Tohoku Storm Chaser Tour
NB Reservations for the 2025 Tohoku Storm Chaser are being held for private reservations (to reserve the entire trip for a private party) until April 30th, 2024. Individual reservations for combined group trips will be accepted from May 1.
The Tohoku Storm Chaser Tour is a ski and snowboard safari in Northern Tohoku in Honshu (i.e. way north of Tokyo) that chases the storms to get the best powder conditions, whilst incorporating cultural experiences, with the assistance of professional guides. The tour heads to far away
Tohoku ski resorts that are not well known so there are plenty of fresh tracks! If the ski hills were easy to get to they'd be tracked out, but on the Tohoku Storm Chaser, you'll get taken to plenty of great ski areas.
While lift-accessed powder is the goal and most of the time you'll be using the lifts, when conditions dictate, you'll need to put you'll put in some work to get those freshies. And at Hakkoda, whilst the ropeway will be used for initial vertical gain, you'll need to earn your turns. You'll need touring gear for this trip and touring skis or splitboards can be rented. Never toured before? No problem, the guides help you pick up a new skill.
For the first part of the tour you'll stay in a mountainside onsen hotel and chase the best powder each day at up to 5 different nearby ski hills (plus a half day of cat skiing at an abandoned ski hill) where you will have little competition for the fresh POW. Ski areas visited might include:
Geto Kogen,
Tazawako,
Appi,
Hachimantai,
Shizukuishi,
Amihari or
Iwate Snowpark, plus a few other undisclosed gems.
After smashing the powder in the Iwate area, you will travel up to Aomori City and
Hakkoda (right at the top-end of Honshu) which is Honshu's answer to Asahidake. Hakkoda has 8 peaks serviced by a single ropeway (cable car) and gets an insane amount of powder. The ropeway only provides some of the uphill. Expect to do plenty of touring to get the most out of Hakkoda.
At the end of the day, you can soak in traditional hot springs (onsen), treat yourself to delicious Japanese food, and think about how life couldn't get much better! Oh and post your brag photos on social media :)
If you have any questions you can
make a booking request.
Highlights
- Storm-chase the best powder & conditions each day
- Stay in 3-star & 4 star hotels including a city not frequented by western tourists
- Soak your powder-tired muscles in outdoor natural hot springs (onsen)
- Cat skiing for one half day at an abandoned ski resort - freshies galore!
- Food is key
-
Maximize the quality of your skiing and snowboarding by getting the scoop on powder stashes in the off-piste and side country zones from your native English speaking guide
- 2 days of backcountry guiding with a local guide at Hakkoda
- Explore resorts that most gaijin don't get to (so lots of fresh powder)
Skier/Boarder Ability
This tour is ideal for advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders with plenty of experience riding powder. You don't necessarily need backcountry experience, but a good level of fitness is required as you'll be doing plenty of touring (ski touring or splitboarding) at Hakkoda. At the other ski areas, touring gear may be utilised for short skins as dictated by the conditions.
If you would prefer a self-guided version of this tour, the
Indy Pass tour offers everything this tour does without the hosting & guiding.
Lodging
On the Tohoku Storm Chaser you'll have the chance to experience two different types of Japanese style accommodation.
For the first part of your trip you'll stay in a secluded mountain-side hot-springs hotel nestled at the base of Mt. Iwate; the local volcano.
For the second part of the trip, you'll stay in a centrally located hotel which is walking distance to downtown amenities. This makes a quick nightcap on the town or a local karaoke session a breeze.
For both of these accommodations, the daily buffet style breakfasts feature some local specialties with both Japanese and western options.
Pricing for this trip is based on shared twin-room accommodation but single supplements (single rooms for solo travelers or odd-numbered groups) are possible, subject to availability.
Hachimantai Lodging - The Hachimantai Mountain Hotel
Nestled at the bottom of Mt. Iwate, this 4-star hot-spring hotel is ski-in/out to Panorama Resort and only 5 minutes away to Shimokura Ski Area. The
Hachimantai Mountain Hotel is famous for the quality of the hot springs water and the quality and diversity of its food offerings.
The rooms have 2 semi double size beds (1200x1950mm). All rooms feature en-suite bathrooms and showers in addition to offering a public hot springs and sauna (reserved for hotel guests only).
The breakfast and dinner buffets feature a variety of both Western and Japanese cuisine.
