Overall Rating

Backcountry Touring Day Trips

Backcountry Touring Day Trips4.5/55
Backcountry Touring Day Trips4.5 out of 5 based on 5 reviews
  • Would Revisit
    80%
  • Would Recommend
    80%
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Backcountry Touring Day Trips Enquire
Price p/p From price based on PER PERSON for a PRIVATE GROUP of 5 guests in shoulder season.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 119

GUIDED BACKCOUNTRY DAY TOURS
Niseko & Surrounding Areas | Private Groups Only

Location: Japan | Tour Focus: Guided | Terrain Focus: Backcountry, Sidecountry
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Price p/p From price based on PER PERSON for a PRIVATE GROUP of 5 guests in shoulder season.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 119
Ideal if you are staying in NISEKO and are looking for a guided BACKCOUNTRY day in or around Niseko. These day tours are specifically for those who are happy to earn their turns and are for private groups of 1 - 5 guests (but 6 - 7 is also possible with a tail guide).
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Future rates & dates are currently not yet available for this operator. Click here to enquire.
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Backcountry Skiing Day Trips

Backcountry skiing and split boarding is the speciality of Rising Sun Guides and their qualified guides will take you beyond the ski resort boundaries and away from the crowds to find fresh lines and deep untouched snow. In Hokkaido there is snow and mountains everywhere and without the requirement of a chairlift, the options are limitless.

Much like the lift assisted trips, the backcountry skiing day trips aim to be as flexible as possible. The ski touring destination will be decided on the day of the trip based on weather conditions, snow stability and your interests.

Yotei Summit Trips

If you arrive in Niseko and the skies eventually clear, you'll see the dominating peak of Mount Yotei looming nearby and if you like backcountry touring, it will probably be difficult to resist the temptation to stand on top of it. Rising Sun Guides also love going to the top of Hokkaido's version of Mount Fuji and try to head up there as often as the weather permits. Please let them know if you are interested in summiting Yotei and they will do their best to make it happen while you are there.

Please inquire for details on how RSGs manage bookings for this weather dependent trip.

Skill Level

All guests should be advanced level downhill skiers / riders capable of negotiating most terrain, variable snow conditions and trees. In terms of uphill experience, guides can head out with first time ski tourers or experienced backcountry enthusiasts. Please let them know about both your uphill and downhill skill level so that they can plan your day accordingly.

Gear

For skiers, skins and AT skis are required gear so please let RSG know if you don’t have your own and they’ll get you set up with rentals.

Snowboarders can travel on snowshoes if that is your preference however split boards are highly recommended as they are lighter and more efficient, meaning that you will get more out of your day. Both are available for rental if you don't have your own. Enquire for details on rental equipment.

Bring lots of layers as you will be in the backcountry all day with no opportunity to head into a ski lodge to warm up. Please bring at least one layer more than you normally wear when skiing off lifts. Plan to add/remove layers regularly through the day to moderate your temperature. Please avoid cotton layers!! Spare gloves, goggles and sunglasses are also highly recommended. The group will stop on the way to the mountain to pick up food, snacks and water to keep fuelled and hydrated.

2023-24 Rates & Inclusions

Rates

1 - 3 guests: ¥79,000 per group (peak season Jan. 20 – Feb. 10: ¥85,000/day)
3 - 5 guests: ¥89,000 per group (peak season Jan. 20 – Feb. 10: ¥95,000/day)
Extra guests above 5: ¥18,900 or please make a booking request for specific quote based on group size
  • PRIVATE GROUPS ONLY
  • Max 5 guests/guide
  • Payments are in Japanese Yen
  • if you have any questions or want to check regarding availability, you can make a booking request
Inclusions
  • Door to door transport
  • Use of avalanche safety gear
  • Full day of guiding
  • Max 5 guests to a guide (6 - 7 requires tail guides & extra cost)
Add-ons
  • Backcountry gear rentals - inquire for pricing
Not Included

