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Hokkaido Storm Chaser

BOOK NOW
RESERVE A PRIVATE TRIP, JUST FOR YOU AND YOUR BUDDIES HERE
dates don't line up? see our full list of trips by date here
Hokkaido Storm Chaser

​A Guided and Hosted Ski and Snowboard Trip for the side-country powder hound


7-days, 6 ski days, 2 bases, 1-to-4 guide/client ratio, with a maximum group size of 8

Best for Advanced level riders/skiers (more on rider ability level here)

Riding off-piste powder is the main objective of this trip! For safety reasons, an avalanche safety set (beacon, shovel, probe) is required. If you don't have your own, you can rent one during the checkout process!
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View trip dates
2026 Trips
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January Dates


February Dates

3 - 9
5 - 11 SOLD OUT
4 - 10
8 - 14 SOLD OUT
7 - 13
10 - 16 SOLD OUT
11 - 17
14 - 20 SOLD OUT
13 - 19 SOLD OUT
15 - 21
17 - 23​ SOLD OUT
19 - 25
18 - 24​ SOLD OUT
22 - 28 SOLD OUT
22 - 28​ SOLD OUT
23 - Mar 1
 
28 - Mar 6
view pricing
Group trip pricing
​

Early-bird price until August 31: ¥499,000 (≈US$3,350) per person​
Price from September 1: ¥529,000 (≈US$3,550) per person​

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  • Secure your spot with a 50% deposit; the remaining balance is due on December 1 (Oct 1 for private trips)
  • All prices include 13% taxes and fees
  • What's included in this price? A lot! Check out all inclusions here


Private trip pricing (book the trip out exclusively with you and your buddies)
​

Reserve as a group of:
Early-bird price per person (JPY)
Early-bird price per person (≈USD)
8
¥499,000
$3,350
7
¥538,000
$3,580
6
¥590,000
$3,920
5
¥663,000
$4,400
4
¥770,000
$5,120
*final deposits are due on October 1 for private trips
CANCELLATION POLICY
  • Up to 4 months before your trip date: 25% cancellation fee of entire trip price
  • 2-4 months before your trip date: 50% cancellation fee of entire trip price
  • Less than 2 months before your trip date: Cancellations made with less than two months of advanced notice will not be refunded. Unfortunately, due to the time- sensitive nature of our business, and the difficulty in re-booking a trip close to the departure date, we cannot make exceptions to this policy.
BOOK NOW
RESERVE A PRIVATE TRIP, JUST FOR YOU AND YOUR BUDDIES HERE
DATES DON'T LINE UP? SEE OUR FULL LIST OF TRIPS BY DATE HERE

The Deets

The Hokkaido Storm Chaser is a 7-day guided off-piste ski road-trip that hits 6 different Hokkaido ski resorts for each of the 6 ski days. We base out of two main hubs--the ski town of Furano and the port-side town of Otaru. Where we go each day isn't set in advance; 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 powder.

Aside from taking our guests to the best possible pow, we'll also guide you to the most delicious food-joints in town. We 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. If you're not into skiing off-piste/out of bounds/side-country, this trip probably isn't for you. Please see our Skier Experience Level page here for an idea of what skill level this trip is aimed at. 
HOKKAIDO STORM CHASER IN PHOTOS
  • Itinerary
  • Included
  • Lodging
  • Logistics
  • Food
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VIEW DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Meet and Greet
There are two options to meet the group:
​
  1. Meet at the Asahikawa AKJ airport at 1:30pm at the 1st floor arrivals area by entrance 3 or
  2. Meet in the lobby of the La Vista Furano Hotel, at 6:15pm ready to go to dinner. La Vista Hotel can be accessed on your own or by the Resort Liner Bus with service from New Chitose Airport (CTS)> Furano. If you're meeting at La Vista, be sure to sort out any ski rentals you've arranged before the meet up time! 

​Day 2-3: Storm Chase Furano Area

​Days 2-3 are spent skiing the best possible resorts on any given day including Furano, Tomamu, Sahoro, Asahidake (if conditions permit), and Kamui Ski Links. The exact date we ski any one of these resorts depends on conditions and will be determined based on the upcoming forecasts and recent snow reports.

