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Powder Recon

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Overall Rating

Powder Recon

Powder Recon4.6/535
Powder Recon4.6 out of 5 based on 35 reviews
View all 35 reviews
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Powder Recon

Overall Rating

Powder Recon4.6/535
Powder Recon4.6 out of 5 based on 35 reviews
View all 35 reviews
Powder Recon Japan specialises in unique Myoko ski tours and northern Honshu ski tours and snowboard trips. They’re not called “Powder Recon” for nothing! Powder Recon Japan knows where all the powder stashes are and the owner and guides combined, have been on hundreds of reconnaissance trips to lots of Honshu (the main island of Japan) ski resorts to find more secret stashes for you.

Powder Recon started in 2006 in Myoko Kogen and is an Australian owned company that also employs various international and local Japanese staff and guides. They are culturally sensitive and place strong importance on giving back to the local community and ensuring that guests have genuine Japanese cultural experiences. Their motto of “premium snow tours and cultural experiences” pretty much sums it up!

Powder Recon will take you away from the usual ski tourism crowds to see the “real” Japan where there are no lift queues or westernised experiences.

Powder Recon Booking Terms

  • All bookings will be held for 7 days once quotes have been issued.
  • A 25% deposit is required to secure bookings (credit card payment available).

Powder Recon Review

Dean
23/02/2023
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Customer Age
    51-70
  • Rider Level
    Advanced
  • Rider Type
    Snowboarder
  • Month Visited:
    February
  • Admin Rating
    3

Powder Recon Review

Dean
23/02/2023
Awesome holiday with an awesome tour company. From the moment we arrived we were totally impressed. The accommodation was great with welcoming staff who were more than helpful. The tour guides were professional and gave great advice and provided memorable experiences every day regardless of conditions. Hats off to the whole crew, except those at the karaoke, who's performance was well under par.!! Haha.
We will definitely be back for more.!!
See our video here

An Alternative Ski Adventure

James
20/04/2020
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Age
    51-70
  • Ability
    Expert
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Country
    Canada
  • Month:
    January
  • Admin Rating
    1

An Alternative Ski Adventure

James
20/04/2020
We had an excellent time on the Secret Tour by Powder Recon (which covers part of the resorts of the Powder Odyssey Tour resorts), and it delivered as advertised: an abundance of powder conditions both on and off piste, led by a very knowledgeable, capable, and client-focused group of guides. The Bandai area mountains are not huge and the trails not overly difficult, but the terrain is varied and the tree skiing challenging enough for most. Accommodations and food were first rate. I would recommend this trip for those looking for an authentic Japan skiing/boarding experience in a very scenic setting, easily reached by train from Tokyo.
See our video here

Bandai Powder Tour

20/04/2020

Camilla Kerr-Ruston

Powder Puppy
Powder Puppy

Camilla Kerr-Ruston

Powder Puppy
Powder Puppy
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Age
    51-70
  • Ability
    Intermediate
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Country
    Japan
  • Month:
    March
  • Admin Rating
    1

Bandai Powder Tour

20/04/2020
This was a superbly organised tour, from the very first email exchange with Luke to Yaan depositing us at the train station to travel back to Tokyo.
The weather was not in favour of those wanting to 'power powder' but Yaan and Tasu made the best of what was available. We skied a different resort each day, all lift tickets were organised, and a tour of the resort was done as the first set of runs to show us around.
The accommodation was traditional but with Yaan and Tasu explaining the etiquette we didn't cause too much disapproval:)
A great trip and we will book again.
See our video here

Lees review

Lee Batty
07/04/2020
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Admin Rating
    1

Lees review

Lee Batty
07/04/2020
Overall i thought the week was awesome. both marco and marc were excellent at looking after us and taking us to the best lines on the mountain for the conditions.
Accomodation and food excellent.
Both guides more than helpful in all aspects. I know i had a great time and so did all my friends.
i would definitely like to come back!!
See our video here

Hidden Secrets of Japow

Helen Morrison
04/04/2020
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit

    Hidden Secrets of Japow

    Helen Morrison
    04/04/2020
    As always Powderhounds your reviews and recommendations are on point. I first read about this Northern Odyssey tour here and thought it sounded like a great adventure and it exceeded all my expectations. Our friendly and super helpful guides Marco and Belhu found us secret powder stashes on most days in what was a challenging season for snow in Japan.
    And thanks so much for my impromptu birthday dance party. Such a great trip can’t wait to come back again someday!
    See our video here

    Fun Fortnight

    04/04/2020

    Colleen

    Powder Puppy
    Powder Puppy

    Colleen

    Powder Puppy
    Powder Puppy
    • Recommend
    • Would Revisit

      Fun Fortnight

      04/04/2020
      Had so much fun last year on Odyssey tour decided to book 2 weeks back to back this year. Although the snow fall was not as good as past years, still had plenty of skiing options. Guides spread their time amongst the group so that everyone with different ability had skiing options and were encouraged - unlike some other operators where it is all about the adrenalin charged 'boys club' . In times of poor conditions (eg rain) group was consulted on alternative activities eg visiting a Sake brewery. Guides were fun, flexible and inclusive. Feedback given to company on improving pre-tour information regarding meals and travel arrangements and this has been well received. As a single female on tour, I always felt safe and included and had some of the best skiing fun ever in Japan ( have skied Japan for over 10 seasons and tried a variety of tours) . I will be booking again. Thanks Marco and Marc and Powder Recon. PS take your skins, you never know when you might get a chance to use them!
      See our video here