Aomori Lodging - The Dormy Inn
The second part of the trip has a change of pace by staying in a modern urban hotel in the
city of Aomori, where the downtown's activities are located within short walking distance. Located right next to the bay and right along the pedestrian walking road, anything is within easy distance of this hotel.
Aomori has a unique and interesting culture with its own traditions, dialect and amazing local food. In this town you'll be eating sushi, seeing two musical performances and can even learn some traditional dances (participation optional!).
The hotel rooms are 23 square metres or 247 square feet, which is big by Japanese city standards but small by western standards. The rooms have two two semi double size beds (1,200 x 1,950mm) and ensuite bathroom with shower/tub combinations.
The daily buffet breakfast serves both Japanese and western options.
Itinerary
Day 1: Meet up
There are 2 options of where to meet the group.
1) Meet at Morioka Station South Exit by 2:45pm
2) Meet in the lobby of the Hachimantai Mountain Hotel at 4pm
Day 2-5: Storm Chase in the Iwate Region
The area surrounding the hotel has plenty of options within striking distance. Depending on the conditions, you'll hit Geto Kogen, Tazawako, Shizukuishi, Appi or Hachimantai Shimokura, Amihari or Iwate Snowpark ski hills. With so many options sometimes it can be hard to choose!
One of the days your group will have its own private snowcat to go cat skiing at an abandoned ski hill for half the day.
The aim is to ski the best, easiest access powder. If conditions warrant, you'll switch into touring mode and do a few 30 minute tours here and there to access the best possible powder.
On the afternoon of day 5 your guide will drive you 2.5 hours north to the city of Aomori (near Hakkoda).
Day 6-7: Ski Hakkoda in Aomori
Hakkoda is one of best undiscovered gems left to be found in the Japow universe. In the same fashion as Asahidake in Hokkaido, Hakkoda is a single ropeway (tram) that opens up incredible backcountry terrain and you may only ride it twice. At Hakkoda, it's all about the quality of the turns. However, because of its location it often shuts down due to bad weather. In this case there are some exciting backup options in the area that will still leave you satiated.
Since you'll be doing 2 runs per day, that means you'll be touring for between 1-3 hours per day. But it's worth it and the snow quality is worth it!
If you have your own touring equipment, you will definitely want to bring it. If you don't have your own gear, you can rent it from the guides.
More than just skiing and snowboarding, Aomori is a unique and interesting culture with its own traditions, dialect and yes - amazing local food. In this town you'll be feasting on sushi, seeing a musical performance, and can even learn some traditional dances (if you're in the mood).
Day 8: Drop Off Day
You'll be dropped at the Aomori bullet train station where you can take a 3.5 hour train back to Tokyo. Or you might choose to catch a train up to Hokkaido.
2025 Rates, Inclusions & Add-Ons
NB Reservations for the 2025 Tohoku Storm Chaser are being held for private reservations (to reserve the entire trip for a private party) until April 30th, 2024. Individual reservations for combined group trips will be accepted from May 1.
Private Early Bird Pricing (ie your own group)
Price per person:
- Group of 8 - ¥499,000
- Group of 7 - ¥566,000
- Group of 6 - ¥615,000
- Group of 5 - ¥684,000
- Group of 4 - ¥787,000
- Group of 3 - ¥959,000
- Group of 2 - ¥1,302,000
Group Trip Pricing After May 1
ie solos and small groups can join a mixed group tour
- Price from May 1 until August 31: ¥499,000 per person
- Price after September 1: ¥529,000 per person
- Price is per person
- Based on twin share
- Base / invoice price is in Japanese Yen
- Includes 13% taxes
Japan Ski Tours (also known as JST) Terms & Conditions
Updated for 24/25 Season
Please carefully read the policies below before you make a reservation.
Payments
A 50% deposit will secure your reservation. Once the deposit is received, the remaining balance must be paid within two months of the trip departure date. Once we receive your full payment, we will email you a copy of the receipt.
Credit card payments may be made through our secure website via Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
Cancellation
Once we receive written notification that you are canceling your trip the following fees will apply.
- Of the total price of the reservation, a fee of 25% will be charged for all cancellations made more than 4 months before the start of your trip.
- Cancellations made between 2 and 4 months prior to the start of your program will be charged a 50% fee.
- Cancellations made with less than two months of advanced notice will not be refunded.
Unfortunately, due to the time sensitive nature of our business, and the difficulty in re-booking a trip close to the departure date, we cannot make exceptions to this policy.