Rising Sun Guides Terms & Conditions

  • A 25% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm all reservations.
  • Full payment is due 60 days prior to the start of the tour. If the tour is booked within 60 days of departure, full payment is required to confirm.
  • Cancellation within 60 days but 30 days prior to the tour will incur a tariff in the amount of 50% of the full tour cost.
  • Cancellations within 30 days will incur a tariff in the amount of 100% of the full tour cost.
  • At the time of booking, you will receive a message with your invoice allowing you to complete payment by international bank transfer or with your credit card through Paypal. Paypal is the preferred method on payments under 100,000Yen. There is a 4% service fee associated with all paypal transactions, however on payments up to 100,000 Yen Rising Sun Guides will accept this fee. For larger payments, the 4% service charge will be added to your invoice. Alternatively, bank transfer is the preferred method on large transactions as the associated flat rate fees are lower. All bank transfer details are available on your electronic invoice. If you choose to complete a bank transfer, please ignore the paypal service charge listed on your invoice and only transfer the amount owing on the balance line of your invoice before the paypal service fee. Note: You do not need a Paypal account to use this online system. Simply follow the instructions and links provided with your electronic invoice.
  • All customers signing up for a guided tour are required to read and sign a release of liability waiver before departing. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of the tour without refund.
  • All participants under the age of 19 must also have a parent or legal guardian sign their release of liability.
  • RSG reserves the right to cancel any tour at any time (typically due to inclement weather, unsafe backcountry travel conditions or guide injury / sickness). In the event of cancellation, the customer will be offered the opportunity to either reschedule or receive a refund. All guests booking our backcountry or lift assisted day trips are covered by the RSG Powder Guarantee.
  • All participants entering the backcountry (anywhere outside of the ski area boundary) on a guided tour must be at least 13 years of age.
  • We ask guests to be honest with themselves about their skill level. If you have booked and paid for a trip with RSG but it is clear that your skills are insufficient for the trip you have booked, we will cancel the remainder of the day and refund 50% of your booking fee.
  • It is your responsibility to care for any rental equipment supplied by Rising Sun. Guests will be charged for repair or replacement of any lost or damaged items.

The Rising Sun Powder Guarantee

We know that you came to Japan to ski powder and that’s what we want to find for you. We’re lucky that this is a product Hokkaido consistently delivers; however even here there are some days when good conditions can’t be found and we don’t want you to waste your money on a guided day that isn’t up to snuff. If we don’t think we can find good snow anywhere on the day of your trip then we will offer the choice to reschedule (subject to availability), receive a full refund (less transaction fees) or proceed with lowered expectations to see if we can find something good out there.

This is a pretty big statement and something that`s probably only possible here in Hokkaido but it does come with the following conditions:

The decision to cancel, reschedule or refund will be made by Rising Sun Guides:
We are tuned in to conditions across the island and even if conditions are looking bleak where you are, we have more than a few tricks up our sleeve and its often just a matter of doing a little driving to find better skiing. You hired Rising Sun to find you the best snow… so let us!

We do guarantee snow however we cannot guarantee a particular depth of snow or that it will always be untracked:
Particularly on lift assisted trips you can expect to be crossing tracks particularly as the day wears on. Of course our guides know these mountains well and will be aiming to keep you several steps ahead of the crowds throughout the day.

The powder guarantee is only offered on day trips:

For guests on our multi-day package trips, we`ll do something with you every scheduled day regardless of conditions. If its really not worth strapping in, then we`ll take you sightseeing, hot springing or something else fun for the day. We will however refund for any unused lift tickets.

The decision to cancel, reschedule or refund might be made at the last minute:

We will typically make the decision to cancel the day before your trip operates however, we do like to give the weather every chance to fix itself and will sometimes leave the decision until the morning. In these cases your guide will arrive to meet you as scheduled in the morning providing the latest weather information and final decision for the day.

We can always go ahead with the trip (or alternative plan) with reduced expectations:

Even in the worst conditions we can often still pull together a great day particularly after expectations have been adjusted. Any day on snow is better than a day inside right? There`s also plenty of other fun things to see and do in Hokkaido on an off day so we`ll happily supply and facilitate alternatives where possible.