      Powder Odessey

      Rod Benson
      30/03/2020
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Age
        51-70
      • Ability
        Advanced
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Country
        Australia
      • Month:
        February
      • Admin Rating
        2

      Powder Odessey

      Rod Benson
      30/03/2020
      Lot of time is scrappy tight trees with no other options due to very average snow conditions
      Bus was way too small for any level of comfort, invest in some advanced driver training for guides ( safety with passengers)
      Felt like we were left behind on last day while guides beat it back to morioka taking some guests with them while we were left to catch a bus and a train in the opposite direction to get back :poor communication
      See our video here

      Awesome

      Julie Thomson
      10/03/2020
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        51-70
      • Rider Level
        Advanced
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Month Visited:
        March
      • Admin Rating
        2

      Awesome

      Julie Thomson
      10/03/2020
      Thank you Powder Recon. Everything was fantastic. The accommodation, breakfast, the hospitality shown my ALL members of the Powder Recon team and the awesome guides. Would thoroughly recommend this company/experience/ski tip. Thank you.
      See our video here

      Myoko with Powder Recon

      Mike
      25/02/2020
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        51-70
      • Rider Level
        Advanced
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Month Visited:
        February
      • Admin Rating
        3

      Myoko with Powder Recon

      Mike
      25/02/2020
      We went to Myoko (via Tokyo) as a group of 13 for a week this February 2020. Most of us were first time visitors to Japan. The advance documentation and assistance from Powder Recon was excellent and this continued once there. Lodging was very comfortable, ski hire and set-up painless. Well organised with group meetings every night to advise the following day's activities. The guiding was a particular highlight with professional, accommodating and good-humored guides happy to lead us across a range of mountains and terrain. All in all this was a fantastic trip and we all look forward to returning both to Japan and Powder Recon.
      See our video here

      Powder Recon - Odyssey Tour

      Brendon
      18/02/2020
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Age
        36-50
      • Ability
        Expert
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Country
        New Zealand
      • Month:
        February
      • Admin Rating
        3

      Powder Recon - Odyssey Tour

      Brendon
      18/02/2020
      Great tour, great guides, great times!

      Although mother nature didn't provide fresh snow every day our guides, Marco and Mark went to great lengths to ensure that we found some fresh lines. The guides ensured that all levels of capabilities were catered for. We were first on the lifts each morning ensuring that we got first tracks at all the fields we visited.

      The tour also included some cultural aspects of touring Sake Bars , Onsen protocol, and amazing restaurants and breweries.

      Totally recommend this tour for those that are keen for POW.
      See our video here

      Northern "Odyssey Tour"

      Waz@Oz
      16/04/2019
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Age
        36-50
      • Ability
        Advanced
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Country
        Australia
      • Month:
        February
      • Admin Rating
        5

      Northern "Odyssey Tour"

      Waz@Oz
      16/04/2019
      See where the Onsen water starts!
      Excellent Piste, even better off-piste !
      Going where nobody else has been!
      What a terrific on-snow hotel
      Off-piste discovery walks worth it !
      We've previously experienced the "Bandai Tour" with Powder Recon a few years ago (then called "Secret Tour"), because we couldn't get a booking on the Northern Odyssey Tour, because it books out months in advance!!....so it was a must do for our Japan 2019 trip. So in February 2019, we spent a week with Powder Recon in Myoko (also see Waz@Oz review under Myoko) before joining Powder Odyssey.....YES....2 trips back to back.
      We believe that Powder Recon provide the best value for money / best experience tour you will find. They provide for a cross section of Ages and skier or boarder ability. The Powder Odyssey Tour had the best guides; one was a French Canadian instructor and one a Japanese local telemark champion (thanks Alexi & Hiro....you are legends !!) as well as one of the senior staff of Powder Recon as terrific support (Thanks Dan !!). The Tour accessed local ski-fields around Morioka followed by the terrific Resort at Aomori-Springs. The skiing was excellent; the ski-guiding was first-class with safety at top of mind; the accommodation was terrific with Onsens and great food.
      This was my 4th trip with Powder Recon and we are booking with them again for 2020 and beyond .
      See our video here

      Myoko Powder packages

      Waz@Oz
      16/04/2019
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        36-50
      • Rider Level
        Expert
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Month Visited:
        February
      • Admin Rating
        5

