Otaru Powder Guides

Save

Overall Rating

Otaru Powder Guides

Otaru Powder Guides5.0/53

Otaru Powder Guides5.0 out of 5 based on 3 reviews

View all 3 reviews

Otaru Powder Guides

Overall Rating

Otaru Powder Guides5.0/53

Otaru Powder Guides5.0 out of 5 based on 3 reviews

View all 3 reviews

About
Reviews

Otaru Powder Guides

Otaru Powder Guides is a small ski and snowboard guiding outfit in Hokkaido Japan. Otaru Powder Guides is headed up by Max Giutronich, who has been based in Hokkaido for winters since 2010 and living in the Otaru area full-time since 2014. Max and co. speak the language and have an understanding of the customs and culture of the local population, are grateful to live there, and are well placed to show you why they love the place so much.

In addition to being insured, Otaru Powder Guides are qualified and certified: Avalanche Operations Stage 1; Wilderness First Responder 80 hr; Snowboard Level 3 Instructor & Ski Instructor certified.

Otaru Powder Guides provide day guiding for resort-based powder tours and backcountry guiding in the mountains around Otaru. OPG also provides introduction to backcountry days.

Powder Hounds to the Rescue

Charles Armstrong

04/03/2025

Overall
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5

View details Hide details

Overall
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5

Guiding
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Equipment
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Locations
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Fun Factor
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Value
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5

Would Revisit
- 1
- 2
Would Recommend
- 1
- 2

Age
36-50
Ability
Advanced
Rider Type
Alpine Skier
Month:
February
Admin Rating
3

Powder Hounds to the Rescue

Charles Armstrong

04/03/2025

I tried emailing guides directly from a list of accredited guides I found online and was striking out after at least 20 emails. I decided to message Powderhounds and they were able to find me a very friendly and competent guide, Phil. He took us to the backcountry behind Kokusai. Great snow back there but snowmobiles were going off that day as was a national holiday which tracked over the nice open areas we were skiing. No fault of Phil’s as he delivered great terrain in the trees once the winds and snow made backcountry untenable for us and the sledders. Thank you Powderhounds!
See our video here

Amazing Guided Ski Experience!

Derek

01/03/2025

Overall
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5

View details Hide details

Overall
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5

Guiding
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Equipment
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Locations
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Fun Factor
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Value
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5

Would Revisit
- 1
- 2
Would Recommend
- 1
- 2

Age
18-35
Ability
Expert
Rider Type
Alpine Skier
Month:
February
Admin Rating
2

Amazing Guided Ski Experience!

Derek

01/03/2025

Traveled to Japan from the US with a group of four friends and did two guided days with Max. He's incredibly knowledgeable, kind, fun and takes all the precautions expected from a large backcountry operation. Would 10/10 recommend Max for your next guided adventure in Japan!
See our video here

Great Resort Powder Tour

Edward Au

20/02/2025

Overall
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5

View details Hide details

Overall
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5

Guiding
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Equipment
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Locations
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Fun Factor
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Value
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5

Would Revisit
- 1
- 2
Would Recommend
- 1
- 2

Age
36-50
Ability
Advanced
Rider Type
Alpine Skier
Month:
February
Admin Rating
3

Great Resort Powder Tour

Edward Au

20/02/2025

The tour was wonderful and gave us the opportunity to find deep lift-accessed powder, which is the main reason why we came up Japan. Max was very prompt for pickup and got us to the resort and back with no issues. He offered us the flexibility to stay as long as we liked and to have a lunch break whenever we wanted. He clearly knew the terrain at Kiroro very well. Lastly, he helped out someone in my group who was stuck in a hole in the powder who struggled to get out. I would definitely recommend using Max for those seeking out powder and unfamiliar with the local terrain.
See our video here

Otaru Powder Tours

Save

DETAILS

Price p/p

USD 168

See reviews (3)

PRIVATE GUIDING OTARU AREA
1+ Days | Resort or Backcountry Guiding

Location: Japan | Tour Focus: Guided | Terrain Focus: Off-Piste, Backcountry, Sidecountry

Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert

Price p/p

USD 168

Resort, lift-accessed backcountry & full backcountry guiding for the ski areas &mountains around Otaru that score an abundance of snow. Private guiding only (ie you can’t join a mixed group) 105,000 yen per day. 10% discount for 3 or more days. Transport, full day guiding & option of the best onsen on the way home. More

Click here for rates, dates & availability

Future rates & dates are currently not yet available for this operator. Click here to enquire.

Custom Booking Period

Min Days

Price

Availability

Custom Booking Period: Mar 01 - Mar 31, 2025

Min Days: From 1

Price: Enquire

Availability: Filling

Enquire Here

Future rates & dates are currently not yet available for this operator. Click here to enquire.

DETAILS

Otaru Intro to Backcountry

Save

DETAILS

Price p/p

USD 192

See reviews (0)

INTRO TO BACKCOUNTRY SKILLS OTARU AREA
1+ Days | Private Groups of 1-4

Location: Japan | Tour Focus: Guided | Terrain Focus: Backcountry

Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert

Price p/p

USD 192

For those new to the backcountry who are staying in Otaru or Kiroro – private groups of 1-4. Learn the basics of heading into the backcountry outside the resort boundaries such as safe travel, avalanche awareness and safety gear. Transport between Otaru/Kiroro and the field included. More

Click here for rates, dates & availability

Future rates & dates are currently not yet available for this operator. Click here to enquire.

Custom Booking Period

Min Days

Price

Availability

Custom Booking Period: Mar 01 - Mar 16, 2025

Min Days: From 1

Price: Enquire

Availability: Filling

Enquire Here

Future rates & dates are currently not yet available for this operator. Click here to enquire.

DETAILS

Otaru Powder Guides

Overall Rating