Day 4: Storm Chase Furano Area/Transfer to Otaru

After our third ski day in the Furano area, we transfer bases to southern Hokkaido, saying farewell to our Furano based guides. The drive to Otaru can take 3 - 4 hours depending on road conditions, so we always plan on departing Furano by 2pm. Transported by our friends at Social Bus, we land in the quaint port-side town of Otaru and are greeted by our guides specializing in this region. Mostly undiscovered by ski-travellers, Otaru provides lots of interesting ski options as well as nightlife and après opportunities. 

Day 5-6: Storm Chase Out of Otaru

Following the format of the first 3 days, your guide will select the best possible options to ride out of the Japow buffet of Sapporo Kokusai, Teine (site of the 1998 winter Olympics), and Kiroro with a possibility of exploring the utterly untracked and tiny hills of Tenguyama and Asari if conditions are favorable. 
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Day 7: Final Day of Skiing and Drop-offs

On day 7, the group snags one last day of skiing before heading to CTS airport for the drop-off. With all the logistics to be done, the ski day ends slightly early, between 1:00-2:00pm. Drop off is at CTS Airport at 5:00pm. 

For more details and ideas for final day logistics, check out our Logistics Page. 
VIEW DETAILED ITINERARY
VIEW DETAILED INCLUSIONS

Included:

Three nights of 4-star and three nights of 3-star accommodation. Our lodging is based on shared twin room accommodation

All lift tickets at 6 different resorts for each of the 6 ski days

​2 English speaking guides per group of 8; 1 lead and 1 tail guide

Our guides will navigate you to the best off-piste/side-country powder possible on any given day. We spend 70% of our time in the side-country/off-piste and only ride groomers in and out of off-piste powder stashes. ​
Large daily buffet breakfasts featuring Hokkaido specialties with both Japanese and western options available.
Door to door private vehicle transportation, beginning with an airport pick up at Asahikawa Airport (AKJ) near Furano and ending with a CTS airport drop off. (More on this on the Logistics page)
Daily dinner reservations -- the restaurants are chosen for their authenticity, deliciousness, local specialties. (participation optional but highly recommended!)

Not Included:


International flights to/from Hokkaido. 
​
Any rentals of ski, snowboard gear or avalanche safety equipment. We recommend Rhythm rentals in Furano. More information here. 
​
Avalanche safety sets are required for any type of off-piste guiding and are available to rent for an additional ¥23,000 (≈ US$150). Rental avalanche safety set includes backpack, beacon, shovel and probe.​
​Guided backcountry isn't included in this trip. We specialize in lift accessed side country that doesn't require AT touring gear. Backcountry options can be accommodated for private trip reservations. 
​
Lunch, dinner, drinks and snacks are at your own discretion for this trip. How much should you plan on spending? See the chart on our Logistics page for an estimate. ​
Travel insurance is required for this trip: we recommend travel insurance with World Nomads​​
MORE ON LODGING
All of our accommodations include free access to hot springs
On the Hokkaido Storm Chaser you will stay in western-style modern, clean accommodation which is centrally located and walking distance to downtown amenities. This makes a quick nightcap or a local karaoke session a breeze. The hotel rooms are quite spacious by Japanese standards and the large daily buffet breakfasts feature Hokkaido specialties with both Japanese and western options available. 

Furano Hotel: La Vista Furano Hills Hot Springs
Otaru Hotel: Dormy Inn Premium


  • Pricing and occupancy are based on shared twin rooms. This means that you will be sharing your room with another person in the group and yes, you will have separate beds! 
  • If you'd prefer to have your own room, please select this option during checkout. Single rooms are subject to availability and incur an additional ¥120,000 (≈US$800) cost per person.
  • ​​Each room has its own private toilet and shower 
  • Daily buffet breakfasts featuring western and Japanese options 
  • Both of our hotels feature in-hotel Onsen hot springs complete with a sauna!
VIEW DETAILED LOGISTICS
Getting there
Option 1: Meet at the Asahikawa AKJ airport at 1:30pm at the 1st floor arrivals area by entrance 3. 
Option 2: Meet in the lobby of the La Vista Furano Hotel, at 6:15pm ready to go to dinner.
See more on arriving logistics here
​Getting back
​Note that the ending point is different from the starting point on this trip!