      Myoko Powder packages

      Waz@Oz
      16/04/2019
      Riding the Single at Madarao-Tangrem
      Suginohara on a Bluebird after new snow
      Akakura with POW
      Great food and experiences - Okonomiyaki direct on Teppan grill.
      And don't miss going to the Hokusai Museum!!
      Myoko (Akakura Onsen) still retains an authentic feel so that visitors will have a great "Japan" experience. We first went there in 2014 (it had few Westerners then) and re-visited again recently in February 2019, with "Powder Recon", who we highly recommend to anyone. Powder Recon are long term residents of Akakura, have their own Office-Cafe, have a mix of Western & Japanese local staff, and so they know the area better then anyone.....they even have their own Lodge. They have a "we can help you with anything" attitude, but are conscious of your safety and pay attention to your skiing ability. My wife didn't want to do more adventurous skiing one day, and she was guided individually (thanks Maria!) on piste runs. You will experience great value for money, with their all inclusive packages, but the flexibility to go out and mix up your dining in nearby local restaurants and bars, from Japanese to Korean (and Western) cuisine to choose from. We prefer the half day guiding they offer as it allows you the flexibility to mix who you want to ski with in the afternoon, after having been shown around the ski-resorts....and it brings the fee they charge down considerably from other Tour operators. We've toured with many different guides and Tour Operators, and even though we have done all the Tours that Powder Recon provide, we are doing them again.
      See our video here

      Myoko Powder Tour

      Hamish Matheson
      21/02/2019
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        36-50
      • Rider Level
        Advanced
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Month Visited:
        February
      • Admin Rating
        2

      Myoko Powder Tour

      Hamish Matheson
      21/02/2019
      Fantastic tour, cant say enough about Powder Recon and the team. We hardly lifted a finger the entire trip and they got us to the best powder over the week. The guides knew where the hidden powder spots were.
      See our video here

      Bandai Odyssey

      Anna
      31/01/2019
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        36-50
      • Rider Level
        Advanced
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Month Visited:
        January
      • Admin Rating
        1

      Bandai Odyssey

      Anna
      31/01/2019
      I enjoyed the Bandai Odyssey experience.
      See our video here

      Powder Recon Odyssey Tour

      Steven and Alysha Mcgill
      21/04/2018
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Age
        18-35
      • Ability
        Intermediate
      • Rider Type
        Snow Boarder
      • Country
        Australia
      • Month:
        February
      • Admin Rating
        3

      Powder Recon Odyssey Tour

      Steven and Alysha Mcgill
      21/04/2018
      What a great trip. It was our first trip to Japan for my wife and I and this trip was fantastic. We stayed in great hotels/resorts with the best japanese food and we were the only westerns at each ski resort everyday. The guides Ray and Vaughn were excellent and they took us straight to the good powder stashes everyday. It was a great trip and was run very professionally. We went to a different resort everyday so everyday was a new day to have fresh tracks and it was great to see the real japanese culture. If anyone is looking to do a trip to japan I HIGHLY RECOMMEND POWDER RECON!!!!!!!!!!! Great value for money without a doubt.
      See our video here

      Great Snow; Great Operation

      Chip Burgess
      07/02/2018
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        51-70
      • Rider Level
        Expert
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Month Visited:
        January
      • Admin Rating
        2

      Great Snow; Great Operation

      Chip Burgess
      07/02/2018
      My son and I just spent a week with Powder Recon in Myoko. It was an amazing trip. The Lodge was comfortable and had a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. The guides were all excellent at finding hidden stashes of untracked powder, even days after the last dump.
      See our video here

      Secret Stashes and Superb Service

      Colin Davies
      18/01/2018
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Age
        18-35
      • Ability
        Advanced
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Country
        United Kingdom
      • Month:
        January
      • Admin Rating
        4

      Secret Stashes and Superb Service

      Colin Davies
      18/01/2018
      Last week I was lucky enough to join our guides James, Vaughn and Miashta for the epic ski experience that is the Powder Recon Odyssey tour.

      All of us on the trip remarked at how well organised it was. The group was a really nice match. The accommodation, transport and agenda were all first class. All of the guides went out of their way to ensure all the guest had a great time catering for every request with enthusiasm and a good dose of charaima.

      The resorts selected to visit made the most of the weather conditions which we encountered throughout the week which was fantastic. The best part of this however was the depth of knowledge the guides had with regard to the mountain. For example choosing a resort which benefited from the high winds dumping the snow into certain tree sections. Avoiding long hikes and flat sections as well as avoiding the lines which are known to annoy the mountain patrol and lead to a clipped lift pass.

      This tour is well and truly off the beaten track and a real insight into the Japanese ski scene outside of the influence of western culture. Highly recommended.
      See our video here

      Powder Recon January 2017

      James
      15/02/2017
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        51-70
      • Rider Level
        Advanced
      • Rider Type
        N/A
      • Month Visited:
        January
      • Admin Rating
        1

      Powder Recon January 2017

      James
      15/02/2017
      Staff was great, without exception. Snow was abundant. Terrain was mediocre at best. The combination of mediocre terrain and limited lifts doom this to a mediocre experience at a high price.
      See our video here

      Best Holiday Ever!

      paul @ nina
      14/02/2017
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        36-50
      • Rider Level
        Expert
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Month Visited:
        February
      • Admin Rating
        1

      Best Holiday Ever!

      paul @ nina
      14/02/2017
      /totally awesome, couldn't recommend enough!
      See our video here

      Bandai with Powder Recon

      30/01/2017

      Amelia

      Powder Puppy
      Powder Puppy

      Amelia

      Powder Puppy
      Powder Puppy
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        36-50
      • Rider Level
        Intermediate
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Month Visited:
        January
      • Admin Rating
        4

      Bandai with Powder Recon

      30/01/2017
      I recently got back from skiing for a week with Powder Recon in Alts Bandai. They are awesome, and so is the place. They have several guides that will take people to the places that suit their skill level and they make sure that everyone visits all the places. I went to Alts Bandai, Inawashiro, Nekoma and Gran Deco. I loved loved them all.

