Overall Rating

Southwest Solutions

Southwest Solutions4.5/55
Southwest Solutions4.5 out of 5 based on 5 reviews
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Price p/p From price based on twin/triple-share based on group of 5 with 1 guide (per person) for 2024/25 season for hybrid lift & BC option.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 1,421

NISEKO & SAPPORO POWDER CHASER
7 Nights | 4 Guided Ski Days

Location: Japan | Tour Focus: Guided | Terrain Focus: Off-Piste, Backcountry, Sidecountry
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Price p/p From price based on twin/triple-share based on group of 5 with 1 guide (per person) for 2024/25 season for hybrid lift & BC option.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 1,421
This bespoke guided backcountry tour for your group can be based in or around the NISEKO area & SAPPORO. Choose from a semi-guided or fully guided itinerary if you're looking for maximum powder
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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: Dec 15 - Mar 15, 2025
Min Days: From 5
Price: Enquire
Availability: Filling
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Southwest Solutions Tour

The epic 8 day Southwest Solutions Tour will take you to the best skiing and snowboarding in Southwest Hokkaido. This trip starts in Niseko visiting a number of areas within reach of Hokkaido's biggest and most famous resort before wrapping up with a couple of days in the Sapporo region.

The Southwest Solutions tour is a fully customisable tour for PRIVATE GROUPS only (4-5 in a group is optimal). 

Highlights

  • Based in Niseko and Sapporo with 1 hotel change
  • Mix of lift assist and backcountry touring - all guests must have ski touring or splitboarding equipment 
  • The snowiest zones in Hokkaido
  • Enjoy a couple of nights in the vibrant city of Sapporo
  • Option to add or subtract a day of cat skiing near Niseko

The itinerary is based on 5 nights in Niseko, chasing powder with an experienced guide at Niseko, with options to ski/ride at Rusutsu, Kiroro and Moiwa and ending the tour with 2 nights in Sapporo (resorts Teine and Kokusai). There are 2 versions of the sample itinerary, depending on how much guiding you want.

The price indicated includes 2 nights accommodation in Sapporo, and in Niseko you can do your own thing with respect to the accommodation or the Niseko lodging can be quoted separately.

The package includes the in-bound transfer from Chitose Airport to your Niseko accommodation and private transport in a comfy 4wd van to other ski areas on guided days and to Sapporo.

There are limited guides available for these tours so you will need to be quick to lock down a tour & date. If you have any questions or want to check availability, please make a booking request.

Ability & Fitness 

To get the most out of this tour, RSGs recommend you be a MINIMUM advanced skier/boarder and have powder skiing/riding experience.

You will need to have a good level of fitness, because if conditions dictate, you'll be ski touring or splitboarding away from the lifts to get to the powder.


You will do plenty of this

.and a bit of this...

...and lots of this

Itinerary

This itinerary is is totally customisable. You can choose to undertake it as is, or add/remove the number of guided days and add/remove the overall number of days.

This itinerary starts at Chitose Airport (CTS) and ends in Sapporo city.

Option 1 Hybrid Lift & Backcountry Package

  • Day 1: Arrive and transfer to Niseko
  • Day 2: Lift accessed backcountry at SW Hokkaido ski resorts or Backcountry Touring.
  • Day 3: Unguided lift served skiing in the Niseko region.
  • Day 4: Lift accessed backcountry at SW Hokkaido ski resorts or Backcountry Touring.
  • Day 5: Unguided lift served skiing in the Niseko region.
  • Day 6: Early morning departure for Sapporo region guided skiing. Evening transfer to Sapporo hotel.
  • Day 7: Sapporo region guided skiing. Stay Sapporo.
  • Day 8: Airport transfer and fly home.

Option 2 Fully Guided Backcountry Package

  • Day 1: Arrive and transfer to Niseko
  • Day 2: Lift accessed backcountry guided skiing.
  • Day 3: Guided Backcountry Touring.
  • Day 4: Lift accessed backcountry guided skiing.
  • Day 5: Guided backcountry touring.
  • Day 6: Early morning departure for Sapporo region guided skiing. Evening transfer to Sapporo hotel.
  • Day 7: Sapporo region guided skiing. Stay Sapporo.
  • Day 8: Airport transfer and fly home.

Niseko night skiing anyone?!

...the food is incredible..

...vibrant Sapporo

Accommodation

Because this is a custom package, the accommodation will be chosen based on your group size

The advertised package is based on lodge-style accommodation in Niseko. Lodge-style accommodation in Niseko usually has single western-style beds (sometimes bunks) however in most cases bathrooms are shared. As this is a custom package you have the option to upgrade to a hotel, apartment or a private house for an additional cost.

In Sapporo, there are some very good 3-star hotels that RSGs use however there is also an upgrade option to a 4-star like the Mercure or the Cross Hotel (subject to availability). The hotels based on the advertised package price have single western beds (twin or triple-share) and all rooms have private en suite.

In each case, breakfast will be provided each morning (most likely buffet-style with a reasonable selection of western food).


A typical lodge room...

.a typical 3-star hotel room...

...Breakfast is often buffet-style

2024-25 Rates & Inclusions

Rates

Indicative Price:
  • ¥209,000 for hybrid lift & BC package (based on group of 5 with 1 guide)
  • ¥289,000 for fully guided backcountry package (based on group of 5)
  • Price is per person, based on double or triple occupancy
  • Payments are in Japanese Yen
  • Please make a booking request for a quote to include Niseko lodging, if you want extra days, have a different group size or other customisation
Inclusions
  • 2 nights twin / triple share accommodation with breakfast in Sapporo
  • 4 guided ski days or 6 guided ski days
  • Arrival airport transfer
  • *Per person price based on group of 5
  • Private door to door transfers on all guided ski days
  • 4 days lift tickets or 5 days lift tickets (at least one day will most likely not require lift tickets)
Add-ons
  • Flights - flight options here
  • Travel insurance - options here
  • Avalanche safety kit and backcountry touring gear. Rental available
  • Departure airport transfer not included but can be arranged
  • Niseko accommodation will be quoted separately due to the array of options
Not Included
  • Lunch, dinner, drinks, shopping

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.