snowing somewhere else. Although, just like every other ski destination in the world, there are times that its not snowing anywhere nearby--but this is the nature of skiing.  
  • We stay in two hotels for this trip, both of which are based on shared twin room accommodation. Please note that single room accommodation is not available due to very limited accommodation availability. More information on our lodging can be found here. 
  • Soak your powder-tired bones daily in an outdoor natural hot springs, aka "Onsens". Look up at the stars and drink some Sake as you fantasize about the pow your next day will bring. In both Niseko and Asahikawa we have an in-hotel Onsen free for us to use every night complete with both indoor and outdoor baths. Not into hot springs bathing in public? No problem, each of our rooms has private showers as well.
  • Storm-chase the best possible powder at Japan’s best kept snow secret—Asahikawa. Not that popularized yet, the Asahikawa area offers the crème de la crème of Japanese snow with even lighter snow than what Niseko can offer. While the Asahikawa region does have better quality snow than Niseko, the trade-off is that it does tend to snow less than Niseko. 
  • For advanced riders, the guide will also go off-piste to show you the best kept secrets just off the groomers. 
  • Get off the beaten path. Its true, Niseko is getting a name for itself. But that doesn't mean we have to stick to the known. Venture out to nearby resorts that most visitors don't get to. 
  • Traveling for powder is a risky proposition; please see our "Reality Check in Japow" page to make sure you understand the risk of traveling for pow before you book. 
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