      When I got there I realized that my skill level was way below what is probably their average customer, but they were accommodating and we also had a guide (Bonnnie, who is super nice, professional and I am grateful that she took me down places I would have never gone down on my own) that took us down the runs and not through the trees. If you are a skillful skier this must be an amazing experience because the staff really knows the area and seems to be really on top of taking good skiers to interesting places. For those of us who stayed on piste, sometimes they are completely empty. The place is not crowded at all, not even on weekends.

      The hotel is also wonderful. Theres a buffet for breakfast and dinner with great variety, but it does not change. The place is not touristy so maybe there is less English than in other places, so sometimes you need to think about being understood, but the staff is very nice. The onsen is amazing, and when you are done there's a freezer with delicious popsicles outside.

      There is no need to bring much clothes because the hotel gives you a robe and pants that you can wear while you're in the hotel.

      I have nothing but good things to say about the place and the company.
      See our video here

      great snow at less visited place

      Andrew Chan
      11/04/2016
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        18-35
      • Rider Level
        Intermediate
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Month Visited:
        March
      • Admin Rating
        3

      great snow at less visited place

      Andrew Chan
      11/04/2016
      We went with Powder Recon in late March 2016. All the pre departure info was good with easy to follow instructions on how to get to Myoko from Tokyo.

      Everything was pretty smooth and the accom we stayed in Hotel Taiko was really nice, good size room (bring some cereal/bars though) as the breakfast is a bit samey after a week.

      Our guide Taku was great and took us to some nice spots in the trees/ off piste where we got some nice powder at 4 different resorts in the area. It was reassuring having someone show us round the different mountains.

      Myoko is a pretty quiet place, not a party town which suited us, plenty of choice for dinner. Good variety of runs which were near empty during the week and the snow quality when we were there was awesome.
      See our video here

      Myoko

      uli
      05/03/2016
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        51-70
      • Rider Level
        Expert
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Month Visited:
        February
      • Admin Rating
        1

      Myoko

      uli
      05/03/2016
      great people, they look after you...
      See our video here

      Powder Odyssey Tour - Jan/Feb 2016

      Richard Male
      13/02/2016
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Age
        36-50
      • Ability
        Intermediate
      • Rider Type
        Snow Boarder
      • Country
        United Kingdom
      • Month:
        February
      • Admin Rating
        3

      Powder Odyssey Tour - Jan/Feb 2016

      Richard Male
      13/02/2016
      This tour was amazing, never riding the same resort twice yet having the guides ensures you make the most out of each resort, never having to worry how or if you can get back on to the piste.
      They were all saying this year was the least amount of snow they have had, but with the guides knowledge of each resort we still found POW and fresh tracks.
      See our video here

      Myoko Kogen semi guided package

      Peter Botterill
      03/02/2016
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        51-70
      • Rider Level
        Advanced
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Month Visited:
        January
      • Admin Rating
        2

      Myoko Kogen semi guided package

      Peter Botterill
      03/02/2016
      We have just returned home from the Myoko Kogen area.
      The owner Bryce is a great operator. Despite a hotel that went broke before we arrived,  and Myoko had the worst season for 35 year, our group (13 in number) ended up with fantastic accommodation, skied fresh powder 6 out of 9 days. A credit to Bryce and his team.
      See our video here

      Powder Recon - impressed!

      Katya
      25/01/2016
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Age
        36-50
      • Ability
        Advanced
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Country
        UK
      • Month:
        January
      • Admin Rating
        4

      Powder Recon - impressed!

      Katya
      25/01/2016
      Just returned from a Powder Odyssey tour (January 2016). Extremely impressed. Yes, the snow this year (at least in January) was somewhat lacking - but to me that's when being on tour actually pays off as you can move around to take advantage of the best snow.

      We visited the following resorts: Alts Bandai, Geto Kogen, Amihari and Shizukuishi.

      Our group of 7 happened to be fairly similar in terms of skiing ability and we all skied together in the mornings, which worked quite well as no-one was holding anyone up. Also given the challenging conditions it was good to have one of the guides at the back, sweeping, especially going through tight trees, where bamboo shoots or minor insufficiently filled gullies provided interesting challenges...

      Here are the things we very much liked about the tour:

      - professionalism and general attitude of the guides: always going out of their way to help, good group management and judgement, especially on the mountain: choosing routes whilst balancing risk and adventure

      - the guides' local knowledge: James clearly knows all of the areas we visited like the back of his hand and so was able to find the elusive stashes of powder or fun tree runs so we could make the best of every day whatever the conditions

      - the split of morning guiding / free afternoons

      - choice of accommodation - mostly traditional "onsen" hotels with no other westerners in sight, all high quality. Nicely appointed rooms, often in traditional Japanese style. Having an onsen became a major part of après-ski

      - eating local food, but with western options for breakfast. Eating out is surprisingly inexpensive

      - relaxing transfers, chilling out to great music, whilst James and Tom were doing all the hard work, driving

      - banter and laughs with the guides and other members of the group

      - performance of our Nordica skis, rented from Powder Recon: brand new and great to ride.

