Central Hokkaido Guiding - Day or Multi-Day
Furano is a primary base in Central Hokkaido and from Furano you can access some of the best resorts and backcountry terrain in all of Hokkaido. Your group can choose from a single day of guiding or multiple days of guiding (NB the guiding is a fixed cost regardless of whether you have 5 people in your group or you're a solo). Or if you want a bespoke multi-day tour that includes guiding, accommodation and all other logistics completely taken care of, that is also a possibility.
These are private tours, so it's up to you what type of tour you want to do at Furano or ski areas nearby. Possibilities include:
- Resort powder chasing & sidecountry - enjoy the best in-bounds powder plus lift-accessed backcountry ie no hiking
- Introduction to backcountry touring - learn the basic of touring technique and equipment to get you into the backcountry safely
- Lift assisted backcountry - let the lifts do most of the hard ascent work, then a short boot pack or skin will get you to deep untracked powder
- Backcountry touring - utilise skins on touring skis or split board and get away from the lifts and the crowds
Choose from Furano’s 900m of epic fall line skiing and easily accessed backcountry or be wowed by Asahidake’s amazing fumaroles and light dry deep pow. In an hours drive there is also Kamui, Tomamu and Sahoro or further a field Pippu & Kurodake Ski Areas.
For those keen to hike, Furano is located across the valley from the Daisetsuzan mountain range where you can find some of the best backcountry touring in Hokkaido.
Each area offers something different for every level of rider/skier and each has their own distinctive weather system, so if the weather is not cooperating in one ski area more often than not it will be either fine or at least manageable in another.
These tours are for PRIVATE GROUPS of up to 5 guests i.e. you cannot join a group. If you are a solo the cost is 5 x the per person rate shown. Solos and couples wanting to join a group may want to consider one of the multi-day group tours.
The minimum age is 15 and all guests need to meet the minimum ability requirements.
Advanced bookings are essential as these tours book out well ahead of time.
Why Get a Ski Guide in Furano?
Get away from the crowds at Furano! There is no doubt that Furano in Central Hokkaido is renowned for its amazing powder skiing and snowboarding. The problem is, the word is out and fresh tracks inside the resort boundaries at Furano are much harder to come by now.
The WRTs Furano ski guides will show you the best powder on the day both inside and outside of the Furano resort boundaries, or they'll provide guiding and transport you to nearby ski areas as
Kamui,
Tomamu,
Asahidake,
Sahoro,
Pippu,
Kurodake, or even further afield to
Sapporo Teine or
Sapporo Kokusai for an additional fee. Or you can head out ski touring or split boarding at some of the fantastic Furano backcountry touring destinations or Tokachidake or Asahidake.
The type of terrain you will access is up to you but it will ultimately depend on the lowest common denominator's ability in your group. It could be lift-accessed sidecountry or full backcountry if that is what your group desires, or an introduction to backcountry touring.
The WRTs Furano Ski Guides
The experienced backcountry ski and snowboard guides can show you the best the Furano region offers. WRTs pride themselves on being completely flexible so as to tailor your guided day to your groups ability level and the best terrain and conditions the guides can find. Whiteroom has been guiding around the Furano ski area for many many years, so they have it pretty dialled.
Safety, flexibility and adaptability are key to a great guided experience. The staff are experienced guides with accreditation combinations of ski patrolling, instructing, avalanche awareness & first aid plus years of experience on snow. They study the weather & mountain environment continuously to ensure the best location is chosen each day in consultation with your group, ensuring you get the best conditions on your guided day at Furano or one of the many resorts in the Furano area.
Ability Level
It is recommended that you try to have everyone in the group at a similar ability level. This is very important as experience shows that no one wants to be in over their head, holding up a group or alternatively waiting for others to make it down the mountain. However, if you are all happy with a mixed ability group because you are all friends or family members then that is of-course fine.
The minimum of
all riders should be of strong/high intermediate ability off-piste, which includes feeling confident in off-piste powder and through trees. These are Furano ski tours (or snowboard tours) not
Furano lessons. Many of the guides are also qualified instructors but the format of the trips is to ensure you ski great lines, great snow and incredible terrain. The guides are happy to offer advice and tips to help you improve your skills, but lessons are not provided.
For
backcountry touring, the minimum ability is advanced in powder and touring gear is required.
Other Information
Furano Day Ski/Snowboard Tours
- Expect a 8am pick-up from your Furano accommodation and drop-off at 4-5pm
- Depending on the groups ability we will spend 90% off the day off-piste exploring the side and backcountry of Furano. The terrain will be determined by your group's ability and fitness. Hiking is not expected but a short boot pack or traverse here and there can get you some pretty amazing lines, but that’s up to you!
Central Hokkaido/Other Ski Area Tours
- Expect a 7:30-8am pick-up from your accommodation and drop-off at 5-6pm
- The resort destination can be flexible so that you get the best conditons possible
- If you booked a certain ski resort and the lifts are shut that day we will offer up another resort. If all available resort options are closed we will try to reschedule another day (if available), or offer you a full refund
When booking this service you are getting:
- Your own qualified and experienced guide. This means you can have one person or up to six in the group. The fee remains the same so the more people you have the cheaper per person it becomes.
- Furano area accommodation pick-up and drop-off and transportation to the ski area. Usually you will have private transportation, but if we have another group heading to the same ski are that day you may need to share.
Note: extra charges may apply for transportation from areas outside of Furano.
Other:
- Avalanche safety equipment. You will need this equipment. This includes a transceiver, probe and shovel. You can hire this equipment from us and you will be instructed how to use this equipment and be given a safety briefing before each days riding. The gear issued to you is your responsibility and if it is lost or damaged you will pay for a new replacement.
- This is a private booking. You will only have those in the group that you yourself have booked. If it’s you and your three friends then that’s who’s in the group. If it is just you then awesome. You book and we guide – no blow-ins.
- We can only guide to the lowest abiity in the group. If you have a friend that’s slow and the rest of your group is fast then you may have some issues getting as much out of the day as you’d hoped. You either need to be happy that you are going slowly and accessing mellow terrain or you need to quietly ask your friend/partner to go have a beer or hot chocolate so that you can hit some more challenging terrain.
- Mixing skiers and snowboarders – whilst the guides don’t really mind guiding mixed groups this can limit your terrain choice and prefered line. Skiers can of-course traverse hard, step up and pole out of flat spots so this opens up larger areas of terrain, especially on Asahidake. Conversly snowboarders read a mountain differently and want to smash long wide open turns and hit drops and features.
- We do not guide beginners or low-intermediates. Sorry but we don’t see the point in guiding someone on piste. If you are this ability level we recommend booking a private instructor as you’ll get so much more out of a day instruction than a days guiding.
- Asahidake is for advanced skiers and boarders only. Some hiking is involved and if you are a boarder you need to be able to keep your speed. There is no ski-patrol and the entire mountain is off-piste.
Extra transportation charges
- Greater Furano (outside of Furano and immediate surrounds) requiring approximately one hour extra travel – client pays ¥10,000 extra. For Asahikawa pick-ups then on to Asahidake or Kamui/Pippu it is 2 hrs extra travel on top of 3hrs regular driving to Asahidake. 5hrs of driving plus guiding = a very long day. If clients are staying in Asahikawa clients they will be charged and extra ¥10,000 and must also pay for the guides accommodation either before or after the guided day.