Hokkaido Northside

Hokkaido Northside is a multi-day tour where you can explore beyond what Hokkaido's best mountains have to offer. The focus of the tour is to get to the best powder and terrain away from masses. You'll be based in a quiet zone in Kamikawa on the northern side of the Daisetsuzan National Park, with easy access to backcountry ski touring around Kamikawa, Horokanai, and Sounkyo (Kurodake), where you will be rewarded with face shots of deepest and dry powder.

The Powderhounds rate Kurodake as one of the best ski areas in Japan for powder hunters, due to its steep and varied terrain and the abundance of snow it scores. In winter, Kurodake should be called "white mountain" instead of "black mountain"! The Kurodake Ropeway provides some initial ascent assistance to access the famed mountain and the huge backcountry paradise. The ropeway is generally closed during January, essentially because the snowstorms are too wild, so in high season you can hike from the road, where there is plenty of good quality snow. While there’s no lift access during this time, it actually creates one of the quietest windows of the season so it's perfect for deep, untouched touring in the Sounkyo area.

Roughly 80 percent of the terrain you'll be riding will be accessed via ski touring or splitboarding, and approximately 20 percent will be lift assisted, with the potential for a day at Asahidake which offers initial ascent via a ropeway (cable car).

Group

The Hokkaido Northside Tour is offered as a group tour where solos, duos or small groups can join one of the fixed date tours, or if you have your own group you can have a private tour, pending availability. This tour requires a minimum of 3 people to go ahead and a maximum of 6. If you have any questions or want to double check about availability, please make a booking request.

Ability

This tour requires good riding skills (advanced & above) in all types of slopes and some previous backcountry experience too. Good cardio fitness is one of the most important things to be able to enjoy the tour. The guides running the trip will adjust the level at the client's desire and skills ability.

Safety

Safety in the backcountry is the guide's first priority. To ensure you have a safe day on the mountain, Yukiumi's team will constantly monitor the forecast, the snow stability and the mountain conditions and will choose appropriate terrain on the day that is safe and that suits the group's ability. During dinner, the recommended choices would be offered and discussed with the group, and in the morning a final decision would be taking the weather into consideration.

Equipment

You will require touring gear, touring skis, splitboard or snowshoes. As you will be skiing/riding deep snow, for skis we recommend wide (min 100cm under foot) and for snowboarders we recommend to be on a splitboard. It is also mandatory that you have avalanche safety equipment comprising of beacon, shovel, probe & backpack. Rental equipment can be arranged by Yukiumi with enough notice; please ask for details and a quote when you make contact.