      It is a pretty nice way to spend a week, and I fear, quite addictive!
      See our video here

      Powder Recon Family Adventure

      Christian Miles
      23/05/2015
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        36-50
      • Rider Level
        Advanced
      • Rider Type
        Snowboarder
      • Admin Rating
        4

      Powder Recon Family Adventure

      Christian Miles
      23/05/2015
      Our family experience in Japan was our first & we are planning on returning - It was insane! We were able to immerse ourselves very comfortable into the Japanese culture & Fresh, Deep Powder! Bryce & his crew were awesome from meeting us at the Hotel's foyer for check in through to dropping us at the train for return to Tokyo.

      They provided us with guides each day at the locations of our choice & suitable for all skill levels.

      The guides had an extensive knowledge of the various resort's trails & where to search out the best runs available to suit the days conditions.

      The nightly meetings came with a wealth of knowledge from Japanese etiquette, meeting fellow guests, weather forecast, resort recommendations, tips on places to go & things to see.

      Bryce made us aware of the very real hazards that exist, how to identify them & most importantly how to have an awesome day & stay safe.

      We'd like to thank them all for there assistance which made for a very enjoyable, traditional, adrenaline filled family holiday. A special thanks to Bryce, Evan, Robyn & Shaya you made Myoko Magic. Cheers
      See our video here

      Powder Recon was amazing!

      Pranil Singh
      19/05/2015
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        18-35
      • Rider Level
        Intermediate
      • Rider Type
        Snowboarder
      • Admin Rating
        4

      Powder Recon was amazing!

      Pranil Singh
      19/05/2015
      Empty runs!
      Fresh powder!
      Can't wait to go back.
      Freaking awesome trip! A group of four of us spent 5 days in Myoko Kogen on a Powder Recon trip and had a amazing time.

      The hotel was neat and tidy, and the staff super helpful and polite. Our Japanese was quite limited and we had no trouble communicating with then. The onsen was also a great way to relax after a day on the mountain.

      Powder Recon staff were helpful and happy to give us any advice. We got to spend a bit of time with the guys on the mountain as well, which was great.

      Will definitely go again - both Myoko and the Powder Recon guys were so, so good. If you go ask about the okonomiyaki - it's probably the best in Japan!
      See our video here

      Thanks for a fun trip

      Nicki Gallagher
      24/02/2015
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        36-50
      • Rider Level
        Advanced
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Admin Rating
        2

      Thanks for a fun trip

      Nicki Gallagher
      24/02/2015
      Great way to meet new people and ski with others at similar levels. We had a great time and have made some new life long friends.

      Enjoyed exploring the region with some great guides...

      Bryce very professional and organized but other staff limited at times.
      See our video here

      Great Way to Explore Multiple Ski Areas

      07/06/2014

      POWDERHOUNDS.COM

      Powderhounds Ambassador
      Powderhounds Ambassador

      POWDERHOUNDS.COM

      Powderhounds Ambassador
      Powderhounds Ambassador
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        36-50
      • Rider Level
        Expert
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Admin Rating
        5

      Great Way to Explore Multiple Ski Areas

      07/06/2014
      There was plenty of this!
      We were very impressed with the Powder Recon offering at Myoko Kogen. It provides the powder skiing benefits of a multi-resort tour and an oportunity to sample various resorts, yet the stability of being based in one village and not having to change accommodation every night. We can thoroughly recommend the packages, and better yet, the packages provide exceptional value for money.

      The information provided pre-trip was impressive and we also received a great orientation on arrival and advice on things to do in the village.

      We really liked the accommodation (see our 7th Door Ryokan review). Powder Recon has an ethos of trying to provide an authentic Japanese experience (they only book out a max of 20% of rooms to westerners) and we really enjoyed the Japanese feel of the hotel.

      We were largely there to chase the powder and we weren’t disappointed. Each day we went to different ski areas, both Myoko ski areas as well as nearby resorts. Firstly having the guides drive us each day enabled us to access a variety of ski areas that we otherwise wouldn’t have visited. One resort in particular was a complete gem because it was deserted, so there were super freshies galore! The guides were really affable and provided guiding in the mornings to show us lots of good spots, and then we were free to choose our own routes in the afternoon.

      I was surprised that the packages didn’t just cater for powder hounds, but also for groups and families with beginners and intermediates. We met other guests and Powder Recon could provide guiding at the local hill for intermediates or assist in organizing lessons (or child care). With a Myoko Powder Package, groups or families of differing ability levels can be catered for and no one has to ski or board by themselves (unless they want to!). This sort of trip provides the happy medium between meeting new friends and having others to ride with, but it’s not a rigid organized tour so you can do your own thing if you wish.
      See our video here

      Powder Odyssey Indeed

      30/05/2014

      POWDERHOUNDS

      Powderhounds Ambassador
      Powderhounds Ambassador

      POWDERHOUNDS

      Powderhounds Ambassador
      Powderhounds Ambassador
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Age
        36-50
      • Ability
        Expert
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Country
        Australia
      • Month:
        January
      • Admin Rating
        5

      Powder Odyssey Indeed

      30/05/2014
      The food was a great experience every night
      The accommodation was of a high standard
      Virtually every hotel had a beautiful onsen & hot spring
      Transport was comfortable & very social
      There were just endless lines of DEEP UNTRACKED POW
      If you are a powder hound who is also looking for great Japanese cultural experiences, this is the tour for you. We headed to the “last frontier” of Japanese skiing, to resorts that were off the beaten track of international skiers and snowboarders, where very little if any English was spoken and cultural immersion was at an all time high, and there were plentiful freshies. Perfect!

