Itinerary

This itinerary is an example of tour #2. The tour will be run largely by the weather and each day will fit around where the best conditions are. This is the beauty of such a tour.

Tour #1 – Start Furano / End Morioka 
Tour #2 – Start Morioka / End Furano

DAY 1 (arrival and check-in day)

Upon landing in Tokyo it is recommended you take the Shinkansen for a true Japanese travel experience up to the snowy city of Morioka. There you will be welcomed by your guides and driven to Morioka Grand Hotel where you will meet your fellow road trippers over dinner and drinks. Your guide will also will run you through the tour, current conditions and prevailing weather and answer any questions you may have. (NOTE: If you wish to organise rental ski/SB equipment and your tour is starting in Morioka we may be able to ship it down from Hokkaido. If your tours starts in Furano it is advised that you try to arrive with enough time on the arrival day to be fitted – seek advice from your consultant)

DAYS 2 – 4 (first snow days)

The beauty of staying in the city of Morioka is not only will you be able to enjoy the nightlife of a Japanese city but you will also be able to access multiple resorts, each affected by slightly different weather patterns. Every day your guide will be checking the forecast to see which resort has the best powder conditions. The guide will be able to choose from Appi, Hachimantai Shimokura, Tazawako, Geto Kogen, and Shizukushi. Each resort brings something different to your experience, with wide-open bowls, chutes, gladed trees, pillows and all-around fun-filled days. There are some great cultural sites and onsens on the way back to Morioka which the group may stop at to soak our muscles ready for the next day's adventure. Each night your guides will take you out to sample the delicious local cuisine and hang at some cool bars.

DAY 5 Transfer day

It’s time to say goodbye to the Morioka region and head north to Hakkoda. On our way you may detour to a fun ski area few know about, boasting epic tree lines and road drops off the back. Hakkoda is famous for the epic amounts of snow that blanket the mountain. The terrain is epic and one of our favourites in Japan. The powder is ridiculously deep. For the next three nights we will be staying in the family run Hotel Azumashiya, a ryokan style guesthouse with lovely hosts, regenerative onsens, delicious food and the powder of Hakkoda and Aomori Spring a short drive away.

DAY 6 & 7

Hakkoda will blow you away, sometimes literally. Known for its temperamental weather and pea soup like visibility you’ll either have your best day on the trip or one of the toughest. With one ropeway (cable car) taking you right to the top, it is from here where you will enjoy Hakkoda’s epic backcountry terrain. It was mainly built for sightseeing and hiking in summer but stories of epic pow, snow-monsters and endless terrain made it a growing mecca for powder hounds and backcountry skiers. We will also head over to Aomori Spring. This little known resort has some fun powder filled terrain and the terrain off the back lift is Japanese tree skiing at its finest. If you have skins, the terrain above it extends the fun even further!

DAY 8 Transfer/rest day

After a relaxed breakfast and maybe a quick onsen the guide will drive north to Aomori City for the ferry over the Tsugaru Strait to Hakodate. Hokkaido’s southernmost city was once the first international trading port open to foreigners after the isolationist Edo period (from 1603 to 1867). As such, it has interesting Euro-Japanese style architecture in the old part of town along with a large port area, seafood markets and an extinct volcano Mt Hakodate. After some sightseeing you’ll transfer further north to the one of the snowiest cities in Hokkaido, Otaru. Here you will stay in OMO5 Otaru for the next 2 nights.

DAY 9

After an awesome breakfast at the hotel, you’ll jump in the van and drive to whichever resort is getting the goods – Kokusai, Kiroro or Teine. During the evenings you’ll wander along Otaru’s canals, and dine in one of its great seafood or BBQ restaurants – the sashimi is the freshest and most delicious you will taste in Hokkaido.

