We're a family of four from Singapore, including 2 girls who are aged 4+ and 2+. This is the first skiing experience for all of us, so we were quite nervous about how things would go. Through word of mouth, we found out about Kieren's company and I communicated with him via WhatsApp. The initial conversations were friendly, prompt and very accommodating. To make it a fair review, I should say that the follow up conversations prior to our arrival could've been better in preparing us in terms of what's needed and what to expect. However, a few days before the trip, Kieren did drop a rather detailed email on what's needed, logistics detail as well as what's available to rent. Which is great, but if provided earlier, could've helped us decide whether we were going towards the rent or buy mode.

From Day 1 of the skiing though, we have no complaints. Kieren (Day 1) and Nena (Days 2 & 3) were awesome. Extremely friendly, patient and kind. Picked us up from our hotel even though it's some distance away from their homes and drove us for almost an hour to look for the best available ski resort, especially the first day when it was raining in Yuzawa. All 3 ski resorts that we ended up in gave us a different yet meaningful experience and we really enjoyed ourselves.

Fortunately, my wife and I didn't require as much attention from them as we were able to figure out how to ski by ourselves (or so we think!!! :P) with minimal guidance, so they were able to focus on teaching the little ones. The 2 year old, being a 2 year old, was whiny and moody at times, but they were always encouraging and never lost their patience with either child. We're extremely pleased that they were able to ski and balance by their own by the end of the 3 days. Hopefully, they'll be able to master stopping effectively the next time. My 4-year old said she really liked both Uncle Kieren and Ms. Nena and that they'd both definitely want to come back for more skiing in future, which is testament to their joy factor.

Price-wise, given that this is our first and only company that we've approached, I can't really comment on whether it's value-for-money, but on an absolute basis, I'd say this is not exactly a poor man's sport. Hopefully we can get some sort of discount on lessons or rentals the next time we return??? ; )

Bottomline... Would we return and engage their services again? Resoundingly... Yes!
See our video here

Me and my sister stayed at the Tenjin Lodge and participated in the beginners class during our stay there.
The location: Tenjin Lodge was a beautiful little lodge tucked away from what felt like the big tourist areas, giving it an intimate homely feel. Close to Doai Station and offering transport to the ski fields and Miniki station made it a breeze to get to and from
The service: Whilst Tenjin is laid back and friendly, this did not stop them from being punctual and consistent across the board. Kieran and his team offered extremely personalized service, and checked in on us to make sure we were getting the most out of our experience. Our teacher, Brenen was careful to tailor our lesson to our ability and how we picked up the skills. He was patient and understanding with us as beginners which fostered my confidence in boarding
Overall impression: i would 100% stay at Tenjin again and would highly recommend others to as well. The snow quality was incredible, I felt like I had been adopted into the Tenjin family, the rooms were well equipped for the cold and the snow boarding was fantastic. Thanks Kieren and the team for a wonderful stay
See our video here