      Powder
      This is up there as some of the best, if not the best skiing we’ve experienced in Japan! We definitely got our fill of powder. They took us to ski resorts where no one else was riding off piste (in part because it’s banned). At most resorts they get special permission to ride off-piste or otherwise the guides know how to do it discreetly. So there were lots and lots of fresh lines. It was very hard to ski at other resorts after this tour!

      Hopefully many of our photos we took will give you an idea of how much powder fun we had! The resorts we visited were: Alts Bandai, Inawashiro (x 2 days), Nekoma, Geto Kogen, Hachimantai and Shizukuishi.

      Transport
      There is a fair bit of driving with this tour (especially if you depart from Myoko) so it was awesome to sit back and relax (and sometimes have a nap) and laugh with our new found buddies, whilst the guides did all the hard work. A couple of the ski resorts seemed like they’d be a nightmare to self-navigate to, so it was great that the guides knew where they were going. The guides also drove us to restaurants a couple of nights and frequently did 7-Eleven stops! All too easy!

      Accommodation
      The quality of the accommodation was way above expectation, and I don’t know how they offer this tour at such a low price. We got good at re-packing our bags becuase we moved accommodation frequently but the upside was that we got to experience a variety of places. Two western style hotels were on-mountain at a ski resort, two western style hotels were in a city (where it was great to go out), Geto Kogen had simple accommodation, whilst we also spent a couple of nights in a fabulous ryokan (Japanese style) near Inawashiro. The various onsens were also a highlight of the trip.

      Restaurants
      We also had a variety of amazing dining experiences including hotel buffets, restaurants and izakayas. The guides provided options on some nights, and guests on a budget also had the choice of take-away from the 7-Eleven.

      Guides/Staff
      The guides were amazing; an abundance of knowledge, charisma, fun and energy, and Bryce’s Japanese language skills made everything super easy such as hotel check-ins, ordering dinner some nights, and sorting out logistics. And impressively the guides were very culturally sensitive.

      The guiding was only in the mornings, which was ideal. The guides oriented us and showed us some secret stashes, whilst we had free time in the afternoon to self-explore. We had two guides so they could break into two groups according to speed or skiers/snowboarders depending on the terrain each day. The terrain covered was largely off-piste and a little bit of side-country. We personally wear beacons, shovels, & probes when off-piste in Japan but this was not mandatory for guests or the guides, as they feel they are only riding in areas that are very safe. We'd recommend taking your own gear.

      Whilst a couple of guests had reported that Powder Recon seemed a little slow in responding to pre-trip emails, once on the road, they seemed very organized and everything ran very very smoothly.

      The guides were very flexible and were only too willing to help guests with all sorts of requests from finding vitamins, to doing beer stops, to picking up and dropping off guests at the station if they were starting or finishing the tour late or early. This was great for the guests with special requests but on a couple of occasions their flexibility impacted on other guests’ experiences.

      Fun
      This trip seems to attract like-minded skiers and boarders with a sense of fun and adventure, so we had so much fun. The guides were great at gee-ing everyone up to make sure that everyone was having a great time, but this probably wasn’t necessary considering the great group we had and the amazing powder.

      We can thoroughly recommend this tour to other powder hounds and we can’t wait to go again!!
      See our video here

      Great Tour - One of the Best!

      19/05/2014

      Andrew Henderson

      Powder Enthusiast
      Powder Enthusiast

      Andrew Henderson

      Powder Enthusiast
      Powder Enthusiast
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Age
        36-50
      • Ability
        Advanced
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Country
        New Zealand
      • Admin Rating
        5

      Great Tour - One of the Best!

      19/05/2014
      That's me at Geto Kogen
      And another epic powder run
      God I love this tour. I have had the extreme good fortune to do it twice. Two of the best weeks skiing of my life. This is the sort of stuff you know lurks in Japan, but could never find yourself. Quiet resorts with only a handful of people skiing during the week and heroic amounts of dry Japanese snow to play in. It does not get better than this.

      The fields have varied a little between the two trips, depending on the conditions and what sort of skiing/boarding the group wants to do. There is the opportunity to do some ski touring or snowshoeing if you are interested, but there is so much low hanging fruit to pick on this tour, the most effort made is usually a few hucks, or a bit of traversing to get nice lines through the trees.

      All of the destinations are perfect. Most of the fun stuff is tree skiing, as it usually is in Honshu, with well spaced trees and good pitches. The guides know all the fields and spend the morning making sure you know where all the secret stashes are.

      This company has excellent guides and really cares about their guests. On the field and off, this trip is really well organised and a lot of fun. I skied with excellent people, passionate skiers and boarders, fun to ski with and to socialise with. I have made some good friends from these tours! I will definitely be going again.
      See our video here

      Seventh Heaven?

