Iwanai Cat Skiing
Iwanai Cat Skiing serves up a great experience to enjoy the abundant Niseko snowfall, without any of the Niseko crowds that rip up the powder in what feels like an instant. It’s not surprising that Niseko cat skiing at Iwanai Resort is fast becoming a popular activity for powder hounds to score virgin powder.
With Iwanai Resort Powder Cat Tours, your chariot to access the powder runs is a modern snowcat with a beautiful cabin with windows galore so you can appreciate the glorious views of the nearby ocean, or watch it dumping with snow.
The town of Iwanai (pronounced “ee and I” with a quiet “w”) is unadulterated Japan, and as part of a
multi-day package you may choose to stay in one of the nearby ryokan where you can feast on seafood and immerse yourself in the Japanese culture. Or alternatively you can stay in
Niseko accommodation and enjoy the vibrancy of Hirafu restaurants and nightlife.
Iwanai Cat Skiing Day Packages
A day of cat skiing with Iwanai Resort features the guided snowcat skiing or snowboarding (7-10 runs of 325-640m vertical). The snowcat can hold up to 14 guests with a maximum of 1:7 guide to guest ratio (a lead and tail guide are provided, and sometimes 2 tail guides). Avalanche beacons are provided along with a safety briefing.
Another inclusion of the Iwanai Resort Powder Cat Tour is a fabulous sushi lunch, provided by Iwanai's top sushi bar, and a morning snack and coffee.
If you need equipment, Iwanai Resort has a full-service shop with the newest, highest-quality gear including a full line of Fisher ski, boots, boards and accessories.
If one day just isn't enough, check out the great value
multi-day packages.
Terrain & Ability Level
See the
Iwanai Resort Cat Skiing overview page for information on the snow and terrain.
The guides can cater the runs to the group’s ability, and terrain can include very spacious mellow tree skiing, slightly steeper glades, or open terrain on the former piste of Iwanai Resort. As a minimum, you should be a strong intermediate to advanced skier or snowboarder, and have at least a little bit of experience at riding powder.
It doesn’t matter if you have limited or no backcountry experience, as your guides will tell you know what you need to do.
You can check out our detailed
Iwanai Cat Skiing review for more information or the video should give you a pretty good idea.