Japan - Hokkaido Tour and Powder Trip

There is no shortage of fresh snow here!

We have been visiting the northern island of Japan, Hokkaido, almost every winter for the past 15 years. If any region on earth can boast the lightest powder, it is certainly here. Cold air masses sweep over Russia and become charged with moisture over the Sea of Japan. The result is more than 20 meters of snowfall per winter. Due to the favorable location, temperatures are almost always below zero from November to April, so the snow often falls in large crystal-shaped flakes and transforms the landscape into a winter wonderland. Probably the most famous ski area on Hokkaido is Niseko, it is now known worldwide and freeriders from all over the world seek their powder luck here.

We like having the slopes and mountains a little more to ourselves, so the idea of offering a Hokkaido Tour and Powder Trip came up. On this trip you have the best chance to ride the most beautiful powder lines.

Itinerary

After your arrival at Chitose Airport (Sapporo), you will take the minibus through snow-covered landscapes to our lodge, about 2 hours away, on the edge of Mt. Yotei National Park. From here we can spontaneously decide where the day will take us, depending on the weather and snow conditions. On days with heavy snowfall, we like to visit one of the ski resorts Niseko, Rusutsu or Kiroro. If the runs in the areas are covered with tracks, the day takes us to one of the very worthwhile ski touring destinations. One of the highlights is Mt. Yotei at 1860 meters. Mt. Yotei is a real workout, it will take about 5 hours to reach its top. There are still a number of other beautiful destinations waiting for us. On Shiribetsu Dake we usually find the finest powder in light birch forests and from Chisenupuri we have a direct view over the Sea of Japan, surely weather permitting. After a day of skiing full of experiences, we like to stop off in a typical Japanese restaurant and enjoy a freshly baked Okumenjaki before going to one of the various hot onsen. After the last day of skiing we drive back to Chitose, where we are accommodated in a middle class hotel. In the lively small town we enjoy a delicious dinner in a typical Japanese ambience. The following day we start our journey back home.

The Ski Terrain

The ski terrain on Hokkaido is dominated by volcanic landscapes. A whole series of still partially active volcanoes are strung together. Its slopes offer ideal skiing terrain with descents of up to 35 degrees. Many of the runs are in light birch forests, which still offer sufficient contrast and visibility in heavy snowfall. The tree line is at about 1000 meters. All runs above the treeline therefore are rather unfavorable in heavy snowfall.

Our Hotel

The Green Leaf Hotel is located right at the foot of Mount Niseko Annupuri in the Niseko Village. The ski area is in the immediate vicinity and so the hotel offers "ski-in ski-out". The rooms are tastefully furnished in an international style and offer plenty of comfort. A spa & onsen invites you to relax after a long day of skiing.

You can get a first impression here: https://www.thegreenleafhotel.com/en/index.html 

Attention! Only double rooms for single use are available as single rooms, which is why the surcharge is comparatively high.