      22/04/2013

      Andrew Henderson

      Powder Enthusiast
      Powder Enthusiast

      Andrew Henderson

      Powder Enthusiast
      Powder Enthusiast
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        36-50
      • Rider Level
        N/A
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Month Visited:
        January
      • Admin Rating
        4

      Seventh Heaven?

      22/04/2013
      Powder Recon's many repeat customers don't need a review to know how good this company and its services are. This is a great way to enjoy the best that the Myoko Kogen area has on offer, for everyone from hardcore powder hounds to families with young children.

      The approach of Powder Recon is a little different to most ski operators in Japan. Their philosophy is to provide the best ski (or boarding) experience possible for each group or individual. Each evening there is a meeting in the 7th Door lobby to discuss the next day's skiing. The plan may be to stay at the local field where they base themselves (Akakura Kanko), or to try one of the other fields in the Myoko Kogen area, or to go further afield in one of their vehicles, to one of the many other nearby ski fields within a short drive. There is usually a suggestion from Powder Recon about the place likely to have the best conditions, but the choice of which field, or fields are visited is a democratic process. If you don't want to leave Akakura Kanko, that is fine as well.

      As part of the service several guides are provided, one for each different group of skiers/boarders according to their abilities and style of skiing/riding. Most mornings, as a result, you get shown all the best places to ski (yep, all the secret powder stashes), places to explore, places to steer away from, where to eat or get a drink and usually some other people to ski with for the rest of the day, if that is what you want.

      This worked very well for my 10 year old son and I. He loved the guides and we both enjoyed skiing with the other guests on the tour and socialising with them as well. There are some great places to ski in this area and we got to ski many of them!

      Seventh Door Ryokan is an excellent place to stay. Not as expensive as some of the other choices in Akakura Onsen, but very comfortable, friendly and traditional Japanese. The onsen is very good and the hotel is very well positioned in the town, near the lifts and the shops and restaurants. The cultural part of the experience is very important to these guys as well and there are lots of chances to meet locals and feel part of the local community. Definitely one of the best ways to ski in Myoko Kogen.
      See our video here

      Powder Recon Mt Myoko

      Matt Stockham
      22/04/2013
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        18-35
      • Rider Level
        Advanced
      • Rider Type
        Snowboarder
      • Admin Rating
        4

      Powder Recon Mt Myoko

      Matt Stockham
      22/04/2013
      Could not recommend Powder Recon enough. I booked with them for 4 days during Janurary of 2013. I was picked up from the train station and showed to my hotel and given a run down of the facilities. The hotel was neat and had a beautiful view and large onsen for patrons to use. All the staff were very helpful even with sugestions on where to eat for the night.

      The best thing was during the week the Powder Recon team would use all the info they had to determine what mountain within the area would be the best, and give you the option the night before to be a part of the trip heading to that mountain. The swap would cost a small fee for changing of the ticket and transport to the mountain. Once you were there you had the option for a 2-3 hour tour of the mountain with a staff member and then after you had free roam of the ski area.

      I will recomend Powder Recon to anyone heading to Japan for some snow fun, especially anyone travelling alone like myself or anyone that is worried about the language barrier or any other obstacles.
      See our video here

      First trip to Myoko Kogen

      Thomas Ong
      14/02/2013
      • Recommend
      • Would Revisit
      • Customer Age
        36-50
      • Rider Level
        Beginner
      • Rider Type
        Skier
      • Admin Rating
        4

      First trip to Myoko Kogen

      Thomas Ong
      14/02/2013
      Thomas Ong Seventh Door Ryokan and Powder Recon Review
      This is our second trip to Japan for skiing. First was in Niseko. We loved it till we came and experience Myoko. Bryce Elvin makes the difference in our trip. He goes out of his way to ensure that we can truly enjoy hour holiday. He is very detailed and friendly.

      The seventh door Ryokan is indeed a very nice place. We have recently made a trip to Nozawa and it has been better than Myoko in terms of skiing experience. Accommodation is no match to Seventh Door but we have to settle for this as budget was the main determinant factor.

      Go for Myoko if you haven't been there. We are on a journey to experience various skiing resort. Next destination - Hakuba.
      We love Myoko but we are not planning to come back for a re-visit just yet. We have not written it off like Niseko.


      See our video here
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      Northern Powder Odyssey
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      Northern Powder Odyssey
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      Price p/p From price based on twin/double-share option for 2025 season.
      Base/invoice currency is in AUD inc taxes.
      *Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
      USD 2,548
      See reviews (12)

