Hokkaido Japan - Explorer Tour

THIS 12 NIGHT GUIDED TOUR WILL HAVE YOU CHASING THE BEST CONDITIONS AND SNOWFALL THROUGH 7 OF HOKKAIDO’S BETTER AND LESSER KNOWN SKI AREAS. OUR MOST EXPERIENCED GUIDES WILL BE THERE TO SHOW YOU THE BEST SKIING AND RIDING HOKKAIDO HAS TO OFFER.

Ride some of the deepest snow on the planet at NISEKO, enjoy some of the best tree skiing at RUSUTSU, fall in love with the secret runs of MOIWA, marvel at the blue bird powder days at FURANO, head over the back of TOMAMU for some solitary deep turns, take the ropeway to the backcounty powder paradise that is ASAHIDAKE, and smash the trees and natural hits of KAMUI!

This tour is fantastic value for money and we’re sure you’ll leave with plenty of powder on your face!

TOUR DETAILS

DATES: 22nd Jan 2012 - 5th Feb 2012 COST: From $4295pp * Destination info: Niseko Niseko is the powder and apre ski capital of Japan. With a wide variety of bars and restaurants you will have a ball both on and off the snow. Made up of 5 resorts, Niseko is big enough to cater for all tastes. Plenty of beginner and intermediate runs are found side by side with off-piste advanced areas. You pretty much guaranteed reliable, day after day powder skiing and riding in classic tree skiing terrain, long groomers and some wide open alpine. Moiwa Moiwa is a little known secret and we're happy it's kept that way. Within only 20mins drive from Niseko it's an amazing little powder paradise with two lifts, amazing trees and awesome back bowls. You're sure to fall in love with this hill.

Furano Furano is a country town of about 20,000 people with an awesome ski hill. With over 100 bars and restau- rants you be able to experience true Japanese hospital- ity . On the mountain you’ll enjoy some of the best tree skiing in Hokkaido, with easy to access steep faces, mellow glades, and gullies full of hits for skiers and snowboarders. The cold temperatures in Furano keep the 9 metres of annual snow light and dry and when its on, it is quite simply the best. Add to this the distinct lack of crowds and express lifts that take you to the top of 3.5km runs in a little over ten minutes and you have a recipe for leg burning skiing. Tomamu Tomamu strikes a cord with all who ride its mountains. With arguably the best in-bounds powder skiing in Hokkaido you’ll be wanting to come back for more. Mt. Tomamu at 1239m, offers skiers and snowboarders a wide variety of runs catering to all abilities. With 11 lifts, Tomamu has some great options. It also offers skiers and boarders an awesome park and off-piste section which is roped off from the rest of the crowd. Kamui Kamui is a small ski resort set on its own, 1.5 hours north of Furano. With 7 lifts accessing a network of wide open cruises as well as powder filled trees and gullies, you’ll feel like your riding your own private mountain as crowds here a virtually non-existent. Combine that with one of Japan’s most open ski area policies, and there is enough here to suit every kind of skier and boarder. Asahidake Asahidake is one of the most popular touring locations in Hokkaido, due to the easy access to above tree line terrain given by the Ropeway at the bottom of the volcano (top height 1600m) and the fame of the mountain itself, which at 2290m is the highest in Hokkaido. Short hikes are often required along the ridges at the summit and there is the option of hiking around the active volcano. Once at the bottom, all roads lead to the Ropeway but if you do happen to veer off the well groomed runs a short hike may be needed to return to the lift.

Accommodation info In Niseko you’ll be staying at the lovely Pension Full Note. It is a Japanese-style Bed & Breakfast inn with a warm and cosy country atmosphere. Adrenalin has been taking tours here for years and we love this place for its location in the center or town, lovely staff and comfort. In Furano we are staying at North Country Inn. It is conveniently located between the two sides of the ski hill giving you access by regular free shuttle to the Furano side before anyone else! It has both traditional Japanese and Western style rooms with ensuites. Shared onsen style bathing is also available. Facilities include 2 dining restaurants, winery, lounge/bar with satellite TV, rental cars, foreign exchange, wireless internet, souvenirs, common laundry, ski hire, and regular guest shuttle to the ski lifts.

INCLUSIONS

•Return economy airfares departing Sydney
•Transfers to/from Sapporo’s Chitose Airport
•Private transfer between Niseko and Furano
•6 nights twin/triple share accommodation at
Full Note Pension in central Hirafu
•6 nights twin/triple share accommodation at
North Country Inn Furano.
•3 day Niseko All Mountain Pass
•Guided day tour to Moiwa including lift ticket
•Guided day tour to Rusutsu including lift ticket
•2 day Furano lift pass
•Guided day tour to Asahidake including lift
ticket
•Guided day tour to Kamui including lift ticket
•Guided day tour to Tomamu including lift ticket
•Welcome dinner party in Niseko
•4 course welcome dinner in Furano
•Daily breakfast
•Tokachidake Onsen (hotspring) tour                   COST: From $4295pp*

ITINERARY

Travel days
Afternoon departure from Sydney airport and arriving Tokyo in the morning where you'll go through customs, changed plans and continue flying. We'll meet you at Sapporo's Chitose Airport and transfer you to Pension Full Note.

Day 1 - 2
First days on the mountain. Your guides will show you around Niseko United. We'll get our feet and hunt out some powder stashes. Celebrate your awesome first day with the Welcome Dinner Party.

Day 3
Day tour to Moiwa Ski Hill. Departing in the morning, we will spend the day guiding you through the trees and bowls of Moiwa.

Day 4
Day tour to Rusutsu Resort. Departing in the morning, we will spend the day guiding you through the trees and gullies of Rusustu.

Day 5
Enjoy your last day riding Niseko pow. Hike the peak with us and head into the back bowls. Finish with an onsen to round of the Niseko experience.

Day 6
Time to check out and jump take the senic transfer from Niseko to Furano. Check into North Country Inn and enjoy a 4 course welcome dinner. Meet your Furano guides.

Day 7
Your guides will show you around one of our favourite mountains - Furano. You'll get to see the whole mountain on the first day as well as some of those secret spots only the locals know about.

Day 8
Rising early for the drive to Asahidake. Your guides will show the goods of the highest mountain in Hokkaido, Asahidake 2290m. The ropeway does most of the hard work taking us to well above the tree line at 1600m. From there you’ll spend your day exploring the ridges from the lift.

Day 9
Day tour to Kamui Ski Links. Departing in the morning, we will spend a day exploring the trees and backside of Kamui. We'll stop on the way back to soak in a secluded volcanic onsen.

Day 10
Tomamu day tour. Today, your guides will show you around the resort hill of Tomamu with its awesome powder and park. There is some great skiing and boarding to be had here. At the end of the day you can check out the awesome indoor wave pool.

Day 11
Ski your last day in Furano. We'll be out there with you to hike the peak and show you some of the more hidden areas of Furano. Finish the day with a amazing hotspring night tour

Day 12
After all that it's time to say good bye and transfer to Sapporo and your flight home.

Day 13
Arrive back in Australia with memories that will last a lifetime!

NOTE: This itinerary is an example. The tour will be run largely by the weather and each day will fit around where the best conditons are. This is the essence of such a tour.

IF THIS TOUR IS NOT SUITABLE CLICK HERE AND SEND US YOUR IDEAS AND WE WILL TAILOR MAKE THE PERFECT SKI OR SNOWBOARD HOLIDAY