Responsibility and dependence on suppliers
Japan Ski Tours cannot be held responsible for snow conditions. Trips cannot be cancelled or amended on the basis of snow conditions. No refunds will be made if you voluntarily leave a trip for any reason after the trip has begun. Refunds will be at the discretion of JST if you are involuntarily forced to leave a trip for any reason. No refunds will be given for any accommodation, transport, sightseeing, meals, services, lift tickets or any component of the trip not utilized. JST acts only as an agent for the other companies providing or offering accommodation, lift tickets and other services and as such has no control over any services or products provided by these supplying companies.
All bookings made are subject to the booking terms and conditions under which these services are provided. JST and its suppliers reserve the right, without liability or right of compensation, to prohibit or restrict any activity, or cancel or alter any service or itinerary component, without notice.
JST will not be held responsible for the inability of the suppliers to comply with any special request relating to age, medical conditions, physical ability or disability, dietary requirements, allergic conditions, smoking or non-smoking accommodation.
Cancellation by JST
JST reserves the right to cancel any trip prior to departure, including a confirmed trip, due to circumstances beyond our control. If this occurs you will be given the option of changing to another trip or receiving a full refund. JST is not responsible for any incidental expense you have incurred as a result of your booking (i.e., airline tickets, equipment purchase or third party equipment rentals, hotel reservations, etc). If you choose an alternative trip and it is at a lower value than your original trip you will be refunded the difference. If the alternative trip is of a higher value then you will pay the difference in price.
If Japan Ski Tours cancels a trip due to an act of God such as a natural disaster, volcanic eruption, or other unforeseeable naturally occurring event which impedes the safety of our program, the terms under the section, “In the event of an act of God such as a natural disaster, or any other unforeseeable naturally occurring event that destabilizes or otherwise makes skiing unsafe” will apply.
What Storm Chasing means
While we do "storm chase" as much as possible, we are constrained by the limitations of our itinerary and hotel reservations. There may be instances where we have to leave our base accommodation and move to the next area as soon as a storm is coming in. If you're not willing to run the risk that the timing of the itinerary might not work with the storm systems during your trip, your best bet is to rent a Camper Van and travel around in real-time with the storms. Since our trips aren't Camper Van based, we'll be following our itinerary as described on our website and storm chasing within those limitations.
Change of Date
Date changes are subject to availability. Date changes may be requested at anytime up to 2 months prior to your departure date. Date changes made between 2-3 months prior to the trip will be charged a ¥15,000 fee per person. A ¥10,000 fee will be charged per person for all date changes made more than 3 months prior to the trip.
Medical and Emergency Evacuation Insurance
Due to the inherent risk involved in alpine pursuits, and in the interest of your safety, Japan Ski Tours strongly recommends all participants to bring insurance that provides full medical and emergency evacuation coverage. Japan Ski Tours will NOT provide insurance for participants on any JST trip. If a participant does not have proper insurance documentation he/she will be liable for her own medical and emergency evacuation expenses and will receive no refund, date change, or any kind of compensation from Japan Ski Tours. Please take this seriously and lean on the side of caution.
Hazard Management and Skier Responsibilities
Managing risk is JST’s number one priority. Our guides manage significant hazards inherent to sidecountry pursuits (e.g. avalanche, inclement weather, tee-accidents, rock fall, and high winds) but they cannot eliminate them. Please clearly understand that skiing in bounds and out of bounds is an inherently hazardous sport and both actions are only undertaken with the full knowledge and consent from the participant that these are inherently dangerous activities. You are choosing to engage in an activity in which skiers have been injured and worse. While these accidents are indeed infrequent, they may occur at any time and be out of our control. We ask that participants acknowledge that risk, and make their own choices about whether or not to engage in this activity. We ask that each participant is physically and mentally fit, is properly attired and equipped, and continues to assess him/her-self throughout the trip to ensure as safe a time as possible. We ask that participants honestly and accurately describe themselves, in terms of fitness, health and skills, and their equipment to their guides, and that they adhere to the advice of their guide.
In the event of an act of God such as a natural disaster, or any other unforeseeable naturally occurring event that destabilizes or otherwise makes skiing unsafe
Other natural disasters or naturally occurring disruptive events: In the event of any other natural disaster or unforeseeable act of God which makes skiing in Japan unsafe, impedes or cancels transportation or route infrastructure on, to, or from partner ski resorts or Japan, all cancelled clients will receive a 50% refund or a 75% credit towards a future trip when skiing in Japan is made safe again.