​This trip ends with a drop off at Sapporo's CTS airport at 5pm on the final day.
See more on departing logistics here
Equipment Rentals
High quality rental gear is available through our partners at Rhythm Snow Sports. Ensuring that your rentals are reserved correctly for the appropriate amount of time and the correct equipment is the responsibility of each guest. JST will not be held responsible for rental issues between Rhythm and guests.
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More details on Rental gear info, Logistics pro tips, Where to meet at AKJ airport etc. below
VIEW DETAILED LOGISTICS
MORE ON FOOD
This trip includes large daily buffet breakfasts which are served at each accommodation. The cost of dinner is not included, however daily dinner reservations at a variety of authentic Japanese restaurants is included. 

At Japan Ski Tours, we think that skiing is about more than just skiing--especially when you're in a country famous for its food culture.  As a company operated by guides who have years of experience living in Japan, we're excited to guide you to the best possible food in the evenings. 

Our criteria for selecting restaurants are: ​​
  • We choose restaurants based on what food is regionally famous in the area and personally tested for authenticity by locals and our guides.
  • We understand that not everyone has $70+ to spend on a meal--that's why we choose restaurants which meet a variety of price points, usually between $20-$40 per dinner not including drinks. 
​
The culinary highlights of the trip are Yakiniku (grilled Japanese BBQ) and high quality sushi in the port-side town of Otaru. For an exact description and pictures of each meal type, as well as a note on dietary restrictions, see our food page above.


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BOOK NOW
RESERVE A PRIVATE TRIP, JUST FOR YOU AND YOUR BUDDIES HERE


JAPAN SKI TOURS IS FEATURED IN
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​Unofficial Networks | July 6, 2023
Conde Nest Traveler | March 29, 2023
Vail Daily | February 2, 2023
Ski Asia Magazine | April, 2024

You May Also Be Interested In

Tohoku Storm Chaser
8-Days, up to 6 ski hills including 1 Cat Ski day
Tohoku is the most recent discovery in the Japan ski scene. Reminiscent of now famous resort areas like Niseko 15 years ago, the Tohoku region has lots of pow and no lines.

7 years ago we went out and found the most untracked, uncrowded and unknown ski hills in the Tohoku region and put them on a platter right here, on the 8-day Tohoku Storm Chaser Trip.

Staying true to our mission of incorporating cultural experiences, authentic restaurants, and trip-hosting, this is the next level trip for finding that hidden side of Japow you know exists, but can't seem to find.
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Japan Ski Tours is an ANTA certified and licensed Japanese travel agency, registered in Tokyo, Japan
Travel Agency License No. 2-6983
Japan Ski Tours, Japan Guides Group Copyright 2019 - ​株式会社 ​
  • Trips
    • Hokkaido Storm Chaser 7-Day
    • Hokkaido Indy Trip 10-Day
    • Tohoku Storm Chaser 8-Day
    • Tohoku Indy Trip 10 Day
    • Tohoku Indy Trip 8 Day
    • Tohoku Private Packages
    • Tohoku Guiding (Ani Backcountry)
  • Anaba Lodge
  • Cat Skiing
    • Hachimantai CAT Skiing
    • Shizukuishi CAT Skiing
  • Rentals
    • Tohoku Ski Rentals
    • Hokkaido Ski Rentals
  • Ski Japan
    • Ski Tohoku Region
    • Ski Hokkaido
    • Ski Nagano/Niigata
    • When and where to ski Japow
    • Japow Weather Patterns >
      • Japan Powder and La Nina
      • Japan Powder and El Nino
  • About
    • Japan Ski Tours
    • The Guides
    • In the Press
    • Reviews
    • Skier ability level
  • Contact Us