DAY 10

Time to check out and take the scenic transfer from Otaru to Furano. As it is a 3-4 hour drive this may be your rest day if you didn’t have a rest on the trip from Aomori to Otaru. If so we’ll stop in Sapporo on the way to enjoy Hokkaido’s capital, including the Sapporo Beer Hall or the Snow Festival. If the snow is dumping and you’ve had a rest day previously we can ski one of a few resorts on the way – Teine, Tomamu or Sahoro. That night you check into Hotel Munin and enjoy a delicious dinner.

DAY 11 – 13

In Central Hokkaido we have five main resorts to choose from: Furano, Asahidake, Kamui, Tomamu and Sahoro. We’ll choose which has the best conditions each day, followed by relaxing soaks in the many onsen in the area. Asahidake is one of our favourites, rising 2,290m the ropeway does most of the hard work taking you to well above the tree line at 1,600m. From there you’ll spend your day exploring the powder-filled ridges and chutes from the lift.

DAY 14 (check-out and departure day)

All good things must come to an end. It’s time to check out and say goodbye to your new friends. After one last onsen you will check out by 10am and be picked up from the door for your transfer to New Chitose Airport and your flight home.

Lodging

HOTEL MUNIN FURANO - 4 nights
In Furano, you are staying in a brand new boutique hotel located in the middle of Kitanomine close to restaurants and bars. With well-appointed rooms, a sumptuous lounge and a lovely onsen, this Hotel will make the Powder Belt Backcountry Tour A special Japanese experience.

OMO OTARU - 2 nights
OMO5 opened in January 2022 and is the perfect spot to base yourself for your stay in Otaru. Located in an area with many historical structures and buildings, this city-tourism hotel consists of two buildings: the south wing, a renovation of the former Otaru Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the north wing, designed for functionality and design. OMO5 Otaru offers two types of guest rooms, standard and superior.

The “Standard” rooms are new and functional with modern furnishings and are located in the new wing. The “Superior” rooms are slightly larger with higher ceilings and are located in the renovated Chamber of Commerce building. Walk out the hotel’s front door and you are right in the heart of the historical district of Otaru with the canals and warehouse district close by as well artisan’s studios, cafés, a sake brewery, and a variety of restaurants and bars.

AZUMASHIYA RYOKAN - 3 nights
A lovely accommodation run by a friendly and welcoming family. You’ll feel right at home at this hotel overlooking the river and onsen town of Kuroishi. This spot has been chosen for not only the great food and lovely hosts but also it’s perfect location between Hakkoda and Aomori Spring ski resorts. It boasts a large outdoor onsen relaxing lounge space and large Japanese ensuited rooms with optional western bedding.

HOTEL GRAND ANNEX MORIOKA - 4 nights
Located right in the centre of town. This hotel is the perfect base from which to explore the city of Morioka as well as having easy access to the surrounding ski areas. You’ll love being in the centre of town with all the great restaurants and bars within walking distance. Each room is comfortably appointed with twin western beds and all that you’d expect from a 4 star hotel.

Rate Notes & Inclusions 2024

• 595,000 yen
• Base rate is in Japanese yen
• Please enquire here for a quote for a customised trip
• Max 6:1 client to guest ratio, 6-10 guests max on tour, 4 person minimum

Tohoku skiing

...deep powder...

...Tazawako powder

Inclusions

• 13 nights accommodation: twin share
• Fully hosted. Guiding max 6:1 ratio
• Chitose Airport transfer to Furano with Resort Liner & Morioka Station (or Hanamaki Airport) transfers & daily transport
• 11 days of lift tickets
• Welcome & farewell dinner
• Daily breakfast
• Ferry between Hokkaido & Honshu
• Onsen (hot spring) tour

Add-ons

• Avalanche safety equipment
• Single share accommodation - price on request
• Tokyo stopover, Kyoto stopover

Not Included

• Transfers from Morioka Station to Tokyo or Haneda or Narita Airport. Advice re catching trains is provided.
• Flights - you can look at flight options here
• Ski insurance

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