      GUIDED SAFARI - NORTHERN TOHOKU
      7 Nights | 6 Days Guided Skiing

      Location: Japan | Tour Focus: Guided | Terrain Focus: Off-Piste, On-Piste, Sidecountry
      Ability: Advanced to Expert
      Price p/p From price based on twin/double-share option for 2025 season.
      Base/invoice currency is in AUD inc taxes.
      *Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
      USD 2,548
      Get off-the-beaten track in Northern Tohoku where there are abundant lines of fresh powder and negligible foreigners! Visit Northern Tohoku ski areas you've probably never heard of before and immerse yourself in the Japanese culture. More
      View inclusions & Add-ons
      Inclusions
      • 7 nights accommodation in traditional Japanese or Western-style rooms, twin share
      • Daily buffet breakfast
      • 6 days morning guiding (Sunday to Friday), 1:5 guide to guest ratio
      • 6 days lift passes
      • Private transport to and from ski resorts, hotels and train stations
      • 24 hour hosting - staff support as required
      • Information pack issued 2 weeks prior to arrival in Japan
      • All dinners included at restaurants carefully selected by the Powder Recon staff
      Add-ons
      • Premium ski/snowboard rental equipment at discounted prices
      Not Included
      Click here for rates, dates & availability
      Fixed Date(s)
      Days
      Price
      Availability
      Fixed Date(s): Jan 11 - Jan 18, 2025
      Days: 8
      Price: USD 2,548
      Availability: Almost Full
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      Fixed Date(s): Jan 18 - Jan 25, 2025
      Days: 8
      Price: USD 2,548
      Availability: Sold Out
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      Fixed Date(s): Jan 25 - Feb 01, 2025
      Days: 8
      Price: USD 2,548
      Availability: Almost Full
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      Fixed Date(s): Feb 01 - Feb 08, 2025
      Days: 8
      Price: USD 2,548
      Availability: Sold Out
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      Fixed Date(s): Feb 08 - Feb 15, 2025
      Days: 8
      Price: USD 2,548
      Availability: Sold Out
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      Fixed Date(s): Feb 15 - Feb 22, 2025
      Days: 8
      Price: USD 2,548
      Availability: Almost Full
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      Future rates & dates are currently not yet available for this operator. Click here to enquire.
      DETAILS
      Myoko Powder Tour
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      Myoko Powder Tour
      Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour Myoko Powder Tour
      Price p/p Sample price based on twin/double-share option with shared bathroom, 7 nights for the 24/25 season.
      Base/invoice currency is in AUD inc taxes.
      *Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
      USD 1,590
      See reviews (21)

      HOSTED & GUIDED TOURS
      7 Nights | 6 Days Lifts | 5 Mornings Guiding

      Location: Japan | Tour Focus: Guided | Terrain Focus: Off-Piste, On-Piste, Sidecountry
      Ability: Intermediate to Advanced
      Price p/p Sample price based on twin/double-share option with shared bathroom, 7 nights for the 24/25 season.
      Base/invoice currency is in AUD inc taxes.
      *Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
      USD 1,590
      Get the best out of Myoko Kogen and nearby ski resorts and chase the powder with a Myoko Kogen Powder Tour. This tour includes quality accommodation in a great location, transport to nearby ski areas & morning guide. Tours runs Saturday to Saturday. More
      View inclusions & Add-ons
      Inclusions
      • 7 nights quality twin-share accommodation with shared bathroom
      • 6 days lift tickets
      • Private transport to/from Myoko station & between ski resorts
      • 5 days on-mountain morning guiding, max 5:1 ratio
      • On-ground staff support 24/7
      • ‘Essential Information pack’, issued 2 weeks prior to arrival in Japan
      • Complimentary private transfers and lift pass upgrades to organized day trip mountains, operating Monday to Friday
      • Buffet breakfast
      Add-ons
      • Premium ski/snowboard rental equipment at discounted prices
      • Other activities: Zenkoji Temple tour, soba noodle making, snow monkeys
      • Tokyo accommodation bookings
      • Tech services for equipment support at discounted prices
      Not Included
      Click here for rates, dates & availability
      Fixed Date(s)
      Days
      Price
      Availability
      Fixed Date(s): Dec 28 - Jan 04, 2025
      Days: 8
      Price: USD 1,590
      Availability: Filling
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      Fixed Date(s): Jan 04 - Jan 11, 2025
      Days: 8
      Price: USD 1,590
      Availability: Almost Full
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      Fixed Date(s): Jan 11 - Jan 18, 2025
      Days: 8
      Price: USD 1,590
      Availability: Almost Full
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      Fixed Date(s): Jan 18 - Jan 25, 2025
      Days: 8
      Price: USD 1,590
      Availability: Sold Out
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      Fixed Date(s): Jan 25 - Feb 01, 2025
      Days: 8
      Price: USD 1,590
      Availability: Sold Out
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      Fixed Date(s): Feb 01 - Feb 08, 2025
      Days: 8
      Price: USD 1,590
      Availability: Sold Out
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      Fixed Date(s): Feb 08 - Feb 15, 2025
      Days: 8
      Price: USD 1,590
      Availability: Sold Out
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      Fixed Date(s): Feb 15 - Feb 22, 2025
      Days: 8
      Price: USD 1,590
      Availability: Almost Full
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      Fixed Date(s): Feb 22 - Mar 01, 2025
      Days: 8
      Price: USD 1,590
      Availability: Available
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      Fixed Date(s): Mar 01 - Mar 08, 2025
      Days: 8
      Price: USD 1,590
      Availability: Available
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      Fixed Date(s): Mar 08 - Mar 15, 2025
      Days: 8
      Price: USD 1,590
      Availability: Available
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      Future rates & dates are currently not yet available for this operator. Click here to enquire.
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