WildKine and Hokkaido Expeditions welcome you to the Japanese island of Hokkaido.

The island of Hokkaido is famous for its cold, deep, and dry snow. This legendary snow is due to cold air fronts coming out of Siberia, then mixing with moisture as they cross the Sea of Japan. The result is enormous dumps of the cold, dry, fluffy stuff. The terrain in Hokkaido is mostly birch tree glade skiing. On the occasions when it stops snowing and we can see much, there are opportunities to climb and summit some of the more prominent alpine volcanoes.

These experiences are designed with world-class AMGA guides mixed with local ripping Japanese guides in mind. This ensures two things:

1. We get the USA guides from AE who will help deliver an outstanding intro and Expert backcountry curriculums to the AMGA standard.

2. We roll heavy with Japanese guides who not only know the slopes well but will also take us to secret restaurants, the best Onsens, and, if we are lucky karaoke bars.

Our trip specifically avoids the mega-resort of Niseko, as going there can somewhat diminish the cultural experience of skiing in Japan. Instead, we go to some resorts/parks with less foreign traffic.

This is a ski touring trip where we often use the lifts. However, we will be touring or boot-packing a bit daily and sometimes all day.

Therefore, touring equipment, some touring experience, and fitness are mandatory. It is best to come into this trip as an advanced downhill skier, comfortable in standard single to double black diamond tree skiing (28-38 degrees).

Throughout our expedition, we will focus on finding the best snow. We will also travel to a few different venues to see other parts of the island, where the tour takes us on numerous options for skiing, onsen, and the inside scoop of the Japanese culinary experience.

Join Wildkine Expeditions on this most excellent adventure into a marvelously different and interesting culture mixed with some of the best snow in the world!

Day 4: We move today - After breakfast, we pile in the van and hit a secret powder stash blended with a secret onsen on the way to Asahikawa.

Asahikawa is a medium-sized city in Hokkaido filled with all the classic Japanese intricacies—excellent food and surrounded by mountains.

In the city, we unload, have dinner, and walk around a bit before we get some rest.

Day 5: We hit one of the many surrounding resorts for a day of on-piste and backcountry. We dive back into coursework with the focus on snow science.

Japan has a very interesting snowpack. Diving in and understanding the full picture is an exciting part of the backcountry process. We dig snow pits, study the pack, and note what our guides have to offer regarding the process, tips, and tricks.

After skiing, we do much of the same….pow pow, onsen, beer.

Day 6: We have several options for a full tour day. The enchantment of these birch forests is inspiring, to say the least—the group’s last day in the backcountry. We take this tour and enjoy every turn in this magical landscape.

This evening, after skiing and onsen, the group heads back to Sapporo for our final night as a team. Whether you are adventuring on your own or headed home, the stories we share on this night are a treat.

With all the details noted for our guest's next moves, we depart that morning. It is normally a bittersweet moment, but perhaps a nod to future adventures with the experience gained.

Price Single Occupancy - $5989

What Exactly is Included:

• Guides and instruction

• Transportation

• Accomodation

• Lift Tickets

• All Breakfasts

What is not included:

• Flights

• Gratuity for Hokkiado Guides

• Lunches

• Dinners are on the group for the guides!

• Onsen entrance ($5-$10 USD)

• Backcountry safety equipment

• Ski Equipment

• (Link Equipment List)

What we can provide:

• Backcountry Ski Rentals (DPS Setup)

• Splitboard Rentals

• Avalanche Gear Rentals

Itinerary:

Dates:

• Intro to Backcountry Course - January 12th-18th, 2025

• Advanced Powder Hunters Course W// AE - January 19th-25th, 2025

Disclaimer: This itinerary is based on successful trips we have run in the past. These excursions aim to score the best snow conditions to maximize the experience. The itinerary will match that goal so that the day-to-day is subject to change depending on conditions throughout the island.

Arrival Day: The team meets at New Chitose South Sapporo (CTS), and we transfer right to Otaru. It will be relatively late, and you will be tired from a long day of travel. You should grab some z’s after we welcome you into your new Japanese adventure. Ensure you eat tons of food, leaving this long journey to Japan behind you.

Day 2 - Getting the dust off: We start the day with a fantastic Japanese-style buffet breakfast at our hotel, with everything from waffles to sushi and strangely popular salads! Here, we will have an official team briefing and get geared up for a day in the mountains.

Today, we ski hard! The team heads to Sapporo Kokusai Resort for a day to get after it on Piste. We hit some secret stashes on our first day and enjoyed the side-country access. It said to feel reaaaally nice having those first few turns in a new land!

After skiing, we pile in the van and head to the Onsen. Onsens are traditional natural hot springs everywhere in Hokkaido… and for good reason! They are a stunning cultural experience and a treat after a good day in the mountains. We visit several onsen throughout our stay, all with unique and interesting qualities.

Food Beta: The team heads back for an exceptional dinner. Our dinners range from Hokkaido-style slow-cooked… various roasted surf and turf meals and exclusive sushi experiences to Suki Yaki, Genghis Khan, dumbling…craft beers…sake.…., and drooling. The experience will speak for itself; Mako and crew will ensure we have an amazing and unique culinary experience every night!

For lunches, we stop at tightly run convenience stores to load up all the Japanese secret snacks, candies, sushi, ramen, and whatever secrets (7-11 fried chicken) we can find!

Day 3: The day's briefing is during breakfast, and we depart for our second day in the mountains of Otaru. The team visits Kiroro today to rip some more on and side-country terrain. After a solid morning of skiing, the team will break into groups and go over the basics of avalanche rescue. The goal is to take comprehensive training so we can be ready and apply in the field. After some coursework, we will go back out skiing to round out the day.